By Sagar V. Mankar 
PUBG Mobile‘s recent “Play for Green” campaign won the Media’s Choice trophy at the first-ever Playing for the Planet Awards. This campaign proved that playing games can also make a real difference in protecting our environment. PUBG Mobile turned players’ in-game actions into actual environmental protection.
The initiative’s centerpiece, the “Run for Green” in-game event, attracted more than 20 million players who collectively sprinted over 4.8 billion kilometers in-game – equivalent to circling Earth 21,000 times. This virtual activity translated into real-world conservation efforts over 750,000 square feet, helping protect vital ecosystems in Pakistan, Indonesia, and Brazil.
Beyond physical conservation, the campaign focused heavily on environmental education through innovative gameplay features. The “Preservation Garden,” a special botanical area within the game’s Home mode, became an interactive learning space where nearly 100 million players discovered information about endangered plant species and their importance to our ecosystem.
One of the most impactful elements was the “The Ruins of Erangel” map series, developed in collaboration with UCL professor Mark Maslin. These special maps showed players potential future scenarios of climate change impacts, bringing environmental awareness to life through immersive gameplay. The initiative sparked widespread creativity within the gaming community, with over 4,000 content creators developing more than 8,000 conservation-themed maps using the provided template.
The campaign’s success extended beyond just participation numbers. These player-created maps, combined with official Play for Green content, were played more than 1.4 billion times, showcasing how gaming can effectively raise environmental awareness and encourage positive action.
Vincent Wang, Head of PUBG Mobile Publishing, expressed pride in the community’s engagement: “This campaign proves that gaming can be a powerful force for environmental good. Our players didn’t just participate – they became active advocates for conservation through their gameplay.”
PUBG Mobile expressed gratitude to its players, partners, and the Green Game Jam organizers for supporting this meaningful initiative. Through campaigns like these, gaming continues to demonstrate its ability to inspire change and create a lasting impact.