Do you want to help heal the Earth’s forests from the comfort of your home?
For $70 you’re able to do just that!
At least, that is acting like the promise ofSony’sPlay and Plant program, announced on Tuesday.
Another suggested that players have “the chance to do tangible good for the Earth.”
Comments have been largely positive, too, with many lauding Sony’s initiative.
But a brief glance beyond the headlines reveals this is video games greenwashing at its worst.
The vast majority of this coming from energy used at Sony sites across the world.
The PlayStation 5 is an energy-intensive beast.
This is about the same as charging your smartphone 35 times.
That’s not an extreme amount, but is it really necessary?
And beyond the planting, there’s also the follow-up.
Will Sony ensure the planted trees make it to adulthood?
The tree-planting program isn’t limited to the US.
Which brings up another point.
The first game in the series,Horizon Zero Dawn,sold over 20 million copies.
Look past the feel-good headlines and tweets, and you find little cause for celebration.
Sony is making inroads into reducing its environmental impact, but the pace of progress is slow.
It doesn’t deserve a trophy for that.
Sony didn’t respond to our requests for comment.
