Demand could be the mother of innovation in Russia, which is reportedly looking to subsidize the video game giant’s exit from homegrown technology.
Russia’s state-backed technology and industrial products company Rostec is looking to create its own game engine that developers will be allowed to use to build video game architecture, business newspaper Kommersant reported.
In March, Nintendo announced it was suspending all exports to Russia, joining the ranks of global companies that vowed to pull out of the country shortly after President Vladimir Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine.
Sony Interactive Entertainment has suspended the PlayStation Store and the launch of Gran Turismo 7 in Russia. A number of technology companies have followed suit, such as the American company EA. Microsoft also announced that it has stopped selling all products and services, including Xbox.
The parent company of Rockstar Games, Take-Two Interactive, has announced that it will stop selling and allowing installation of its games in Russia and Belarus. This comes just before the release of Grand Theft Auto V for Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5.
Citing anonymous sources, Kommersant reported on Tuesday that the head of Rostec, Sergei Chemezov, has asked the Ministry of Digital Development of Russia for support through the state investment fund Rosinfocominvest, which supports IT.
The newspaper said that the government is “carefully” looking at the idea of financing “the first Russian gaming machine,” although Rostec may ask that the money come from other commercial sources.
However, the issue of developing a domestically produced gaming machine was first raised in May during a meeting involving the gaming industry and the president’s representatives, according to Kommersant.
The newspaper said that the “vacant niche” and technology can contribute to the “technological independence” of Russia and dovetail in other areas such as Virtual Reality (VR) projects, education and cinema.
The source told the newspaper that it is an “interesting project” and “we are ready to participate with companies and other interested parties.” The report did not mention the development of console games.
The mass exodus of Western companies to Russia has isolated the country, which has been a good source of growth for the past two decades.
Starbucks, Marriott and Louis Vuitton were among the many brands that took steps to avoid the Russian war.
One of the most famous exits is McDonald’s which sold to a Russian entrepreneur who put a local stamp on the brand, which is now called Vksuna i Tochka (Delicious and that’s), although it met dental problems.
Newsweek has contacted Rostec for comment.
