After Russian aggression, Ukrainian game developers remain hopeful

Game developers across Ukraine are preparing for the worst on Tuesday as Russian brinksmanship continues along the country’s eastern border. Polygon reached out to over a dozen Ukrainian teams this week. Many of them say that they are creating contingency plans for their staff. Some others want to show the world they’ve been fighting war for 8 long years, not hours and days.

More than 100 Ukrainians perished in the Maidan rebellion in 2014 after weeks of unrest in Kyiv. As a result, Ukrainian legislators voted to remove the country’s pro-Russian president, an event which Russian president Vladimir Putin labeled an illegal coup. Putin annexed Crimea, the eastern part of Ukraine, later as a new regime was in place. It was a long-running conflict that erupted in the region. Small battles broke out over the next decade.

Tensions have escalated over the past month, with more than 190,000 Russian troops massing all along the border — including in Belarus, to Ukraine’s north.

“The current situation on the borders with Russia is tense, and we [have seen] multiple provocations happening over the last few days,” wrote Oleg Yavorsky, business development director at Kiev-based Vostok Games, on Monday night. “We shouldn’t forget though that Ukraine has been in this state of aggression from Russia since 2014, and over 14,000 people [have been killed in that time]. We’re used to it. [living] in this state of danger.”

Yavorsky called his team and their families the company’s most precious resource, and said a plan for potential relocation has already been made. Other gaming and technology companies are also making similar plans.

“We continue to work as usual (work is a nice distraction from news, actually),” wrote Yaroslav Singaevskiy, lead game designer at Red Beat, on Friday. “Everyday life in Kyiv goes on, but under a shadow of what may come. There are no long-term plans being made at this time. Sometimes things can seem surreal. And we learn to appreciate normal mundane things more (such as a peaceful family dinner).”

“The situation reminds me of 2014 in general,” Singaevskiy continued. “There are a lot of uncertainties, rumors, and fakes. […]One of the main differences is that the Ukrainian Army is now much better equipped, trained and ready to go after eight years of continuous war. Support from the West — especially during the last several weeks — is crucial too.”

Andrew Prokhorov of 4A Games, speaking as an individual as opposed to as the representative of his company spoke with hope and aplomb.

Photo: Charlie Hall/Polygon

“I believe everything will be fine,” Prokhorov told Polygon in an email late last week. Prokhorov, who is well known for his Metro series first-person shooters, is currently on leave. “Our army is ready, [our]The nation is available, and it will be if [a]An old, sick man [does decide]They will not be allowed to intrude. We have a number of very dangerous toys that we received. [the]USA and western countries […]Our javelins [and] Stingers, [are]Prepared, greased, and waiting to be served with metal food.

“I hope for peace [to end] the situation,” he added, “but if something bad happens victory will be on the side of good guys.”

Late Monday, president Putin once again ratcheted up the tension by recognizing the sovereignty of the breakaway Luhansk People’s Republic and the Donetsk People’s Republic — two Ukrainian territories that have been at the center of the conflict since 2014. Russian troops have moved in the region, with some armored units. This has caused international protest, not only from United Nations members but also other countries.

Polygon will keep you informed of developments in the market.