Flying Guardians

Objective

Planet Labs and Greenpeace Brazil sought to mobilize gamers as environmental defenders by transforming Microsoft Flight Simulator into a real-world conservation platform. The campaign targeted awareness and action against deforestation and illegal mining in the Amazon region, particularly on indigenous lands in Brazil.

Solution

The team developed an innovative mod that integrated near real-time satellite imagery from Planet Labs directly into Microsoft Flight Simulator. Players flew over updated satellite maps of the Amazon, identifying threats such as illegal mining sites and deforestation areas. In-game coordinates mapped to actual world locations, allowing players to submit threat reports to environmental authorities, sign Greenpeace petitions for Amazon protection, and contribute donations.

Results

The campaign won a D&AD Pencil award in the Gaming & Virtual Worlds category.