The Power of Play festival, celebrating the value of video games beyond entertainment, concludes with very positive results

Pesaro, 11 October 2025 – The first edition of The Power of Play, an international event exploring the social, educational and cultural impact of video games, came to a close today. The festival took place at the Auditorium Scavolini in Pesaro on 10 and 11 October.

It was organised by IIDEA (Italian Interactive Digital Entertainment Association), the organisation representing the video game industry in Italy. It was initiated by the Comune di Pesaro – CTE Square and the Università di Urbino Carlo Bo, in collaboration with Games for Change, an international organisation that promotes the creation and use of video games with a positive social impact. The event was held under the patronage of Rai Marche.

Over the two days, more than 30 speakers from Italy, Belgium, France, Poland, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States took to the stage to explore the role of video games in society across six thematic areas: Wellbeing, Sustainability, Culture, Human Rights, Education and Awareness.

The event also hosted six hands-on workshops for local secondary school students, as well as a showcase area where participants could try Italian video games conveying messages of change and meet their developers.

Yesterday afternoon, the Italian Video Game Awards – Games Beyond Entertainment 2025 took place, recognising two Italian video games capable of generating social, cultural or educational impact.

The Best in Impact award went to Inundo by Whitesock, recognised for its ability to highlight the challenges and dangers related to flood risk through an engaging narrative gaming experience. The Best in Learning award went to Password1234 by Tiny Bull Studios, which was praised for addressing the topic of corporate cybersecurity through an exciting narrative that makes discovering and defending against virtual threats engaging.

Family-oriented activities featuring the family influencers Guida Senza Patente were well attended, as were programmes designed for local schools, involving six educational institutions in the city of Pesaro. Teachers and school administrators were invited to participate in panels focusing on the educational potential of video games. To coincide with the launch of EU Code Week 2025 and the Games for Change Student Challenge, they were also encouraged to promote digital literacy and foster a culture of innovation among students and educators.

The showcase area offered an immersive experience with sixteen gaming stations, including the finalist titles of the IVGA – Games Beyond Entertainment 2025, projects from Bologna Game Farm 2025, and games from Video Games Without Borders and the Centro di Coordinamento Nazionale Pile e Accumulatori. There were also initiatives from CTE Square and WOM, the challenge dedicated to everyday actions that generate positive social impact.

‘The Power of Play’ is also the name of the eponymous international research project on the benefits of video games, which was presented for the first time on the Pesaro stage and is available on the event’s website.