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Videogame culture provides overlooked opportunity to engage with climate change, says new report

Published

5 years ago

October 29, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Organisations wishing to have an impact on climate change shouldn’t overlook the opportunities presented by working with the breadth of videogame culture, according to a report from the global entertainment and research charity OKRE and commissioned by UKRI.

Ahead of COP26, Iain Dodgeon, Director of OKRE, said: “Videogames are a global cultural force. Relentless technological and creative innovation alongside the core consideration of the player in the game design process has propelled the sector’s expansion. No other media exhibits quite such a mutability of form and purpose.”

And indeed as videogames have evolved, so too has how people engage with them – not just playing videogames, but playing with them in other media and in other areas of our lives.

Iain Simons, co-author of the report and curator-at-large for the National Videogame Museum, said: “Because so much of the industry marketing around them is about technology – ‘faster! more realistic! better than last year’s model!’ – it’s tempting to think that games are just hardware and software. The most interesting and important part of videogames is how we live with them. They’re a fantastically rich place for public engagement, both in the games themselves and in the cultures we build around them.”

As games such as Fortnite have become social destinations in their own right, they provide a significant and mostly untapped opportunity for public engagement. However rather than focusing on developing a single game with climate themes, the report, Playing With Videogame Culture, identifies seven broader strategic opportunities for public engagement with climate science through videogames

These opportunities include embracing the breadth of videogame culture in both digital and non-digital spaces. This culture includes streaming, fan communities, fan-fiction and cosplay, and provides a rich and collaborative space that can reach diverse audiences.
Harnessing interest in videogames to inspire engagement with a wide array of STEAM skills and careers is another area of focus, and the report says practitioners should particularly try to understand their potential applications in other sectors, such as future innovation around climate change.

Enabling a more diverse range of communities to creatively explore opportunities for climate action is also key, and one recommended way to go about this is by utilising no-code game design tools to open up participation and creative expression, removing a requirement for technical skills. Organisations should also prioritise local and hyper-local engagement, focusing on social and environmental concerns of more direct relevance to these communities who are often underrepresented in public engagement work.

One opportunity for doing this is through the creation of site and time-specific games – projects that are uniquely relevant to different communities and calendar events, and which can enable people to interact with their area in new and exciting ways.

Digital exclusion is a key concern, and OKRE’s report recommends that both digital and non-digital access points should be included in any programme, with public engagement practitioners embracing board games, card games and other physical games alongside videogames to maximise engagement and access.
Iain Dodgeon said: “By embracing the breadth of opportunities available to engage with videogame culture, organisations can create lasting impact in their public engagement work. This is an area that has been overlooked until now, and so there is really exciting potential for organisations to work in fresh ways.”

The report brings to light past and present examples of videogames engaging with climate change and work being done within the industry in a bid to mitigate its own carbon footprint. It concludes that engagement with climate change should not focus on the development of a single game with climate themes, but rather consider the opportunities available within wider videogame culture to engage diverse communities and increase impact.

OKRE is a new charity providing a global centre for collaboration and knowledge exchange across research, the entertainment industry, and the social impact sector. The charity runs the OKRE Network, which connects professionals across sectors, as well as curating events such as the OKRE Development Rooms, and providing funding and resources to catalyse the creation of entertainment that benefits from alternative insights brought via research and lived experience.

Blueprint Gaming

Blueprint Gaming releases Wolf Fury Fire Blitz slot

Published

22 minutes ago

July 16, 2026

Wladimir P.

blueprint-gaming-releases-wolf-fury-fire-blitz-slot

New title adds Fire Spins and Blitz Spins bonuses plus Standard, Super and Ultra Power Play modes at 5x, 10x and 20x stake.

Blueprint Gaming has released a new slot, Wolf Fury Fire Blitz, built around an “evolving Fire Blitz mechanic” and two bonus paths: Fire Spins and Blitz Spins.

The game uses a Fire Blitz logo above the reels as a meter. In the base game and Power Play, the supplier said every Cash and Wolf symbol contributes to the meter, with boosts able to add extra symbols and “guarantees either Fire Spins or Blitz Spins.”

Fire Spins triggers when six or more Cash symbols land in view. Each reel position spins independently to add more Cash or Wolf symbols, with new symbols resetting a three-spin counter and locking in place. Blueprint said the Wolf can land on the centre reel to collect all Cash symbols in view, then collect additional prizes that land for the remainder of the feature.

Blitz Spins activates when a Wolf symbol lands on reel three alongside Cash symbols on two adjacent reels. During the bonus, the Wolf collects every Cash symbol that lands before the reels respin, and additional Wolf symbols can lock in place, with up to three collectors active at once.

