Russia’s state-backed technology and industrial production conglomerate Rostec is looking to create its own game engine which developers would be allowed to use to build the framework of video games, the business newspaper Kommersant reported.
In March, Nintendo announced it would suspend all exports to Russia, joining international companies that vowed to leave the country soon after President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion of Ukraine.
Sony Interactive Entertainment suspended operations of the PlayStation Store and the launch of Gran Turismo 7 in Russia. A number of technology companies followed suit, such as U.S. company Electronic Arts (EA). Microsoft also announced a halt to all sales of products and services, including Xbox.
Rockstar Games’ parent company, Take-Two Interactive, announced that it would stop selling and allowing installations of its games in Russia and Belarus. This came just before the release of Grand Theft Auto V on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5.
Citing an anonymous source, Kommersant said on Tuesday that the head of Rostec, Sergei Chemezov, had asked Russia’s Ministry of Digital Development for support through the state investment fund Rosinfocominvest, which backs IT startups.
The paper said that the government is looking “carefully” at the idea of funding “the first Russian game engine,” although Rostec might ask that the money come from other venture capital sources.
However, the issue of developing a domestically-produced game engine was first raised in May during a meeting involving the gaming industry and presidential representatives, according to Kommersant.
The paper reported that a “niche has been vacated” and the technology could contribute to Russia’s “technological sovereignty” and dovetail with other areas such as Virtual Reality (VR) projects, education and cinema.
The source told the paper it was an “interesting project” and that “we are ready to participate in it along with other interested companies and departments.” The report did not mention the development of a games console.
The mass exodus of western companies from Russia has isolated the country which had been a good source of growth over the last two decades.
Starbucks, Marriott and Louis Vuitton were among the many brands that acted to distance themselves from Russia’s war.
One of the most profile departures was by McDonald’s which sold up to a Russian businessman who has put his own local stamp on the brand, which is now called Vksuna i Tochka (Delicious and that’s that), although it has faced teething problems.
Newsweek reached out to Rostec for comment.
