IRI Head Confident in Russia's Full Game Import Substitution Within 3-5 Years
Alexei Goreslavsky, CEO of the Institute for Internet Development (IRI), has expressed strong optimism regarding Russia's ability to achieve full import substitution in the video game industry within the next three to five years.
Speaking at the Russian Internet Governance Forum (RIGF), Goreslavsky acknowledged that while the gaming sector remains the most challenging area for domestic replacement, significant progress has already been made in other media, such as television series, which he noted are "almost fully substituted" in Russia.
He elaborated that the development of video games demands substantially greater investments and resources compared to producing films or series. This higher barrier to entry naturally leads to a slower transition of the audience towards Russian-made projects. Goreslavsky emphasized that establishing a comprehensive alternative to foreign games and successfully reorienting an entire generation of users is a complex undertaking. Nevertheless, he asserted his confidence that this formidable goal is entirely achievable with the right strategic approach.
To support his perspective, Goreslavsky referenced data from VTsIOM (Russian Public Opinion Research Center) surveys. These studies indicate a notable increase in the viewership of Russian TV series, with their audience share rising from approximately 70% in the 2022–2023 season to an impressive 85% by 2025. Concurrently, interest in foreign projects saw a decline, dropping from 56% to 40% during the same period, illustrating a clear shift towards local content.
Fresh materials — Gaming News
Xbox Revenue Sees Significant Drop, Hardware Sales Down 29%
Microsoft's most recent financial disclosures highlight a considerable decrease in Xbox revenue. For the entirety of the fiscal year, Xbox revenue experienced a 7% decline. This downward trend continued into the fourth quarter, where revenue fell by 10% compared to the previous year. The prima
"People want to play arcade racers again" – How Wreckreation's developer transitioned from a redundancy notice to working on a sequel
The team at Three Fields Entertainment, led by Fiona Sperry, recently faced a company-wide redundancy notice in December. Despite this challenging situation, they are now working on a sequel to their arcade racer, Wreckreation. This shift in direction comes as a response to a clear demand from
Netflix Launches New App for Children's Games
Netflix has rolled out a new application exclusively for children's games, marking a significant evolution in its strategy for its gaming arm. This move underscores Netflix's commitment to expanding its presence in the interactive entertainment space, with a particular focus on younger audienc
Podcast: Call of Duty, Game Pass, and the Mario Movie
It's Friday, and we're back with another episode of the pre-alpha GamesIndustry.biz Podcast. This week, I'm joined by Lewis Packwood as we delve into the week's major talking point: Xbox's decision regarding Call of Duty. Specifically, we're discussing the move to remove the game from Game Pas
Epic Games Store Launches on iPhone in Japan
The Epic Games Store is now accessible on iPhones in Japan. This development comes shortly after the implementation of the Mobile Software Competition Act (MSCA), which took effect in December 2025.
Magic: The Gathering Arena Developers Announce Unionization Plans
A substantial majority of the development team behind Magic: The Gathering Arena has declared their intention to unionize. They plan to affiliate with the Communications Workers of America (CWA). English Translation: A substantial majority of the development team behind Magic: