Die Gute Fabrik (DGF), the developer behind Saltsea Chronicles, recently published a comprehensive climate impact report detailing its estimated CO2 equivalent emissions over a four-year production cycle. The report uncovers that the studio emitted roughly 47,196 kg of CO2 in this period.
The study delves into the various sources of these emissions. For instance, it was found that the studio’s home energy consumption was responsible for about 1.8 tons of CO2e. Furthermore, the report noted an additional 7.2 tons of CO2e emissions stemming from home temperature regulation.
International air travel was another significant contributor to the studio’s emissions, despite their concerted efforts to utilize alternate means of transportation. This mode of travel resulted in a substantial 15.7 tons of CO2e.
The report also brought to light the fact that home-based production, as practiced by DGF, has a lower environmental impact compared to other prevalent industry practices. However, it also acknowledged the challenges that exist in reducing emissions from necessary business travel.
The climate impact report included several recommendations to mitigate the environmental impact. These include implementing annual emissions accounting, setting reduction targets, endorsing rail travel over air travel, and taking collective industry action to lessen the environmental impact of home offices.
Benjamin Abraham, the author of the report, aimed to understand DGF’s environmental footprint in relation to other game studios. He also wanted to illustrate the process of assessing a company’s climate impact.
In comparison to some of the world’s largest gaming companies, DGF’s total carbon footprint for Saltsea Chronicles was minuscule, accounting for only approximately 0.000058% of the emissions reported by these industry giants in 2022.
The report also highlighted the carbon impact of company purchases in different countries. As a fully remote studio with employees in nine countries, DGF noted that company purchases in the UK and Denmark contributed to 13.1 and 7.2 tons of CO2e respectively.
DGF’s climate impact report provides a detailed insight into the environmental consequences of video game production. It also brings forth viable recommendations that could help mitigate these effects, urging for collective industry action to reduce the environmental impact.
