Taking a few moments to investigate before making a purchase can have a meaningful impact on where our money goes and who it ultimately supports.
As we know, gaming is one of the most lucrative and talked-about industries. However, as with everything else, there's more to it than just entertainment. Behind the scenes, many game studios that craft memorable experiences simultaneously funnel profits back into unethical institutions, establishments, or corporations without the average gamer even suspecting it. For unknowing consumers, purchasing from Russian video game studios linked to the government of Russia could indirectly support its military efforts in its war in Ukraine.
One of the most recent and transparent cases is without a doubt Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. Developed by Saber St. Petersburg, a subsidiary studio of Saber Interactive, the game’s profits have already grossed over $296,188,447 on Steam alone. As a Russian company, the Russian government will benefit from the huge sales tax of €34,950,236.75. An imposing number, this is enough to buy 100 Iranian Shahed drones if you are to use the figure quoted by Forbes magazine in February, one of the main weapons used in attacks on both battlefields and peaceful cities in Ukraine.
It is not always possible to trace the exact amount of money going to the Russian government; studios can relocate their headquarters outside of Russia, while maintaining their main production facilities in the Russian state, like with Escape from Trakov. Many rely heavily on Russian investors.
The most notable of such sources of funding is GEM Capital, a Cyprus-based Russian investment firm that is run by Russians and was founded by Anatoly Paliy, who previously worked at Gazprom and a state-owned multinational energy corporation. As if it wasn't enough, Paliy further has close ties to the sanctioned Russian state-owned bank, VTB. One of the most notable games supported by this organisation are Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader and Atomic Heart.
It can sound daunting, and it is, but it also emphasises the importance of being mindful and responsible as consumers. The key takeaway here is not to abandon gaming or boycott the entire industry, but rather to take a more thoughtful approach to the games we buy and the companies we support. Spending a few minutes researching where a game, or any product in general, comes from and who profits from its success can make a meaningful difference.
Tools like the Beware Russian Games Steam Curator and the #LeaveRussia website offers resources to help gamers identify which titles might contribute to Russia’s economy. Taking a few moments to investigate before making a purchase can have a meaningful impact on where our money goes and who it ultimately supports.