The United Nations Is About to Host Its First-Ever Video Games Event

The United Nations is about to host its first ever video games event, with the Games for Change Festival bringing its 20th anniversary celebration to its New York City headquarters.

The event comes as part of the annual Games for Change Festival, an annual event hosted by nonprofit Games for Change that highlights games, technology, and immersive experiences with the intention of driving real-world change, innovation, and social good. This year’s conference includes two new items, one being the first-ever Games and SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Summit at the UN Headquarters in New York City, marking the first time the games industry has convened at the UN.

The event is a half-day-long affair that will bring together leaders from the games industry, policy, media, non-profits, and others to discuss how games and XR technology can support United Nations goals including education, equality, justice, climate action, and sustainable cities and communities. The event is by invitation only, and will include speakers, case studies, panels, and a games arcade.

In addition, Games for Change will host the Games for Change Next Gen Fest, a games festival for students ages 13 through 18 to connect with industry professionals, learn design and coding skills, and participate in workshops, meet-and-greets, and other activities. The festival is geared toward helping youth become responsible creators and players of games with a positive social impact.

Games for Change itself is a non-profit started in 2004 with the aim of bringing together tech and games companies, nonprofits, foundations, and government agencies to put on events and programs that center games as an avenue for social transformation. Alongside the festival and other activities, it runs an annual STEM competition to teach students about game design and programming, and curates a game directory of titles that “engage contemporary social issues in a meaningful way.”

Rebekah Valentine is a news reporter for IGN. You can find her on Twitter @duckvalentine.