Retro violence as a paradoxical fight for the environment: The nostalgic circular video games economy

Violent retro video games contribute to a circular economy of nostalgia amidst the backdrop of climate change. This reuse of old games stands in contrast to the escalating resources devoted to new video games and consoles, which contribute to the growing issue of technological waste. How does this material retro circular economy intersect with the environmental meanings embedded within these games? Using Actor-Network Theory methods, the author conducted an analysis of violent retro video games set in natural landscapes. The findings reveal that these video games promote a gameplay experience that runs counter to sustainable messaging. Through video games, nature is presented in a way that highlights the impossibility of a direct connection between humans and the natural world, acknowledging this impossibility instead of leaving it as an unknown. Techno-nostalgia, unsustainable gaming designs, and violence emerge as significant factors shaping a sustainable circular economy, thereby challenging simplistic approaches aimed at promoting environmental literacy, progress, and pacifism for a sustainable future.