MOSCOW, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Russian Association of Operations and Game Development Industry Professionals (APRIORI) signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with Chinese leading gaming firms during the ChinaJoy 2025 in early August. The agreements aim to facilitate market entry for Russian developers into China's rapidly growing gaming sector through collaborative frameworks.
The MOUs outlined multi-pronged cooperation frameworks, including open data sharing mechanisms, systematic research on cultural adaptation and regulatory compliance, and establishment of mutually beneficial partnership models. Key provisions also encompass professional network expansion, structured gaming product exports, and collaborative exploration of high-potential industry growth sectors.
"These agreements mark practical steps toward sustainable collaboration in the gaming industry between Russia and China," said Alexander Mikheyev, CEO of APRIORI. He emphasized the creation of a dialogue platform for companies to test market strategies and transition from intentions to concrete projects, calling China a "strategic priority."
Konstantin Sakhnov, founder of Vengeance Games LLC, emphasized China's global gaming dominance, noting it accounts for over a quarter of worldwide game development. Partnerships or market access in China could significantly boost Russian companies' global standing while connecting them to hundreds of millions of Chinese gamers, he added.
It is reported that Russian game developers are increasing their interest in the Chinese market, with several studios already announcing expansion plans. CarX Technologies, a Russian racing simulator developer, plans to enter China in 2025. Astrum Entertainment, a PC and mobile game publisher, will target international markets including BRICS member states by 2025-2026. Overmobile, known for RPG and city-building mobile games, has also prioritized China as a key growth market.
Denis Goncharov, a Russian gaming industry expert, noted that free-to-play mobile games with deep meta-game design and regular events are more likely to achieve success in the Chinese market. He also highlighted the that projects co-developed with Chinese partners and designed from the outset to comply with local regulations stand a higher chance of commercial viability.
(Contributed by Bao Nuomin, edited by Yang Linlin with Xinhua Silk Road, linlinyanglyn@163.com)
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