Jennifer Estaris
ustwo games
Jennifer Estaris (she/her) is a game director, designer, and climate advocate. At ustwo games she directed Monument Valley 2's The Lost Forest, which petitions for forest conservation, and game directs Monument Valley 3, a game about light, hope, and sustainability, which launched in December 2024 on Netflix Games. She has over 20 years experience in game design, at SYBO (Subway Surfers), Nickelodeon, Disney, and social change indie studios, and speaks regularly about social impact in games. A Filipina-American immigrant in London, Jennifer is involved with UN’s Playing for the Planet (Advisory Council), the IGDA Climate SIG, and Extinction Rebellion, advocates for cyclists, and writes with her 11 year old child.
Jennifer Estaris is speaking at the following session/s
Reimagining Economics: Sustainability and the Future of Games
The games industry is in upheaval. Studio closures and layoffs are at an all-time high, creating existential challenges for individuals, communities, and companies. Meanwhile, the climate crisis threatens to upend ecosystems and economies alike. Now more than ever, we must rethink how we balance business priorities with planetary care. Economics has largely been reduced to the pursuit of profit, chasing short term gains. The result? A vicious rat race that leaves behind the core principle of managing and caring for our shared home. This principle is the original meaning behind the word economics.
In this talk, Jennifer Estaris explores how integrating sustainability into game development can drive both creative innovation and measurable business success.
She will share lessons from award-winning, mass-reaching games, highlighting Playing for the Planet’s Green Game Jam, with deep dives into the liveops activations of Subway Surfers, Love & Pies, and Monument Valley 2 & 3. The talk will also examine innovative jams like the IGDA Climate SIG Microjams and the recent Citizens Assembly Game Jam, as well as the critical role of energy efficiency in reducing costs and emissions.
In a saturated market where player attention is a scarce commodity, innovation is essential for long-term success. This session will equip attendees with actionable insights on leveraging sustainability and impact strategies to enhance engagement, boost KPIs, and most importantly, create games that resonate deeply, engaging hearts and minds for years to come.
Session Takeaway
- Practical strategies to make a compelling business case for sustainable design, whether from a big company or an indie studio
- Examples of creative approaches that align environmental stewardship with profitability
- Use-cases that can inspire approaches to reinvigorate the player community, making a positive impact with players and the world
- Insights into how initiatives like Playing for the Planet and the IGDA Climate SIG can amplify your efforts
Session speakers
