Volvo Game Jam sparks interest in technology and sustainable development
From February 27 to March 2, Volvo Game Jam 2026 took place in Skövde, where game development students were challenged to address the industry’s sustainability challenges through games. During an intensive development weekend, the participants created prototypes that were tested by 14-year-olds on the final day.
Throughout the weekend, the students worked with the theme SustainabilityHunt. Their task was to develop games for a young audience in a short period of time and use interactive storytelling to illustrate how industry is transitioning toward more sustainable solutions.
The event was organized by Volvo in Skövde together with Drivhuset, the University of Skövde, Science Park Skövde, and Balthazar Science Center. Through the project, academia, industry, and young people came together in a joint effort to spark interest in technology, innovation, and sustainable development.
Games that spark curiosity
The finished prototypes were tested by 14-year-olds during the final day on March 2 - an important part of the process. By letting the target audience try the games, the students received direct feedback on how their ideas were received and how the message about sustainability came across.
When asked why Volvo participates in this type of event, Anders Briland, Sustainability Manager at Volvo GTO, highlighted three key reasons:
“I would say there are three main reasons. The first is to be inspired by young people doing creative and exciting things. The second is long-term recruitment, where some participants might become interested in Volvo and consider working here in the future. The third is being part of the Skövde community. Game companies are something we’re proud of here, so connecting with them feels important.”
“A chance to grow”
When the jury had made its decision, Recycle was named the winner of Volvo Game Jam 2026. The game focused on reuse and circularity in a fast-paced and playful format.
“We created a short party game for two players that lasts about a minute. One player produces Volvo parts while the other handles the leftover materials. That creates a loop that keeps going, and the goal is to produce as many parts as possible,” says Elias Albrektsson, an alumnus of the University of Skövde.
For the participants, the weekend was not only about competing, but also about challenging themselves in a real-world setting.
“It’s a great opportunity to grow - jumping into a team, doing your best over a few days, creating a product, and gaining more experience,” says Simon Lager Brink, an alumnus of the University of Skövde.
Connecting students with the games industry
Volvo Game Jam is a clear example of how collaboration between industry, academia, and innovation support organizations can create meeting places where young people, students, and companies work together to address societal challenges — and where games open new paths for innovation in other industries.
“Part of our work is to connect students with the games industry. We believe many people in the industry want to help build the next generation of game developers, but often they don’t know how, so we help create those connections,” says Vania Castagnino Ugolotti, Business Developer at Science Park Skövde, and continues:
“Games are powerful tools for creating change and can be truly transformative for players. That’s why we think it’s important to support spaces like this game jam, where students are encouraged to create games that explore topics such as sustainability. At the same time, game jams are fantastic environments for forming new teams and developing ideas that can grow into new companies, and perhaps even the next hit games.”
