Exploring climate change through mobile games

To raise awareness of climate change, a UCL researcher has teamed up with developers of one of the world’s most popular mobile games. The game has been updated with science-based predictions about what will happen to the Earth after a century of global warming.

Professor Mark Maslin (UCL Geography) wrote a whitepaper for the makers of the mobile game PUBG MOBILE to guide them in understanding the impacts a warming climate is likely to have on future habitats.

Based on his research, the campaign will see the addition of two new maps for players to use in the game. These maps immerse players in some of the predicted worst-case scenarios for climate change by the year 2124.

In his publicly available white paper, Professor Maslin describes the dire consequences of a 4°C rise over the next century, one of the worst-case scenarios for climate change.

In such a world, many regions will experience persistent summer temperatures of over 40°C, with heat waves of over 50°C. This will lead to, among other things, frequent prolonged droughts, extreme weather, melting ice caps and sea level rise of over a meter.

The whitepaper also explores a more positive outlook. It highlights what the world would look like if there was a global effort to prevent the planet from warming by around 1.5°C, and what it would take to ensure such a future. In addition to writing the paper, Professor Maslin features in a short educational video further highlighting the impact of climate change, and how this translates into the game.

In the game, players battle each other on maps inspired by real-world locations. One of the most popular maps, “Erangel,” gets an update in the game’s creator mode World of Wonder, and the new “Ruins of Erangel” map series reimagines the location after 100 years of rampant sandstorms, drought, and a depletion of trees and plants.

Professor Mark Maslin (UCL Geography) said: “Climate change isn’t just a distant threat, it’s a reality that will impact every corner of our world. The ‘Play for Green’ campaign in PUBG MOBILE is a powerful tool to raise awareness, offering players a glimpse into a possible future shaped by climate change. By combining science with interactive storytelling, we’re helping to inform and engage a global audience in the fight to protect our planet.”

The effort is part of the Playing for the Planet Alliance’s Green Game Jam. The Playing for the Planet Alliance is a membership-based initiative that supports the video game industry in reducing its impact on the environment. Facilitated by the United Nations Environment Programme, the initiative is designed to help those in the games industry find ways to live more sustainably.

The Green Game Jam is an annual challenge for studios with live games and existing audiences to build “green activations” that engage their players around specific environmental topics. The goal is to leverage the reach and cultural power of video games to engage people around the world in environmental issues.

Sam Barrett, Chief Youth, Education & Advocacy at the United Nations Environment Programme, said: “The Green Game Jam 2024 is about harnessing the unique power of gaming to inspire and encourage players to roll up their sleeves and take action.

“Whether it’s making different choices about what you eat, how you travel, or how you power your home, or using your voice to speak out, citizen power has always played a role in creating the world we all want.

“The Green Game Jam was built as a sandbox for all studios to get players thinking about how small actions can make a real difference. We look forward to seeing how PUBG MOBILE’s ‘Play for Green’ campaign inspires even more people to take action.”