Climate Survivors Makes an Impact at Austrian eSports Festival 2025
Vienna, June 15–16, 2025 – At the Austrian eSports Festival 2025, surrounded by high-octane tournaments and next-gen gaming showcases, CHOICE introduced Climate Survivors to an unexpected audience. Presented at a stand with a PC and screen, the game drew in festival-goers with its bold visuals and intense pace, then held their attention with its deeper message.
With over 20,000 attendees at the event, Climate Survivors reached players far beyond the usual climate or policy spaces.
A Game Framed by Climate Challenges
framed for clarity:
Climate Survivors is a science-informed bullet heaven game that symbolically encodes sustainability challenges related to emissions, food systems, and land use. Instead of offering direct instruction, it uses stylised action to foster intuitive engagement with complex dynamics. The game encourages players to reflect on how everyday food choices, both personal and societal/professional, are connected to larger shifts in climate, land use, and sustainability.
The game was demonstrated by its developer, Jan Steinhauser of IIASA, who guided players through the experience and observed how they responded. For many, the connection between fast-moving gameplay and global climate systems was surprising and surprisingly effective.
Expanding the Reach of Climate Communication
By presenting at the Austrian eSports Festival, CHOICE reached new audiences in a space shaped by entertainment and fast-paced interaction. Climate Survivors demonstrated that climate engagement can happen outside traditional settings, when the experience is immersive, emotionally resonant, and grounded in real-world relevance.
As CHOICE continues piloting its immersive digital tools across Europe, this event reinforced a key insight: meaningful climate conversations often begin by meeting people where they already are, especially through the media and platforms they enjoy.
