Gamers around the world are joking about taking time off or calling in sick for the most anticipated open-world release in years. Germany has found a more legitimate cheat code – paid educational leave. Created by professional development organisation, Dein Bildungsurlaub, with Serviceplan Berlin and Mediaplus, Open World Games: Lessons from a Digital World runs online from November 18 to 20 for up to 100 participants. The campaign makes use of Bildungsurlaub, a German employee benefit. Employees are entitled to five to ten days of paid leave per year for recognised training, usually while covering the course fee themselves.

“The biggest game releases are no longer niche entertainment. They are cultural events that bring millions of people together,” stated Carlo Drechsel, founder of Dein Bildungsurlaub. “Modern learning should meet people where their curiosity already lives. Open worlds are built on stories, choices, communities and constant problem-solving. That makes them powerful places to learn.”

Participants complete in-game assignments in guided groups and translate their observations into practical lessons on storytelling, motivation, community-building and collaboration. One module examines how Easter eggs create engagement and what brands, teams and learning programs can borrow from that dynamic.

“Although Bildungsurlaub is available to almost all of Germany’s 42 million employees, yet many still have no idea how relevant, entertaining and varied these courses can be,”stated Jeannette Bohné, managing director at Serviceplan Berlin. “So we stopped explaining the system and gave people a reason to care. Turning the year’s biggest game launch into an accredited learning experience is not a loophole. Hacking the system of educational leave to give gamers a release they’ll never forget almost feels illegal. But nothing teaches you more about life, stress-management and creative thinking than running a criminal org in an open world game! This is proof that education can keep up with culture.”

“We are gamers too, just like 41 Million Germans, and we are employees too, creating a moment for Educational Leave during the biggest, most-anticipated game launch of the year only makes sense to us. It sounds almost too good to be true, but the logic is simple: gaming is already mainstream. Education should be, too,” added Till Diestel, CCO Serviceplan DACH.

The campaign targets employee-gamers through electronics retailers, streamer partnerships and LinkedIn, creating “hype on top of the hype”.

“The campaign is very targeted with choosing meaningful media over mass-media. We chose cultural precision over reach,” noted Max Schöngen, managing partner at Mediaplus Group. “If the idea feels like an insider tip, that is intentional. But the bigger point is universal: the strongest media ideas do not interrupt culture. They enter it at exactly the right moment – and If you haven’t seen it, you are probably not an enthusiastic gamer.”

The three-day course takes place live online, with an additional event planned in Berlin. Participants must be 18 or older and have access to a suitable device and licensed open-world game. A total of 100 places are available. Eligibility and application requirements vary by federal state and employer. Further information is available at Dein Bildungsurlaub.

Credits:
Lead Agency, Idea, Corporate Design, Implementation and Event Planning: Serviceplan Berlin
Media Strategy, Management of Creator & Media Activity: Mediaplus
Media Relations: Serviceplan PR & Content
Community Management & Social Media Support: Serviceplan Social