Games for Change and Tencent Games Develop Raising Good Gamers with New Program to Assist Families Navigate Optimistic Play in Video Games

The research-led initiative gives sensible instruments for households and helps extra knowledgeable and balanced dialogue with trade and policymakers on video video games.

Games for Change, in partnership with Tencent Games, right now introduced the launch of a brand new program that builds on the Raising Good Gamers initiative, designed to assist households interact extra confidently with the function video video games play in younger folks’s lives. With 3.3 billion folks enjoying video video games worldwide, video gaming is now a central a part of on a regular basis life – reinforcing the necessity for extra knowledgeable, proof‑based mostly and balanced dialogue round play.

The Raising Good Gamers partnership brings collectively trade, researchers, and nonprofit consultants to advance a rising motion round optimistic play in video video games. One of the primary outputs is a brand new white paper ‘Raising Good Gamers: What Families Need to Know About Video Games and Well-Being’, authored by Games for Change Research Director, Dr. Rachel Kowert. Drawing on new international analysis throughout 15 markets together with the Middle East and 7 languages, alongside a evaluate of current research and interviews with dad and mom and sport builders, the paper gives proof to help extra knowledgeable and balanced conversations amongst households, educators, policymakers and trade.

Building on this analysis, Raising Good Gamers will ship sensible, accessible, family-facing instruments and assets to varsities and neighborhood youth organizations to help dad and mom in participating with video gaming extra confidently and constructively. Developed by Games for Change Chief Program Officer Arana Shapiro, the supplies – together with workshops, dialog guides – are designed to assist dad and mom interact with video gaming alongside their kids and help wholesome gameplay. This contains grounding discussions about optimistic play in on a regular basis observe, from respectful habits and communication to neighborhood participation and shared values.

Following a profitable pilot workshop within the US in March, the roll-out of this system is deliberate for the US and UK in September, with the ambition of broadening internationally protecting the Middle East subsequent yr as a part of a sustainable motion to assist change the tradition of video gaming for everybody.

Susanna Pollack, President, Games for Change, mentioned: “For many parents, video games are a meaningful part of their children’s lives, but one they don’t always feel equipped to navigate. As gaming continues to evolve, families are increasingly looking for balanced, practical support. Through this partnership and accompanying research, we’re bringing together data, behavioral science and the voices of families themselves to help address the questions parents have and give them the tools to engage with gaming in a more informed, confident and constructive way.”

Danny Marti, Head of Global Public Affairs at Tencent, added: “Video games are an enriching and widely enjoyed part of modern life, yet public debate around games is too often shaped by narrow or incomplete narratives. Raising Good Gamers reflects a belief that positive play is a shared responsibility, one that benefits from collaboration across industry, researchers, educators, policymakers, and families. By grounding the conversation in evidence and practical experience, this partnership aims to support more informed decision-making and a more balanced understanding of the role video games play in young people’s lives.”

The themes explored as a part of the partnership are additionally mirrored in a brand new episode of the Good Game Club podcast which shall be launched on 16 April 2026 at 8 a.m. BST, that includes Susanna Pollack, President of Games for Change, and Danny Marti, Head of Global Public Affairs at Tencent. Hosted by Jude Ower MBE and Mathias Nørvig, CEO of SYBO, the episode explores the partnership and the case for extra knowledgeable conversations round video video games and wholesome play. More info is offered right here: Good Game Club Linktree.

Tencent Games is proud to be a sponsor of the Games for Change Festival, happening on 21–22 July 2026 in New York City, the place the complete findings of the Raising Good Gamers white paper shall be unveiled. The analysis shall be offered by a keynote tackle and a panel dialogue bringing households, trade, and policymakers collectively to advance extra knowledgeable, proof‑based mostly dialogue round video video games and optimistic play.