Putin tightens grip: New game laws reshape Russian market
Vladimir Putin has instructed the government to take control of the video game market to combat a "distorted image" of history and Russia's role. The games are intended to promote patriotism and align with the Kremlin's propaganda policy, which Putin's associates have been shaping for years. This is how the dictator plans to win the battle for the hearts and minds of Russians.
The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, has ordered the government to establish control over the computer game market in the country - reports "Fakt". The objective is to prevent the dissemination of a "distorted image" of historical events and "Russia's place and role in the world".
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko informed Putin that the computer game industry has already surpassed the film and music markets. According to a VTsIOM study, one in four Russians regularly play video games. In Putin's view, games should bolster the patriotism of Russians.
Only recently, Putin himself said that the game should "help a person develop, help find himself, help educate a person both within the framework of universal human values and patriotism". The Kremlin’s activity in video games shows how persistently the Putin government has tried to use social media to achieve its political goals in the West, despite the diplomatic and economic isolation of the Russian Federation.
New regulations for the video game market. Bad news for gamers
The Kremlin plans to monitor citizens who enjoy video games. Game distributors in Russia may be required to identify users using "Gosuslugi", biometric data, or a telephone number.
The new draft law on video game regulation in the country states that all video game distributors in the Russian Federation will have to identify users, regardless of the country of production. If non-compliance occurs, regulatory bodies will issue orders to rectify violations.
The draft law also proposes the labelling of computer games according to their content. "For example, it is proposed to inform players about the presence of vulgar language, scenes of violence, cruelty, alcohol, or smoking in the game, and that some elements of the game may cause fear, terror, or panic, and so forth," noted Artem Sheikin, the first deputy chairman of the constitutional commission of the Federation Council of Russia.
Russians fall in love with video games
Currently, over 80 million Russians from various social and age groups play video games. Foreign gaming platforms may refuse to comply with the user authorisation requirement - warned Vasily Ovchinnikov, CEO of the Video Game Industry Development Organisation (VDI).
Adopting this initiative could lead to a mass blocking of foreign video games in Russia. The requirement to label content can also lead to the banning of the distribution and advertising of games, added Ovchinnikov, urging dialogue with legislators.
Earlier, Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin announced that deputies intend to pass a law aimed at protecting citizens from "destructive content" and the propaganda of "values foreign to us" in video games. He conducted a poll on this topic on his Telegram channel, in which over 113,000 people participated. Ultimately, 71 per cent of the responses were positive, and 26 per cent were negative.
A Russian game console to be developed? "Putindo 64"
Vladimir Putin commissioned the development of a Russian game console. The work is already underway, initiated by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Internet users are mocking this idea, calling it "Putindo 64".
In a desperate attempt to shun western technology, President Vladimir Putin has ordered the creation of a new Russian video game console — informed an article on dailymail.co.uk.
The idea did not emerge out of the blue. The British newspaper reminds us that, due to sanctions since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the most popular consoles like Xbox, PS5, and Nintendo are no longer imported into the country.
Cooperation with China
The Russian gaming industry has been severely affected by sanctions, forcing authorities to seek alternatives. One idea is the establishment of a Russian-Chinese gaming alliance.
Chernyshenko suggested granting Russian developers licences to work in China, which would revitalize the market. Without a Chinese government licence, publishing games is difficult, involving long waiting times for approvals. Chernyshenko proposed streamlining this process for Russians.
Russia also plans to organise an international Games of the Future event in 2024, combining e-sports with technology and traditional competition. This demonstrates hope for better relations with China in the area of computer games.
