Reducing the energy use of video gaming: energy efficiency and gamification

Video games have environmental impacts due to their energy consumption, which drives climate change, and life cycle issues related to the equipment used for gaming and for the distribution of games – for example extraction of raw materials, manufacturing, and disposal at the end of life. However, video games also have a powerful influence on people’s lifestyles, and through gamification people can be influenced to adopt pro-environment behaviour. Therefore, this brief looks at energy use in video gaming and the potential of gamification for promoting energy conservation behaviour.