Ubisoft eco-drive leads to scrapping of game manuals

Ubisoft is to replace its paper instruction manuals with digital ones in an attempt to save trees and stem its greenhouse gases output.

The move will also allow the publisher to provide a more robust manual to gamers, said Ubisoft, as well as more intuitive access to game information.

In addition to its paper-saving initiative, Ubisoft has also partnered with Technimark to switch to the industry's most environmentally-responsible DVD case for all of its future PC titles in North America.

"Ubisoft is often recognised for making great games, but it's a special privilege to be the industry leader at saving trees," said Laurent Detoc, president of Ubisoft North America.

"Eco-friendly initiatives are important to the global community and introducing in-game digital manuals on Xbox 360 and PS3 is just the latest example of Ubisoft's ongoing commitment to being a more environmentally conscious company."

According to Ubisoft data, producing one ton of paper for game manuals consumes an average of two tons of wood from 13 trees, with a net energy of 28 million BTUs - the equivalent to one home's average heating and energy for a year - over 6000lbs of CO2 and 15,000 gallons of waste water.

The digital manuals will be introduced to all Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 games, starting with Shaun White Skateboarding, due out later this year.

"It's pretty cool that Ubisoft is making a conscious effort to go green with its new video game packaging," commented Olympic Gold medalist Shaun White. "I'm excited for my new skateboarding game to come out and stoked that it will be the very first Ubisoft game to be part of their green packaging initiatives."