"Nothing is impossible": Head of IRI speaks about import substitution of games in Russia

According to Alexey Goreslavsky, TV series in Russia have almost been substituted.

The General Director of the Internet Development Institute (IRI), Alexey Goreslavsky, gave a speech at RIGF, during which he stated that complete import substitution in the field of computer games in Russia could occur within the next three to five years.

According to him, the gaming industry remains the most problematic in terms of import substitution. Unlike movies and TV series, creating video games requires significantly more investment and resources, so the transition of the audience to Russian projects is slower. He emphasized that forming a full-fledged alternative to foreign games and reorienting an entire generation of users to it is a much more difficult task. Nevertheless, Goreslavsky expressed confidence that with the right approach, it can be solved.

In confirmation, he cited data from VTsIOM research. According to surveys, the share of the audience for Russian TV series has increased significantly: if in the 2022–2023 season it was about 70%, then by 2025 it reached 85%. At the same time, interest in foreign projects decreased — from 56% to 40%.