With few exceptions, physical game copies are generally placed inside plastic game cases. However, Sega Europe is vowing to try and reverse this routine trend, as it is abandoning plastic cases for its PC releases.
Sega will replace the regular plastic game case with a recyclable cardboard case. This is a sure win for those concerned about the environment, and it could well start a new trend in the industry.
Sega Europe's decision to go recyclable with its PC game cases follows Sports Interactive's decision to do the same a few months ago with its game, Football Manager 2020. The Sega Europe subsidiary's hope at the time, as indicated by its director, Miles Jacobson, was that the gaming industry in its entirety would be inspired to do the same.
Total War: Rome II - Enemy at the Games Edition will be Sega Europe's first game to get the cardboard case treatment. The game will be releasing next week on the PC.
According to Gamesindustry.biz, it will require more capital to use cardboard instead of plastic for the cases. However, the cases are nonetheless recyclable and are made from recycled materials.
Gary Dale, Sega Europe's COO and president, spoke out on the decision to go recyclable. Dale stated that this initiative represents Sega Europe's efforts to reduce the planet's waste by using non-plastic materials for its products. He said that the company wants to continually design the installation of "environmentally friendly business practices."
Dale implied that Sports Interactive's initiative was a driving force behind the decision from Sega Europe. Furthermore, Dale encouraged the rest of the gaming industry to follow suit. He made the argument that pollution can be reduced by a large measure over time if the entertainment industry works as a whole to eliminate plastic packaging from its production processes.
All in all, it is very commendable that Sega Europe is taking this initiative. While many debate the semantics of recycling, the desire to help the planet by reducing its pollution from plastic and other consequential materials is a significant move, considering it's coming from a company as large as Sega. Hopefully, the trend continues with other gaming companies doing the same.
Source: Gamesindustry.biz