Yakuza series integrates digital games into their show.
In the chilly expanse of the northernmost reaches of Russia, the Republic of Yakutia, also known as the Sakha Republic, is making strides in the world of video game development. The region, known for its harsh northern conditions and rich Indigenous culture, is witnessing an active engagement in creating games that are not only entertaining but also culturally and regionally relevant.
The recent presentation of the project "HAAR" from Cryolite Games studio marked a significant entry into this burgeoning industry. Set in harsh northern conditions after a virus outbreak, "HAAR" is a survival game that promises to offer an immersive gaming experience. Another notable project is the online adventure game "Irbet Tong," developed by a team of Indigenous creators from Yakutia. This game explores the impact of global warming and permafrost thaw on Arctic communities, and is available on Steam in English, Russian, and Sakha languages.
Educational support relevant to Yakutia’s game development ecosystem is also emerging. The Higher School of Economics (HSE) University has introduced master's programs focused on digital engineering and video game development, which can train specialists in the region’s digital and gaming fields. Additionally, HSE University has signed a partnership with the Academy of Sciences of the Sakha Republic to support research and development, potentially creating opportunities for innovation including game development.
While specific Yakutian funding sources for game development are not detailed, the national IT market’s trend toward corporatization, domestic development, and external capital attraction suggests an improving environment for local game studios. This restructuring often involves cooperative and centralized models, with increasing emphasis on attracting external capital and industrial partnerships.
A foundation called "Foundation for Innovation Development" (FRI) was established in Yakutia in 2018, funded by the "Venture Company" and Technopark. The FRI's mission is to collect money to fund startups and organize various accelerators and hackathons. In April 2023, Yakutian video games were presented at the tenth anniversary festival of popular culture, Ykt Geek Fest 2024, organised by the FRI.
Seven games were presented in total, with most of them being previously mentioned. Among them was "Soulbind: Tales of the Underworld," a rogue-like project based on the Yakutian epic Oлонхо, presented by Rubedo Games. Another intriguing project is a game based on the Evenki folktale "Kyndykan," being developed by the "Kyndykan" foundation led by Ilan Kyndykan, although specific details about the game are not available.
Despite the promising landscape, concerns remain about specialists leaving Yakutia with funding to other cities. There are still programmers and interest in game development in Yakutia, but the loss of talent is a challenge that the region must address to further grow its game development industry.
The Foundation for Support of Small Innovative Enterprises (FRIS) aims to make Yakutsk the capital of game development not only in the Far East, but in the whole country. However, the FRIS is not sufficiently funding the project developers from the small game studio "Ilia Games."
In a notable gesture of support, ALROSA donated 100 million rubles to the FRI in January 2023 to support the development of the innovative ecosystem. "Bult," a hunting simulator by Nordrise Studio, was also presented at the event and is available for purchase on VK Play.
"Shaman's Dreams" was presented, founded at the spring "New Game" hackathon. While details about the game are scarce, it underscores the spirit of innovation and creativity that is alive and well in Yakutia's game development scene.
In conclusion, Yakutia's game development industry is showing promising signs of growth, with culturally significant projects like "Irbet Tong" and educational support from institutions like HSE University fostering regional expertise and R&D capacity in digital technologies. The trend toward corporatization and external capital attraction in Russia's IT market also suggests an improving environment for local game studios in Yakutia. However, challenges such as talent retention and insufficient funding remain to be addressed for the industry to reach its full potential.
