Results of the Moscow International Video Game Week
According to statistics announced by the organizers of the "Moscow International Video Game Week", which took place from November 27 to 30, over 150,000 people visited events across more than 330 venues in the capital over four days. Of those, 4,600 participated in the most massive Russian esports tournament — a national record.
Additionally, more than 730 computer clubs across Russia joined the events. In total, about 116,000 people participated in online activities associated with the "Moscow International Video Game Week".
The largest and most visited venue was the "Game Exhibition", which took place from November 28 to 30 in the Cluster of Video Games and Animation in Skolkovo. As part of the business program, about 200 experts from more than 20 countries (including Russia, China, India, countries in the Middle East, Latin America, and Southeast Asia) participated in panel discussions, lectures, interviews, and master classes.
Moscow studios held 250 meetings with potential partners and investors, and dozens of contracts aimed at bringing domestic products to new markets are currently under discussion. Among the most significant agreements are the document on cooperation between VK Play and AKI, the agreement between AKI and the "Youth" College, as well as a "memorandum of understanding" between APRIORI (Association of Professionals in the Industry of Game Operation and Development) and several large Chinese companies.
Most of the exhibition was occupied by stands of various games and companies related to their development. 1C Game Studios took advantage of the event to announce the release window and "early access" for its new flight simulator "Korea. Il-2 Series". The new installment in the "Il-2" franchise will enter early access in the spring of next year.
In addition to developers from 1C, major companies such as 4game, Game Art Pioneers, and Cyberia Nova also presented their games at the exhibition. The latter even released a new patch for "The Zemsky Cathedral" for the event, allowing difficulty level selection. The indie zone featured projects from small teams, including students from MIREA and the Institute of Business and Design.
To attract visitors, many stands held lotteries or simply gave out sweets or stickers for social media subscriptions. Additionally, a number of tournaments in various online games, including League of Legends and Point Blank, took place in Skolkovo. In a neighboring hall on Saturday and Sunday, a gaming library from Hobby World allowed visitors to try out the most popular board games under the guidance of knowledgeable masters who explained the rules.
Besides the Skolkovo venue, the institutes MIREA and B&D (yes, it’s the same Institute of Business and Design) also held their own game exhibitions. On the night of November 29 to 30, a series of entertainment events (including tournaments, retro gaming, and performances by famous DJs) called "Video Game Night" took place at the VK Play Arena computer club.
The "Moscow International Video Game Week" did not overlook virtual reality either. During the exhibition in Skolkovo, Voltep created a digital twin of the "Amalthea" business center (which houses part of the Video Games and Animation Cluster) in one of its spaces, allowing everyone to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the video game industry without leaving home.
Considering that this was the first event of its kind, there were some hiccups (information on schedules and booth locations was sparse and at times inaccurate), but overall the majority of participants rated their impressions of the "Moscow International Video Game Week" as positive. They hope for many more similar events in the future, with even better organization.