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Source: Microsoft
Headline: Xbox marks upcoming Earth Day with reflection on the positive impact of gaming
Next week is Earth Day, a day to celebrate our planet and consider ways to protect and preserve it for future generations. Gaming brings joy to players, but we also recognize it has an impact on our environment. At Xbox, we are committed to the ongoing work of implementing innovation solutions, like our energy efficiency features and the Xbox Sustainability Toolkit, to help improve our environmental impact while still preserving the gameplay experiences you love.
In addition to our commitments at Microsoft, and by extension Xbox, to be carbon negative, water positive, and zero waste by 2030, , gaming can be used as a medium to inspire positive impact and build appreciation for the natural world. Playing games provides a unique opportunity to explore complex environmental challenges while having fun. Through immersive gameplay, you can engage with scenarios that highlight more environmentally conscious practices, conservation opportunities, and the beauty of nature.
This Earth Day, we’re showcasing a collection of games that not only entertain but also educate and inspire you to think about your impact on the environment. From farming simulations that promote sustainable living to adventures that emphasize the importance of preserving wildlife, these games offer enriching experiences that connect you with the natural world. Read on below for a collection of games we’re celebrating this Earth Day and for some anecdotes from the developers themselves!
Another Crab’s Treasure – Available Now
As Kril the hermit crab, you’ll need to wear the trash around you as shells to withstand attacks from enemies many times your size. Embark on an epic treasure hunt to buy back your repossessed shell, and discover the dark secrets behind the polluted ocean.
The Year of the Crab update will be available on Xbox on April 21.
“As a kid I would go tidepooling with my mom on the rocky shores of Puget Sound, finding whatever little creatures would show up at low tide, which included hermit crabs! Hermit crabs are interesting little guys, I can’t think of another animal that has to find someone else’s discarded home to live in, in this case a snail’s shell. And we’ve all seen the videos online where a hermit crab is living in a bottle cap instead. There’s a sobering theme already there that gave us the perfect canvas to explore these ideas of overconsumption, wastefulness, and human impact on our environment. Plus it turns out finding shells to swap in-and-out of makes for a pretty fun game mechanic.”- Nick Kaman, Studio Head, Aggro Crab.
Coral Island – Available Now
Coral Island is a vibrant, laid-back reimagining of farm sims. Be who you want and experience enchanting island living at your own pace. Live off the land, tend animals, build relationships with a diverse cast of townsfolk, and make the world a more harmonious place.
“We wanted to make the farming game we always dreamed of playing as kids. A cozy farm sim with merfolk, seasonal outfits, kids that grow up, all that fun stuff we thought would be super cool. And with the upcoming 1.3 update, it’s finally starting to feel like that dream’s really coming to life.
From the start, we wanted Coral Island to make players more aware of pollution and sustainability, but in a light, feel good way. Like, you dive in, clear out some trash, and suddenly the ocean starts thriving again. And you might even spot a merfolk while you’re at it! We hope that kind of positive reinforcement sticks with players, and maybe even gets them thinking twice before littering in real life.” – Soma Putera, COO of Stairway Games & Producer of Coral Island.
Merge Games Cleaning Bundle – Available Now
Fresh Start – Welcome to the world that needs your help! Fresh Start is a relaxing single player game, in which you embark on a mission to clean up the world and restore nature to its fresh and colorful shape. Watch as the world changes in front of your eyes as you help animals, solve puzzles and grow plants around you. Travel all over the world and give it a Fresh Start it deserves!
No Place Like Home – Welcome to No Place Like Home, a cute and relaxing sim. You play as Ellen Newland, a girl who decides to visit her grandfather, on Earth, for the very last time before she moves to Mars. However, she soon discovers that her grandpa is missing and that his farm was recently destroyed.
“We wanted to combine the relaxing vibe of cleanup games with a message that matters — giving players the satisfaction of restoring something broken while subtly highlighting the impact of care and effort. The idea came from a love of cozy, meditative gameplay and the urge to explore how our actions can make a difference — both in a game and in real life. We hope to teach players that even small actions — like picking up trash or nurturing a plant — can create real, visible change. It’s about making sustainability feel achievable. If Fresh Start and No Place Like Home spark even a little more curiosity or compassion for the planet, we’ve done our job.” – Adrian Komarski, Developer, Chicken Launcher game development.
Paradise Marsh – Available Now
Stars have vanished from the sky and scattered around in a perfect wetland crawling with wildlife… Catch bugs and chat with delightful characters while wandering through peaceful scenery. But don’t lose sight of the night sky, the constellations need help!
“Paradise marsh was heavily inspired by my childhood in the countryside when I was spending my days catching frogs and bugs by myself. It’s a game about nature, peacefulness, silliness, solitude and the wonders of curiosity.” – Etienne Trudeau aka @LazyEti, Creator, Paradise Marsh.
Under The Waves – Available Now
Stan, a professional diver in the North Sea, is struggling to overcome a life-changing loss during an extended mission underwater. Stuck in his self-imposed solitude, he starts to experience strange events and will have to make the most significant choice of his life…
“When I was a teenager, I witnessed the wreck of an oil tanker off the coast of my home region, Brittany, which left a deep impression on me. Oil washed up all over the beaches.Back then, I was just beginning to learn programming, and that experience sparked a desire in me to use video games to address marine pollution and environmental issues—though it wasn’t until later that I was able to truly move forward with the project.
Twenty years later, thanks to Quantic Dream, we had the opportunity to revive this project and create a unique and impactful underwater adventure, where we could talk about the oceans, their fragility, and our environmental impact. We quickly partnered with an NGO, Surfrider Foundation Europe, to enrich our message and deliver a more substantial and relevant story to players.” – Ronan Coiffec, Game Director, Under the Waves.
We Are The Caretakers – Available Now
We Are The Caretakers is an afrofuturist sci-fi squad management RPG. Assemble an arcane team of protectors to defend the endangered wildlife you rely on. Unite the world against an extraterrestrial threat. Fight for our future.
“Beyond being generally more conscious about the environmental impacts of our day-to-day choices, one small thing I did during the development of We Are The Caretakers was switching to a vegetarian diet. I’ve stayed with it for almost 7 years now, and eating mostly plant-based food is something I can do that has environmental and health benefits, while also doing my small part to walk-the-walk of one of the messages behind WATC, which is to minimize suffering for the animals we share the planet with.” – Scott Brodie, Game Director, Heart Shaped Games.
To ensure you’re taking advantage of the latest energy efficiency features on console, go to to Settings > General > Power options. This will help conserve power and enable carbon aware updates on your Xbox. Shutdown (energy saving) cuts power use by up to 20X when it’s off compared to Sleep.
Learn more about the Xbox Sustainability Toolkit, which helps developers create more energy-efficient games, implement energy savings via their own games, and continue their own work of identifying new ways of reducing impact on the environment.
Stay up to date with sustainability at Xbox: Visit xbox.com/sustainability
MIL OSI Economics –