SQUARE ENIX and ENECHANGE Begin Joint Development of New Service to Support Decarbonization Actions

SQUARE ENIX Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Takashi Kiryu; hereinafter "SQUARE ENIX") and ENECHANGE Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and CEO: Tomoya Maruoka; hereinafter "ENECHANGE") announce the start of joint development of a new service (hereinafter "the service") designed to support individuals' decarbonization actions. The service is scheduled to launch within 2026.

This project has been selected under the "Subsidy for Promoting Environmental Conservation Actions and Subsidy for Measures to Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions," part of the Ministry of the Environment's initiative to promote "Deco-katsu" (a national movement to create a new, rich lifestyle linked to decarbonization). Specifically, it falls under the program titled "Promoting Lifestyle Shifts Toward Decarbonization Using Gamification."

Background and Objectives

The Japanese government has declared its goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 46% by fiscal year 2030 compared to fiscal year 2013※1. Within this target, the household sector is required to achieve a 66% reduction※1, necessitating active participation by individuals in adopting decarbonization actions. However, despite growing awareness of the term "decarbonization"※2, challenges remain in helping individuals initiate and sustain such actions due to factors like "lack of information" and "difficulty maintaining conscious behavioral changes"※2.

To address these challenges, the new service will combine SQUARE ENIX's expertise in entertainment with ENECHANGE's knowledge and platforms in energy and decarbonization to deliver a new application that supports individuals' decarbonization efforts.

※1 Source: Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, “Global Warming Countermeasures Plan” (Cabinet Decision, October 2021)

※2 Source: Cabinet Office, Public Opinion Survey on Climate Change (Survey conducted in July 2023)

Service Features

The service will define everyday decarbonization actions such as "energy saving" and "energy efficiency" as "missions." Users will earn "points" as rewards upon completing these missions. By clearly visualizing necessary decarbonization actions as missions and enabling users to gain points, the service aims to make the significance of decarbonization actions tangible and engaging. Under an original game world developed specifically for the application, the service will include character development elements, where users can increase their point rewards as their characters grow, transforming sustained participation into an enjoyable experience. Points will be funded through advertising revenue and sponsorships from companies and organizations, and users will be able to exchange them for common loyalty points (as seen in "point hunting" services) or in-game items within the service.

Missions will be continuously updated and expanded through collaboration with municipalities, companies, and organizations engaged in decarbonization. The service also aims to deepen understanding of and help solve regional challenges, as well as promote and provide experiential opportunities for GX (Green Transformation) products and services.

Additionally, the service will utilize Oasys, a blockchain platform that employs the environmentally conscious Proof of Stake method, to ensure transparency and reliability through a tamper-resistant data structure.

About ENECHANGE Ltd.

ENECHANGE (Enecchange) is an "energy tech" company dedicated to its mission of "Creating the Future of Energy," driving the "4D Revolution in Energy" (liberalization, decentralization, decarbonization, and digitalization). Founded in 2015, ENECHANGE went public on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers Market in 2020 (currently listed on the TSE Growth Market, Securities Code: 4169). The company provides solutions across various energy distribution value chains—including power procurement, supply-demand management, retail and sales, and customer support—that are undergoing significant transformation due to the 4D shifts in energy. (https://enechange.co.jp)

About SQUARE ENIX Co., Ltd.

SQUARE ENIX Co., Ltd. is a leading company in the entertainment industry, consistently creating innovative and hit content and services. Notable in-house IPs from the company include the "DRAGON QUEST" series (cumulative shipments and downloads exceeding 97 million units), the "FINAL FANTASY" series (over 209 million units), and the "SPACE INVADERS" series. (https://www.jp.square-enix.com/)