About the STRATEGIES Project

Transforming Europe’s game industries

The game industries in Europe — both digital and analogue — are powerful engines of creativity, culture, and innovation. With over 4,900 video game studios employing 98,000 people and generating €23.3 billion annually, plus a growing board game sector expected to hit $4 billion in revenue, these industries are major players. Yet, more than 90% of these companies are micro or small enterprises, facing unique challenges as they adapt to climate goals.

STRATEGIES is a groundbreaking, four-year research project designed to help game developers lead Europe’s creative and cultural industries in the shift to sustainability. From cutting emissions and redesigning production to embedding climate goals in the games themselves, STRATEGIES supports game makers as pioneers in green innovation.

We aim to help games not only reduce their environmental impact, but actively shape a fairer, greener future.

Our Vision

We believe that the tools of game design (creativity, storytelling, systems-thinking) are powerful assets in the fight against climate change. STRATEGIES empowers game developers to:

  • Reduce the environmental impact of their work

  • Access carbon literacy and measurement tools

  • Design games that support sustainable behaviours

  • Influence policy, funding, and business models in favour of climate action

What We’re Doing

🧠 Evidence

We’re gathering new data on working practices, environmental impacts, and business models across Europe’s game sectors.

🏛️ Policy

We’re developing practical, evidence-based policy recommendations that help funders, governments, and industry bodies support a green transition.

🧰 Tools

We’re creating carbon calculators, game design toolkits, and training resources to support a low-carbon, climate-conscious approach to game making.

Our Work Packages

Alongside the foundational work on Management and Coordination (WP1) and Dissemination, Exploitation, and Communication (WP8), the STRATEGIES project is built around six core research work packages:

WP2: Sustainable Work – People and Planet

We explore how work culture in the game industry intersects with environmental sustainability, identifying barriers and opportunities for greener ways of working.

WP3: Sustainable Production – Materials and Emissions

We’re developing reliable methods for measuring and reducing emissions in both board and video game development, from materials to distribution.

WP4: Policy Innovation

This work package analyses current and emerging business models, producing practical recommendations for governments and funders to help small studios lead the climate transition.

WP5: Game Design for Sustainability

We’re creating tools to help game designers build sustainability into their narratives and mechanics — turning games into vehicles for climate awareness and action.

WP6: Hacking Games to Reimagine Production

This strand explores how the design, production, and play of games fit into wider systems of consumption. We’re building teaching toolkits for game incubators and universities to drive change from the ground up.

WP7: Game Design for CCI Training

We’re co-designing a game to help other creative industries understand and meet the goals of the European Green Deal — while also studying how people engage with climate messages through gameplay.

The Impact

STRATEGIES will:

  • Create Europe’s first carbon accounting tools for games

  • Train developers in carbon literacy

  • Launch eco-game design toolkits and a ‘sustainability seal of approval’

  • Influence funding and policy across Europe’s creative sectors

  • Help games reach citizens with climate messages that stick