Following months of development, testing, and iteration, Playing for the Planet’s Carbon Calculator is now available for anyone within the video games industry looking to begin measuring, and taking action on, their emissions.
Designed by, and for, games studios in collaboration with The Carbon Trust, the calculator is a validated, user-friendly carbon accounting tool that measures emissions in alignment with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, covering Scopes 1, 2, and 3 to meet the needs of the sector.
Reaching this moment marks the culmination of a journey starting in 2023, when Playing for the Planet began exploring how the games industry can address its emissions footprint. This led to the publication of the Untangling the Carbon Complexities of the Video Gaming Industry report, which brought ten studios together to confirm the boundaries of scope, and determine the lines of responsibility on emissions.
The thinking within that report then formed the methodological foundations for the calculator, which was developed in close consultation with Alliance members and pilot tested by studios in advance of the release. A beta version of the tool was launched in July 2024 for Alliance members, and the feedback received since then has helped to shape and steer optimisation of the current version now available today.
The calculator rolls out alongside additional supporting resources, including a methodology document, and supplementary guide to help you get started with footprinting basics and data collection tips. The Carbon Trust will also conduct an annual refresh of the calculator back-end data, such as emission factors, to maintain the validity of the results it provides, and keep the tool updated year-over-year.
Carbon footprinting is just the first part of the climate action journey, however, and users of the calculator will receive access to ongoing guidance and peer support on how to actively reduce emissions based on their individual data. This focus will continue to drive Playing for the Planet’s wider mission to facilitate and accelerate sector-wide decarbonisation of the games industry.
The calculator is available free of charge to all Alliance members, and for those not part of the Alliance yet, we ask for a one time fee determined by the size of your organization. You can find out more information about the carbon calculator, including the entry cost brackets, how it compares to other calculators on the market, and more, on our calculator hub page here.
If you have any questions or would like to know more, get in touch with info@playing4theplanet.org.
