Putin orders crackdown on gaming to shape Russian narratives
Vladimir Putin has instructed the government to take control of the video game market in an effort to counteract a "distorted image" of history and Russia's role. The games are designed to support patriotism and the Kremlin's propaganda policy, a strategy Putin and his associates have been shaping for years. This is part of the dictator's plan to win over the hearts and minds of Russians.
The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, has ordered the government to oversee the computer game market in the country, reports "Fakt". The aim is to prevent the spread 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 plays video games. Putin believes games should nurture Russian patriotism.
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 control citizens who enjoy video games. Game distributors in Russia may be required to identify users using "Gosuslugi", biometric data, or a phone number.
The new draft law on video game regulation states that all video game distributors in the Russian Federation will have to identify users, regardless of the game's country of origin. In cases of non-compliance, control bodies will issue orders to resolve violations.
The draft law also suggests labelling computer games according to their content. "For instance, 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 induce fear, terror, or panic, and so on," noted Artem Sheikin, the first deputy chair of the constitutional commission of the Federation Council of Russia.
Russians have embraced video games
Currently, over 80 million Russians from different 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).
If adopted, this initiative could lead to mass blocking of foreign video games in Russia. The requirement to label content could also result in the banning of the distribution and advertising of games, added Ovchinnikov, who called for dialogue with legislators.
Earlier, Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin announced that deputies plan to pass a law aimed at protecting citizens from "destructive content" and the propagation of "values foreign to us" in video games. He conducted a poll on this topic on his Telegram channel, which garnered participation from over 113,000 people. In the end, 71 percent of the responses were positive, and 26 percent were negative.
A Russian game console in development? "Putindo 64"
Vladimir Putin has commissioned the development of a Russian game console. The work, initiated by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, is already underway. Internet users are mocking this idea, dubbing 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, according to an article on dailymail.co.uk.
The idea did not emerge spontaneously. The British newspaper notes 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 impacted by sanctions, forcing authorities to seek alternatives. One idea is the formation of a Russian-Chinese gaming alliance.
Chernyshenko suggested granting Russian developers licenses to work in China, which he believes could revive the market. Without a Chinese government license, publishing games is challenging, with long waiting times for approvals. Chernyshenko proposed making this process easier for Russians.
Russia also plans to organize an international Games of the Future event in 2024, combining e-sports with technology and traditional competition. This move expresses hope for better relations with China in the realm of computer games.
