Green gaming: betting on a better future
In the second half of the 2020s, industries around the world will be under more pressure to mitigate their impact on the environment, and the gaming sector, with its insatiable energy demands, data-intensive systems and expanding infrastructure, is no exception.
The good news is that it has the potential to become a leader in environmental conservation.
Measuring the green cost of gaming
Online gaming and gambling depends completely on its infrastructure, which includes servers, data centres and high-speed internet links. This is maintained by internet service providers (ISPs), who try to give gamers and gamblers a smooth experience, but they use trillions of watts every year to keep these systems working.
Data centres use millions of servers globally, and these demand vast amounts of electricity for both operation and cooling. Many still depend on non-renewable energy, adding to carbon emissions. Additionally, high-speed internet networks, which are crucial in giving players the low-latency gaming experience they need, depend on energy-intensive technology. Even fibre-optic networks, which are more efficient, consume a lot of power in their manufacturing and deployment.
To reduce this impact on the planet, ISPs and gaming platforms have to adopt greener options, including a switch to renewable energy sources like solar, wind or hydroelectric power, which can help to shrink the carbon footprint of their data centres and infrastructure. Additionally, integrating energy-efficient hardware and adopting smart cooling solutions – like AI-driven or natural cooling methods – can significantly cut energy usage. The shift toward edge computing, which decentralizes data processing by placing servers closer to users, is another promising strategy that can reduce the energy consumption of large-scale data centres.
People power: how gaming stretches the grid
Home energy use has surged thanks to the internet, but gaming is not the only cause. People streaming movies and TV shows, or working from home and using smart home gadgets all take a slice of the electricity pie. The gaming industry is, however, a significant user, because of its power-intensive game consoles and devices.
High-performance gaming consoles and PCs consume substantial energy, especially during peak gaming sessions. For example, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X use significantly more power than their predecessors, and the rise of the ‘always-online’ game platforms, which require constant connection for updates, puts extra strain on energy reserves. Cloud gaming services such as NVIDIA GeForce NOW and Google Stadia are particularly draining.
Esports also extract a heavy toll. Fans love to watch live streams of gaming or esports tournaments, but these are reliant on data centres, fast networks and HD streaming. Brands like Twitch and YouTube Gaming add massively to the load on local electricity grids. In places where renewable energy adoption is minimal, this almost insatiable desire for power makes grid pressure worse.
There is some good news. Demand response programs that reward players for gaming in off-peak hours are a useful innovation from the gaming industry. Rooftop solar panels and other distributed energy systems can boost grid power for games, and setting energy-efficiency standards for gaming devices could promote more sustainable designs.
Gaming that is built to last
The gambling sector – including online casinos, sports betting and virtual poker – shares many energy-intensive traits with video gaming. These brands have millions of customers and need capable data centre support and extensive server uptime. As the online gambling industry grows, so does its responsibility to protect the planet.
Some operators are moving to data centres powered by renewable energy, based in areas with access to hydroelectric or wind power. Carbon-offsetting schemes are becoming more popular. For instance, some initiatives, including those cited in the latest casino infographic from Betway, are offsetting emissions by investing in reforestation and renewable energy projects. Sustainable marketing practices, such as reducing paper-based promotions and leveraging green digital strategies, are also becoming common.
Innovative technologies are helping gambling firms make the most of their energy use. By using AI systems to manage server use, operators can reduce energy waste in off-peak periods. And blockchain technology, which is usually associated with secure transactions, is being adapted to less energy-intensive protocols.
Hardware for the planet
The campaign for sustainability is about more than gaming companies and game platforms. Hardware manufacturers and game makers also have a responsibility to improve the sustainability of their products, which often need materials and production processes that are energy-intensive.
Some console and PC makers are looking at using materials like recycled plastics and metals to cut down the impact of production, as well as exploring modular designs that make devices easier to repair and upgrade, thus extending the lifetime of the hardware. Using biodegradable or recyclable materials in packing can also help make the industry greener.
Game developers can help hardware makers by designing software to run efficiently across multiple platforms. They can also minimize energy consumption by designing games that require less computing power without compromising quality. Additionally, energy-saving settings, such as power-saving modes and adjustable resolution controls, give players the ability to cut their energy usage.
Must do better: getting gaming to raise its game
Despite this progress, there’s lots of room for the gaming and gambling industries to improve. Cloud gaming, for example, is one way to centralize and optimise power usage, but its full potential can only be realized if data centres switch en masse to renewable energy. To encourage this move, major brands like Microsoft and Google have already pledged to run their cloud services fully on renewable energy within the next 10 years.
The idea of a circular economy for gaming devices is also promising. Encouraging recycling of hardware would cut down on electronic waste, while manufacturers could also offer buy-back programs for used consoles and PCs, re-using valuable components.
Research and innovation are the keys to sustainability in the long term. The gaming industry certainly has the resources to fund improvements in energy technologies such as quantum computing and alternative cooling methods, and these could have a big impact on sustainability. Additionally, industry-wide reporting on energy use and carbon emissions would improve accountability within the sector.
Greening the future together
Making gaming sustainable will take collaboration across various industries. Gaming developers, ISPs and gambling platform operators have to work closely with energy companies and policymakers to make change happen through a variety of measures, including global sustainability standards, partnerships between public and private organisations, and incentives for renewable energy adoption.
As players continue to seek the latest forms of gaming and gambling entertainment, the industry must bet on sustainability, based on the principle that green gaming is not just a possibility but a necessity. By investing in new ideas, getting engagement from gamers and putting renewable energy first, the gaming sector can become a leader in sustainability, both securing its own future and making a major contribution in creating a healthier planet.
The coming together of technology, entertainment and sustainability presents an exciting challenge for the gaming world. By embracing green innovation at every level – from ISPs and platforms to developers and players – the industry can remake itself as a leader in environmental stewardship, and with determination and good will, a greener future for gaming could be within reach.
