Russian President Vladimir Putin took an interest in the computer game Dota 2 after the opening ceremony of the Games of the Future in Kazan, a detail captured by a VGTRK journalist via a Telegram channel. The moment, shared in a video, shows Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko explaining the basics of Dota 2 to the president, with several regional leaders in attendance. Alongside Putin were the presidents of Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Emomali Rahmon, who listened closely as Chernyshenko spoke. Also present were the leaders of Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Republika Srpska, including Alexander Lukashenko, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Sadyr Japarov and Milorad Dodik, all gathered for the opening of the Future Games event.
Chernyshenko described Dota 2 as a strategic title focused on expanding control over the opponent’s territory. He highlighted that the game presents more complexity than chess by featuring 121 distinct pieces with diverse roles, compared with the six pieces in chess. The deputy prime minister emphasized the depth of Dota 2 and noted that the World Championship final of this game drew a larger audience than the Tokyo Olympic Games final, illustrating the sport-like appeal and global reach of competitive gaming.
The exchange at the ceremony underscored a growing interest in e-sports as a cultural and economic phenomenon within Russia and its neighboring regions. The participation of multiple heads of state signals an official acknowledgment of gaming as a significant facet of modern entertainment, technology, and international outreach. Observers noted that the event showcased how gaming culture can intersect with diplomacy and public diplomacy strategies, presenting Russia as an active participant in the global digital landscape.
Updates on the event and its reception continued to arrive, with analysts tracking audience engagement, media coverage, and the broader implications for e-sports investments and youth outreach initiatives in the region.