Welfare of Animals in Esports and Digital Gaming

Digital gaming and esports rarely involve real animals, but game design choices that normalize animal mistreatment or gamify animal suffering can shape player attitudes and real-world behavior.

Key Facts

Some games reward virtual animal cruelty as game mechanics without welfare consideration in design
Research shows exposure to gratuitous virtual violence can desensitize players to real-world harm
Conversely, games with positive animal welfare narratives have been shown to increase pro-animal attitudes
Games with animal companions that model positive human-animal bonds may improve real-world welfare outcomes

Welfare Considerations

Digital gaming animal welfare is primarily an indirect influence on attitudes and behavior rather than a direct welfare issue for real animals. Game design choices that normalize animal cruelty as entertainment may contribute to desensitization. Conversely, games featuring animal welfare as a positive narrative element, animal care simulations, or wildlife conservation contexts can cultivate empathy and welfare-positive attitudes. The welfare of real animals is not directly at stake in gaming, but the attitudes gaming shapes in millions of players influence real-world welfare outcomes over time. The gaming industry has an opportunity to be a positive force for animal welfare through thoughtful design.

What You Can Do

Engage with game developers encouraging welfare-positive animal representation in game design
Support wildlife conservation games and animal care simulations that build empathy
Critique game mechanics that normalize animal cruelty without meaningful ethical context
Support research into gaming as a channel for animal welfare attitude formation and behavior change