Married residents of Ural discover a new stress-relief method: Rostelecom unveils a novel online gaming platform
In a significant move to bolster the Russian gaming industry, telecommunications giant Rostelecom has unveiled a new gaming platform. According to Ilya Pytigorsky, Director of Digital Products at Rostelecom, around 60% of Russians aged 16 and above are avid video gamers.
Hisham Nuhu, an international gaming industry expert, has hailed the Russian gaming industry as one of the fastest-growing sectors in entertainment. Despite challenges in 2022, the market is quickly recovering, and Rostelecom's new platform is set to play a crucial role in this growth.
The new platform allows gamers to purchase eagerly awaited gaming novelties, top up their Steam wallets, and obtain various in-game currencies. Rostelecom's game storefront is a significant step by the company in developing the domestic gaming industry.
The platform's catalog already includes keys for highly anticipated games such as Helldivers 2, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, and the latest installment of the popular fighting game Tekken 8. Users can also purchase in-game currency for online games like Apex Legends, Genshin Impact, Mobile Legends, and PUBG Mobile on the platform.
Rostelecom's platform offers wide access to various gaming content for Russian gamers. Subscribers to Rostelecom's "Gaming" tariff plan have special offers on the gaming platform. The platform is a proprietary development, with all elements created by the company's developers without involving external studios or contractors.
In the near future, its users will be able to enjoy the biggest gaming hits of the year, including Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Elden Ring Nightreign, Stellar Blade, and others. The gaming platform is available to any user, regardless of their internet provider.
Rostelecom has launched a game storefront aggregating over 3,000 games for users of gaming consoles and computers running Mac OS and Windows. According to the Internet Development Institute (IDI), the average Ural gamer is a married man aged 18-35 with a higher education and average income, raising children.
Domestic gamers in Russia face several specific challenges, and Rostelecom's new gaming platform aims to address these issues in several ways. One of the primary challenges is the lack of access to Western games due to sanctions and the absence of major Western publishers from the Russian market.
The platform focuses on supporting local game developers, which can help fill the void left by Western publishers. By fostering domestic talent, the platform can offer a diverse range of games that cater to Russian tastes and preferences.
The platform also plans to leverage Rostelecom's telecommunications expertise to offer unique features such as cloud gaming, low-latency multiplayer servers, and bundled subscriptions with internet services. These features can enhance the user experience and create a compelling ecosystem for gamers.
By offering support for multiple platforms (Windows, macOS, consoles), Rostelecom aims to provide a wide range of options for gamers, making it easier for them to access and play games without resorting to third-party workarounds.
Focusing on competitive pricing and ensuring a seamless user experience will help retain users and encourage them to stay within the platform rather than seeking alternatives. The catalog of the online platform will be regularly updated with new video games.
Various subscriptions on the Rostelecom gaming storefront provide users with additional bonuses and offers, such as in the mobile tournament CyberHero and online games Allods Online, Calibre, and Warface. The new gaming platform from Rostelecom aims to provide a robust, locally-focused alternative for Russian gamers, addressing the challenges they face in the global market.
[1] Challenges faced by domestic gamers in Russia and how Rostelecom's platform aims to address these challenges are based on information from various sources, including statements from Rostelecom executives and industry experts.
- Rostelecom's new gaming platform not only offers a diverse range of games, but also focuses on supporting local game developers to fill the gap left by Western publishers, thus catering to Russian tastes and preferences.
- Users of Rostelecom's new gaming platform can expect unique features such as cloud gaming, low-latency multiplayer servers, and bundled subscriptions with internet services, all aimed at enhancing the user experience and creating a compelling ecosystem for gamers.
