An Alliance to Boost Russian Game Development
Rostelecom and gaming studio Lesta have signed a partnership aimed at accelerating the growth of Russia’s game development industry and esports scene. The agreement goes beyond gaming: it promises to build an ecosystem that unites players, infrastructure, and cultural projects.
Game Production Boost and Joint Promotion
Russia’s video game market is expanding rapidly. The cooperation agreement was signed by Rostelecom’s Vice President for Mass Market Products, Irina Lebedeva, and Boris Dobrodeev, CEO of IT Technologies (Lesta Games Agency). The deal focuses on generating new gaming content and consolidating players around domestic platforms.
Both parties agreed to host promotional and gaming events, including esports tournaments. A key part of the strategy is strengthening ties with gamer communities through joint participation in industry-specific gatherings.
Lesta Games Joins Rostelecom’s Ecosystem
Lesta Games Group is one of Russia’s largest developers and publishers, best known for World of Warships, World of Tanks for PC, and Tanks Blitz for mobile in Russia and Belarus. The company is now working on new projects that will gain traction with Rostelecom’s backing.
“Partnership with Rostelecom opens new opportunities for our gaming community. We are confident that these initiatives will contribute to the development of the domestic gaming industry and strengthen social values: accessibility, technological innovation, and uniting people around shared interests and history,” said Boris Dobrodeev, CEO of IT Technologies, which manages Lesta Games Agency.
After foreign platforms left the Russian market, the local gaming sector entered a phase of transformation. This has spurred investment in domestic infrastructure, greater government attention, and increased support for local development and distribution. In summer 2025, Rostelecom launched its own storefront for selling video games. The collaboration with Lesta is another step demonstrating industry commitment and readiness to create favorable conditions for Russian developers.
“Rostelecom is actively developing its gaming segment. We’ve launched a gaming platform, joined major industry events, and are collaborating closely with developers. The agreement with Lesta — one of the largest gaming studios in the country — is an important milestone both for Rostelecom and the wider industry. I’m certain that our partnership will bring innovative solutions to gaming,” said Irina Lebedeva, Vice President at Rostelecom.
With Lesta Games now under state ownership, the “telecom + gamedev” link helps promote domestic IP, consolidate audiences on Russian services, and integrate titles directly into Rostelecom’s ecosystem — including its new game store. For Rostelecom, it’s also a direct path to new traffic.
Leveling Up: Room to Grow
According to XYZ Online School’s analytics, Russian gamers spent around 173 billion rubles (approx. $2.07 billion) in 2024. The government also plays an active role in financing the industry through dedicated institutions. For example, the Internet Development Institute (IRI) plans to allocate 3.4 billion rubles (approx. $41 million) between 2025 and 2027 to support developers. Since 2022, IRI has funded 48 gaming projects, worth 5 billion rubles (approx. $60 million).
Lesta continues to develop titles in Russia and Belarus, but its products are drawing attention far beyond these markets. The company is emerging as a leader in the Russian gaming industry, with the Rostelecom partnership enhancing its image and creating export potential across the CIS and other allied countries. Joint esports tournaments are envisioned as a way to extend Russia’s gaming influence across borders.
The Rostelecom–Lesta alliance is both infrastructural and marketing-driven: the operator provides distribution channels and event organization, while the studio brings content and community. Deeper integration of Lesta’s games into Rostelecom’s ecosystem is expected, aligning with the operator’s long-term gaming strategy.
In parallel, both companies signed another agreement involving United Russia, the Russian Military-Historical Society, and the Federation of Computer Sports. The joint initiative will upgrade the “Victory Dictation” project, using AI-powered historical chatbots and esports tournaments to promote cultural heritage. The first tournament is set for spring 2026, with a second in the fall. The collaboration underscores how Russian developers aim to blend gaming with education and history to deliver experiences that are both entertaining and socially meaningful.
