Games & SDG Summit Report 2024

Key insights

6 takeaways

01
The Gender Equality working group reports that an estimated 45% of gamers and 23% of game developers are women.See it on page 21
02
The Gender Equality working group states that male characters speak twice as much as female characters in games.See it on page 21
03
The Mental Health working group reports that fifty percent of U.S. teens and 15% of adolescents globally report mental health issues.See it on page 20
04
The Zero Hunger working group states that every 1 invested in school meals creates 9 in local economic benefit.See it on page 19
05
The fantasy gaming session reports that 81% of young gamers say gaming influences their worldview.See it on page 14
06
The Child Rights working group describes RITEC, a framework built on eight core components for designers focused on children's well-being.See it on page 22

Summary

The Games & SDG Summit Report 2024 covers the Second Annual Games and SDG Summit, held on October 29, 2024 at the United Nations in New York, bringing together game industry leaders and UN agencies. The Summit explored collaboration around four goals: Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Mental Health and Well-Being (SDG 3), Gender Equality (SDG 5), and Child Rights through the lens of Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10). Sessions covered topics including game design and play, hunger, gender representation, child safety online, climate and sustainability, interactive storytelling, fantasy game diversity, equal access in the industry, and the creator economy. Participants pledged actions ranging from improving game design to increasing awareness and investing in research.

The report states that an estimated 45% of gamers and 23% of game developers are women, and that over 50% of women face abuse online. It also notes that male characters speak twice as much as female characters in games. In mental health, the working group summary reports that fifty percent of U.S. teens and 15% of adolescents globally report mental health issues. The Swedish Games Industry is cited as having revenues of 3 billion Euros in 2020.

The Zero Hunger working group reports that every 1 invested in school meals creates 9 in local economic benefit. The Fantasy gaming session cites a figure of 81% of young gamers reporting that gaming influences their worldview. The Summit concluded with participants embracing games as tools for change.