Social Impact
Ongoing coverage on Social Impact.
Latest coverage
South of Midnight wins Game and Experience of the Year at Games for Change Awards 2026
Compulsion Games' South of Midnight was named Game and Experience of the Year at the 2026 Games for Change Awards. The ceremony also recognized Hexecutable's Consume Me for Best Narrative and Best Gameplay, and Paintbucket Games' The Darkest Files for Best in Learning. Jenn Panattoni received the Vanguard Award for her significant contributions to the industry, including establishing the Xbox Social Impact team.
Games for Change Reveals 2026 Festival Speakers as Global Leaders Gather to Reimagine Play
Games for Change has announced additional speakers for its 23rd annual festival, themed "Reimagining Play," taking place July 21-22, 2026, in New York City. The event will feature leaders from UNICEF, thatgamecompany, and Annapurna, among others, discussing how games drive social impact and innovation beyond entertainment. The festival will include panels, a new Playtest Lab for early-stage works, and the Games for Change Awards.
Games for Change Announces 2026 Special Award Winners
Games for Change has announced the special award winners for its 2026 awards, recognizing significant contributions to social impact in gaming. Jenn Panattoni will receive the Vanguard Award, thatgamecompany the Industry Leadership Award, and SpecialEffect the Giving Award for their work in advancing social causes through games and technology.
World Reborn Is a Blended-Reality Story Game with IRL Quests, Out Now
Wicked Saints Studios has released their debut title, World Reborn, an adventure activism game for Android. The game blends an interactive story with real-world quests designed to encourage problem-solving and community healing, particularly among Gen Z players. Completing in-game and real-world actions can reward players with in-game currency and potential real-world rewards from brand partners.
Unity reveals winners for its 2026 Humanity Grant
Unity has announced the winners of its 2026 Unity for Humanity Grant, awarding funding from a $600,000 prize pool to ten developers and three honourable mentions across eight countries. The winning projects address global challenges such as health, rehabilitation, and environmental literacy using real-time 3D technology.
Games for Change to “Reimagine Play,” Featuring Leaders from PBS KIDS, EA, Neopets, SYBO, BBC, and More at 2026 Games for Change Festival
Games for Change announced the first wave of speakers for its 23rd annual Festival, themed "Reimagining Play," taking place July 21-22, 2026, in New York City. The event will feature leaders from PBS KIDS, Electronic Arts, Neopets, SYBO, BBC, and more to discuss how games and immersive media can drive social impact and shape real-world connections. Programming includes sessions, a Playtest Lab, the Games for Change Awards, and the G4C Arcade.
New report defines the broad economic, cultural and social impact of the video games industry
A new report, 'Building a Unified Framework For UK Video Games Impacts,' by OKRE and Ukie, defines the broad economic, cultural, and social impact of the UK video games industry. The report highlights how games are crossing into sectors like healthcare and education, and shaping culture in fashion, music, film, and TV. It calls for greater research to better understand and maximize the real-world value generated by games, and to correct misplaced narratives around the industry.
UK games industry "fundamentally misunderstood", new report calls for unified research framework
UKIE and OKRE have proposed a unified research framework to better understand and demonstrate the economic and social value of the UK games industry. The report highlights significant research gaps, particularly in understanding the third-party use and exploitation of games, and calls for collaboration between industry, government, and academia to address these issues. The framework aims to provide a more sophisticated understanding of games as a cultural phenomenon with impacts across healthcare, education, and culture.
XSOLLA BRINGS ACCESSIBILITY, SOCIAL IMPACT, AND ENTERTAINMENT IP LICENSING WITH XSOLLA AGENCY TO LONDON GAMES FESTIVAL 2026
Xsolla is participating in the London Games Festival 2026 with initiatives focused on gaming accessibility, social impact, and entertainment IP licensing. The company is involved in a charity campaign with Stevenage FC and SpecialEffect to fund accessible gaming setups, will present at the inaugural Games for Change London Summit, and will highlight its Xsolla Agency services for IP licensing at Games Meets Music The B-Side.
2026 Game Developers Choice Awards winners announced
The winners for the 2026 Game Developers Choice Awards have been announced. Several titles were recognized across various categories, including Best Audio, Best Debut, Best Design, Innovation Award, Best Narrative, Best Technology, Best Visual Art, Social Impact, and Audience Award. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Blue Prince were among the most nominated games.
