Russian Intervention in World of Tanks Developer
Lesta Studios, the former developer of the world-famous online war game World of Tanks, is on the agenda due to the intervention of the Russian government. The studio, which separated from Wargaming in 2022 and became independent in Russia, is now facing direct intervention by the state. According to court documents, all of the company’s shares are being transferred to the state.
Ukrainian Support Causes Trouble for World of Tanks
According to the lawsuit prepared by the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office, Lesta Studios’ current structure is described as “a structure engaged in extremist activities.” The support provided to Ukraine by former parent company Wargaming was cited as the main reason for this intervention. The documents request that the shares of the studio’s managers Viktor Kisly and Malik Khatazhaev be transferred to the state.
Wargaming announced in a statement on the subject that it will completely withdraw from the Russian and Belarusian markets in 2022 and transfer all its assets in these markets to the local government for zero cost. The company emphasized that it no longer has any commercial activities in these countries, and also underlined the aid campaigns it has carried out in the past.
In 2023, Wargaming donated all the income generated by publishing Ukrainian-themed in-game packs to purchase ambulances with medical equipment. These ambulances were equipped with devices such as defibrillators, monitors and oxygen support to ensure the survival of people injured on the front line. These humanitarian aid efforts were also cited as justification for Russia’s intervention.
On the other hand, in 2022, the company’s creative director Sergey Burkatovskiy was dismissed after his statements supporting Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Wargaming had clearly stated that these statements did not reflect the company’s views. All these developments once again brought to the agenda the political influence of the Russian government on the gaming industry.
