Safe In Our World and Niantic team up to create the Positive Play Guide

We’re delighted to have teamed up with Niantic to create and publish our Positive Play Guide, designed to highlight ways players can get the most out of their experiences with social-focused games, showcase amazing community stories and provide information to supplement players’ wellbeing.

We strongly believe in both the physical and mental health benefits of community play. This is a connection that has been proven through research, but Niantic and Safe In Our World are joining forces to illustrate these benefits throughout this guide.

The Positive Play Guide contains case studies and research highlighting how community play can uplift people within gaming. You can read about real-life stories from players within Niantic games communities, such as finding long-lasting friendships in Pokémon GO and using Peridot to help navigate pet loss.

After losing my dog who was and is still family to me, I felt lost and alone. I didn’t want to go outside or socialize with others,” said Chantal B., a Peridot Keeper from the Netherlands. “Then Peridot came along. Having a virtual pet has brought back my smile and helped me get outside again. Seeing my Peridot run alongside me as I go for a walk makes it less lonely and so wholesome! My friends say they have seen me ‘blossom’ back up.

We also outline a number of benefits of community play, looking at the positive impact in our sense of belonging, as well as fostering authentic connections with people across the world. This includes how community culture can be especially beneficial for people who struggle with in-person interactions, and allows a safe space to build confidence among friends.

We believe in the magic that real world connections can have on emotional well being, and we’re excited to work with Safe In Our World to highlight the ways in which games can be a useful tool to foster positive interactions in the real world. – Yennie Solheim, Social Impact Director at Niantic Labs

Kindness is at the heart of welcoming and inclusive communities, and our guide encourages players to foster supportive spaces in gaming spaces online. This includes providing players with resources, including information on emotional literacy and self-awareness when gaming.

If you’d like to read more, please click here to access the Positive Play Guide.