The Russian authorities are showing a strong interest in the gaming industry. Analysts say the government aims to create a domestic version of a major game publisher, capable of releasing numerous high-budget titles and competing with global studios on the world stage.
In the most ambitious forecast, Russia could roll out 25 AAA games with budgets around 6.5 billion rubles each and 40 AA titles with budgets up to 1.6 billion rubles by 2030. These projects would have to challenge established game developers and avoid excessive reliance on foreign soft power. The total investment is projected to reach roughly 50 billion dollars in equivalent terms.
What else is planned for 2030
- Establish a domestic rating agency to guide players and industry stakeholders.
- Expand the number of development studios by a factor of fourteen, increasing domestic production capacity.
- Roll out two new homegrown game consoles to broaden the domestic ecosystem.
- Develop four Russian-made game engines to reduce dependence on foreign technology.
- Create five designated gamedev cities to centralize talent, though the exact meaning of this term remains to be clarified.
Industry insiders note that many studios have relocated operations abroad, leaving only a handful of Russian teams capable of delivering AAA titles. One example is the Studio Cyberia Nova, which is working on an action role-playing game titled Problems with a budget of 260 million rubles.
Publisher Genshin Impact is undertaking legal action against Discord, a move reported by VG Times. This legal development adds another dimension to the evolving landscape of gaming platforms and publisher rights in the region.