Unity Charitable Fund

Playing for the Planet: Untangling the Carbon Complexities of the Video Gaming Industry

The analysis demonstrates that the video-gaming sector remains fragmented in its approach to carbon accounting, with only a minority of companies—12 out of 222 surveyed—committed to science-based targets.

• Only 12 out of 222 surveyed gaming companies have committed to science-based carbon reduction targets, highlighting a significant industry-wide gap in formal climate accountability.
• Scope 3 emissions—specifically purchased goods (Category 1) and the use of sold products (Category 11)—represent the dominant share of the industry's total carbon footprint.
• Energy consumption during gameplay varies significantly by hardware, with current-generation consoles drawing 150–200W and PCs reaching up to 300W, compared to only a few watts for mobile devices.