The title also includes Blueprint Gaming’s multi-level Power Play, offering Standard, Super or Ultra modes at 5x, 10x or 20x the base stake. In these modes, the company said only Cash and Wolf symbols appear on the reels.

Jo Purvis, Director of Marketing, PR and Events at Blueprint Gaming, said: “Wolf Fury Fire Blitz combines several of our most engaging mechanics into a fast-paced experience that offers players frequent feature opportunities and exciting collection gameplay. The Fire Blitz mechanic creates anticipation throughout every session, while the dual bonus structure ensures plenty of variety.

“The addition of our multi-level Power Play further enhances the experience by giving players greater control over how they engage with the game, reinforcing our commitment to delivering innovative, feature-rich content that performs across regulated markets worldwide.”

The post Blueprint Gaming releases Wolf Fury Fire Blitz slot appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

4 Chili Pots: Hold and Win

Playson releases 4 Chili Pots: Hold and Win with dual bonus modes

Published

22 minutes ago

July 16, 2026

Wladimir P.

playson-releases-4-chili-pots:-hold-and-win-with-dual-bonus-modes

Playson has launched 4 Chili Pots: Hold and Win, a new slot built around Hold and Win and Pots mechanics with two bonus modes and jackpots reaching 10,000x.

The game runs on a 5×3 grid and triggers a Hold and Win Bonus Game with Chili Features when red, orange or green Chili Bonus symbols land, combining with enlarged matching chilis above the reels. The chilli colour determines the feature in play: red triggers a Multi Feature that adds multipliers up to 5x; orange triggers a Mystery Feature that can award Mini, Minor or Major jackpot values or a coin value up to 75x; and green triggers a Collect Feature that gathers the value of all symbols in play, including any attached multipliers.

A golden Super Chili Bonus symbol can trigger a Super Bonus Game on an expanded 5×5 grid, with random Multi, Mystery or Collect features, including combinations. During the round, the active Super Chili Feature lands random Chili Bonus symbols until six are present, which then activates a new feature or enhances the current one.

Playson said jackpots can be triggered in both bonus modes. Filling all 15 cells in the classic bonus awards the Grand Jackpot at 3,000x, while filling all 25 cells in the Super Bonus Game awards the Super Jackpot at 10,000x. Skull-themed symbols can also appear in bonus play and transform into red, orange or green Chili Bonus symbols. The title includes two Buy Bonus levels, allowing players to trigger the Bonus Game or Super Bonus Game with one, two or three Chili Features.

Anton Ivannikov, CPO at Playson, said: “Our fiery new title showcases our continued focus on evolving proven mechanics in fresh and exciting ways. By combining two player-favourite features with layered bonus progression, dynamic Chili Features and a Super Bonus Game offering even greater rewards, we have created a title that delivers excitement throughout every stage of play.

“Complemented by its vibrant Mexican fiesta theme and engaging gameplay, we are confident 4 Chili Pots: Hold and Win will prove to be another valuable addition to our partners’ casino offerings.”

The post Playson releases 4 Chili Pots: Hold and Win with dual bonus modes appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Compliance Updates

Merkur Group Strengthens Global Compliance Strategy

Published

1 hour ago

July 16, 2026

Wladimir P.

merkur-group-strengthens-global-compliance-strategy

Under the theme “Perspectives,” a total of 43 compliance staff members from the Merkur Group across various countries gathered from 30 June to 1 July to further develop compliance processes in a sustainable manner. Colleagues from Germany, Spain, England, Malta, Australia and the US traveled to the two-day meeting at Benkhausen Castle, the in-house training centre of the Merkur Group. The workshop set the stage with expert presentations on global and digital topics such as cybersecurity, risk management and artificial intelligence. A panel discussion featuring representatives from various international companies within the Merkur Group, as well as a digital quiz, rounded out the programme.

In keeping with its guiding principle, the workshop focused on sharing experiences, fostering global networking and providing impetus for the further development of compliance processes. Because informal exchanges are also key to close cooperation, the evening programme created a relaxed atmosphere and gave participants the opportunity to continue their conversations, make new connections, and further strengthen team spirit across company and national boundaries.

“The ideas and diverse perspectives gained during the workshop will now be incorporated into our day-to-day work and help us to continuously improve collaboration and existing processes,” said Ludwig Beckmann, Chief Compliance Officer of the Merkur Group.

The concluding feedback session also highlighted just how valuable the international exchange is. The term “collaboration” came up particularly often, a clear indication of how highly the participants value working closely together within the international compliance network.

The post Merkur Group Strengthens Global Compliance Strategy appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.