At Virtuos, we believe it is our responsibility to not only make games better, but also to help make the places we work and live in better. This year, we stepped up our corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts in the five pillars of:
- Education and diversity,
- Environmental sustainability,
- Our community,
- Our employees, and
- Governance.
As a game developer with a global reach, our purpose is not just about making the very best AAA games, but also instilling ethical practices in our teams and ensuring that our work is done sustainably.
Small actions can make a big difference, and we are happy to share some highlights of the activities and initiatives that our teams have taken part in during 2021.
Education and Diversity
At Virtuos, we strongly believe in the importance of diversity in the workplace. We are committed to doing our part to create opportunities for the communities around us by empowering through education and providing an inclusive workplace for everyone.
Virtuos Joins Women In Games as Corporate Ambassador
In October, we joined Women in Games as a Corporate Ambassador, committing to increase our proportion of female talent at Virtuos beyond the current 30% in the male-dominated video game industry.
Virtuos Renews Contribution to Women in Animation as Global Fund Sponsor
In September, we renewed our contribution to the Women in Animation (WIA) Global Fund at the Partners Circle level. As a founding donor to the fund since 2019, the renewed contribution reaffirms our commitment to gender diversity and equality in the animation, games, and wider digital entertainment industry.
Sparx* – A Virtuos Studio Announces Scholarship Program for Female Students in Ho Chi Minh City
As part of our mission to nurture the next generation of female artists in our local communities, Sparx* kick-started a new initiative in September to empower female students in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam through our Women Game Changers Scholarship Program, offering recipients financial support as well as mentorship opportunities at our studio.
Virtuos Paris Visits Collège Marcel Pagnol
In December, a team of our female talent from Virtuos Paris visited Collège Marcel Pagnol, a middle school near Cergy, to share more about our industry with the students. Our Virtuosi, who come from various backgrounds including game production and animation, introduced the different career paths available in the industry, as part of our global efforts to encourage more females to consider a career in game development.
Environmental Sustainability
At Virtuos, we believe that it is our responsibility as a growing business to be mindful of our impact on the environment, and have created initiatives to encourage our employees to become more environmentally friendly.
Black Shamrock – A Virtuos Studio Donates to Crann – Trees for Ireland
In February, our colleagues in Black Shamrock took part in a four-week steps challenge, where the total number of steps accumulated throughout the challenge would equate to an amount of money donated to an organization of the studio’s choice. At the end of the event, a total of 2,000 euros was donated to Crann – Trees for Ireland, a local organization that supports and promotes green spaces in the country, with over 650,000 steps taken collectively.
Virtuos North America Contributes to Earth Month
In April, our studios in North America participated in various initiatives including a beach clean-up activity in San Francisco by our CounterPunch – A Virtuos Studio team. Due to the local pandemic situation, our teams in Canada organized individual clean-up sessions at their local parks. Virtuos North America also donated to the Arbor Day Foundation, contributing enough funds to plant 1,000 trees.
Virtuos Xi’an Organizes “Switch Off After Work” Contest During Energy Saving Month
In August, as part of our efforts to promote energy-saving and reduce emissions, Virtuos Xi’an organized activities to encourage colleagues to save energy. During the month-long event, our studio members switched off their work computers after office hours and saved a total of 14,408 hours of computer run-time.
Our Community
At Virtuos, we understand the importance of helping the communities around us grow together with us, as we continue to expand our business and reach. This year, we continue to reaffirm our principle in giving back through volunteering events and donations.
Green IT Classroom
Green IT Classroom is one of our main CSR initiatives inaugurated in 2019 to create a long-term impact in local communities by fostering digital inclusion for local students and contributing to sustainability by donating old usable devices.
This year, our studios in China and Vietnam participated in various activities as part of the Green IT Classroom program through volunteering and donation drives.
Virtuos Chengdu
In March, Virtuos Chengdu donated over 1,000 books to Donghua Yucai School, contributing to the creation of the Virtuos Book Corner in the school for underprivileged students.
Sparx* – A Virtuos Studio
In April, Sparx* donated 10 sets of refurbished computers to John Bosco Can Gio Shelter House, a facility in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam that takes care of underprivileged local children. Our volunteers also conducted an IT lesson for the children to educate them on digital literacy.
Virtuos Shanghai
In September, our volunteers from Virtuos Shanghai visited Tangwan Migrant School in Wujing to conduct handicraft painting and digital painting lessons for young students. The lessons were themed “Earth’s Resources” and “Environmental Protection” to educate them on environmental sustainability.
In October, Virtuos attended the Netspring Students Exhibition held at the Jing’an Children’s Library in Shanghai as part of the eighth Franco-Chinese Environmental Month (FCEM). The participating schools included beneficiaries of Virtuos’ Green IT Classroom program in Shanghai and Chengdu.
Virtuos Xi’an
In November, Virtuos Xi’an became our latest studio to participate in the Green IT Classroom program, donating new flagpole and basketball stands to Little Swan Primary School.
During the festive period, our studio in Xi’an collated a Christmas wishlist from Haoping Town Left-behind Children Care Center. Our colleagues from Virtuos Xi’an pitched together to collect and donate the gifts on the list to the children, which were delivered to them in time for Christmas.
Contributing to COVID-19 Relief Efforts in Vietnam
In July, Sparx* contributed 100 protective coveralls and other essential equipment to aid healthcare workers at the Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases, one of the hospitals at the frontline of the city’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Our studio also donated to the vaccine fund in Vietnam in support of nationwide inoculation and herd immunity.
Virtuos France Participates in Plus Vite Que Cancer 2021
In October, Virtuos France participated in Plus Vite Que Cancer (Faster Than Cancer), a virtual race event organized by the French League Against Cancer to raise funds for cancer research. Participants from our studios in France racked up over 60km of distance ran, raising 1200 euros for the cause.
Terry Fox Run Vietnam 2021
In November, Sparxers took part in the annual Terry Fox Run in Vietnam, a charity event where participants raise funds for cancer research in commemoration of Terry Fox, the athlete and cancer research activist who started this “Marathon of Hope.”
Bringing Christmas Cheer to 100 Children with Penny Lane Centers
In December, our teams in CounterPunch – A Virtuos Studio and Virtuos North America brought Christmas cheer to 100 children, preparing presents for them based on their wish lists. Organized in collaboration with Penny Lane Centers, a non-profit family support organization, our teams also donated Walmart gift cards to the children’s families.
Our Employees
At Virtuos, we strongly believe in the education and personal development of our employees, not only in technical aspects but their well-being too.
Virtuos Paris’ Quality of Life Challenge (SQVT)
In June, our studio in Paris participated in the Quality of Life at Work Week (SQVT) 2021 Challenge, an inter-business challenge organized as part of the National Quality of Life at Work Week in France. During the event, our employees at Virtuos Paris took part in wellness workshops and sports classes with qualified coaches, enhancing their physical and mental health.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month at Sparx*
In October, Sparx* organized various activities including virtual workshops during Breast Cancer Awareness Month to educate our studio members about the disease, which is the most common form of cancer for women in Vietnam.
As we herald the new year, we will strive to continue to positively impact our local communities and the environment we live in as we continue to make games better, together.
