Gabe can sleep soundly: the bill on video game regulation in Russia does not provide for a ban on foreign platforms

Anton Gorelkin, First Deputy Head of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, stated that the discussed bill on video game regulation does not contain provisions aimed at blocking or banning foreign gaming platforms. According to him, the initiative is primarily created to develop the Russian gaming industry and form clear rules for market operation.

The deputy said that after preliminary discussion of the document with industry representatives, changes were made to it that eliminated a number of controversial points and excessive requirements. He emphasized that by the time of adoption, the bill may change significantly, but its key idea will remain unchanged — supporting domestic developers and creating a transparent regulatory framework without introducing new prohibitions.

One of the main tasks of the initiative will be to enshrine in law the basic terms related to the gaming industry. The document proposes to officially define what constitutes a video game, a gaming platform, and a video game distributor. According to Gorelkin, the absence of such concepts today hinders the development of effective state support measures for Russian gamedev.

Recall that the bill was introduced to the State Duma at the end of 2024 by a group of parliamentarians and senators. It provides for mandatory labeling of video games, which should warn users about the presence of scenes of violence, cruelty, profanity, and other content elements that can affect age restrictions.

In addition, the document establishes requirements for video game distributors. In particular, they are proposed to ensure the inaccessibility for Russian users of information prohibited by the legislation of the Russian Federation, as well as to inform players about the content of each game using special categories and appropriate warnings.