We continue to reflect on the outcomes of 2024 with top managers and experts from the gaming industry (and related fields). Up next, an interview with Alexandra Kurdumova and Alina Davletshina from Futura Digital (check out their Telegram channel).
How was the year for the company? What achievements would you highlight?
Alexandra: The year 2024 has been a time of further growth and experimentation for us.
Looking back, in our last interview, I mentioned that we were in a phase of active growth and expansion. Little did I know what awaited us in 2024.
The number and geographical spread of our projects continue to grow exponentially. That was our goal, and it's amazing that we've achieved it, even beyond what we expected. It feels like we're surpassing more and more levels of complexity, reinforcing our confidence that we can handle any legal or tax challenge anywhere.
For example, our activities in 2024 were as follows:
- conducted a legal audit of software for a developer in Saudi Arabia;
- undertook a genuine investigation of character rights with a chain of transfers in the UAE and Hong Kong;
- negotiated a corporate conflict with participants worldwide (it's hard to list all the points without breaching NDAs);
- worked on investment contracts with a Finnish studio;
- reviewed screen adaptation rights for a future Hollywood film (evaluating contracts with Hollywood actors is an invaluable experience for our team, naturally);
- assisted Italian developers in "landing" in Abu Dhabi.
Additionally, we expanded our team with new specialists who strengthened our expertise both in law and related fields. And yes, we are planning active hiring next year as well, so if you know any great people in our field, I'd be delighted!
We have extended our participation in gaming (and not only!) events. This year we traveled extensively around the world to various gaming and tech conferences: aside from Abu Dhabi and Dubai, we visited Cyprus, Istanbul, Doha, Riyadh, and Hong Kong.
As always, we actively developed our community, with a particular focus on developers in the UAE, supporting Gulf in Games community initiatives, continuing our FUTURA Talks at Abu Dhabi Gaming, and even hosting our pro bono FUTURA Advice pitstops at various locations worldwide in collaboration with WN Media Group and Pocket Gamer.
And of course!
This year, we won our first international award as FUTURA Digital — the Pocket Gamer Mobile Games Awards 2024 in the Best Business Support Service category.
It's a shame we couldn't take the stage — the awards ceremony was at Gamescom in Cologne. But no worries, we hope there are many more awards and opportunities ahead of us.
Overall, 2024 was a busy, creative, and highly productive year for us.
How has gaming legal practice changed in 2024?
Alina: We've noticed several trends:
- a growing interest in cross-border transactions, including company and employee relocations;
- increased demand for complex due diligence, especially for intellectual property;
- active use of hybrid contract schemes in publishing and investment deals;
- the evolution of monetization — more and more developers of Web3 games and projects with play-to-earn mechanics are reaching out to us.
Moreover, the importance of legal aspects related to the use of artificial intelligence in game development has increased, including copyright issues for AI-created content. We're planning a study to understand the legal risks associated with using AI in digital development, which we'll announce soon.
We also see a rise in requests for unconventional legal support formats, where the focus is on strategy and long-term results. This reflects the market's maturity. It seems that companies are increasingly viewing legal issues not as isolated challenges but as an integral part of strategic planning.
What legal issues have gaming companies approached you with most frequently this year?
Alexandra: The top requests have been:
- 1) Corporate and tax structuring and subsequent asset transfers. We help clients plan everything: where to set up companies, how to connect them with existing ones, how to organize cash flow and not lose on taxes, what benefits can be utilized, how to transfer assets, and how to set up transfer pricing. All this without forgetting the personal tax implications for beneficiaries. These are always complex tasks, and we tackle them with a comprehensive team.
- 2) Launching complex projects. Issuing tokens within a game? Unclear mechanics or monetization methods? Controversial content? We've seen it all this year! But, of course, that makes the task more interesting for us — to understand the essence and help structure the project: choose the right jurisdiction for the company, conduct an audit, and provide recommendations to minimize risks and brainstorm proactive protection measures.
- 3) Intellectual property protection. This includes both "preventive" measures (trademark registrations, depositions, internal process audits) and combating "symptoms": tackling clones, unauthorized in-game asset trading, cheaters, resolving conflicts, and pre-trial and trial work.
- 4) Publishing agreements. Here, nothing changes: the demand for transparent and secure agreements between developers and publishers remains as relevant as ever.
What legal trends do you expect to strengthen or emerge in 2025?
Alina: We forecast several key trends.
- Further development of contract models in Web3 and NFT. The gaming industry will further integrate blockchain, making work with intellectual property in this area more complex. We've noted an increase in requests at the intersection of Web2 and Web3.
- Tightening of data protection regulations. Personal data laws are becoming more detailed and stringent, with increased fines.
- Focus on restructuring holding companies. Many studios aim to optimize their assets or merge with other companies, or launch mergers within their own holding companies: company and transaction schemes are optimized, taxes are optimized. Many hubs, which used to attract with low taxes and appealing benefits, are now complicating the rules for obtaining benefits.
Overall, it seems that everyone who rushed to start companies in 2022 now needs to take the time to streamline their structures.
What are the company's plans for the coming year?
Alexandra: We are confident that 2025 will be just as eventful and interesting. Our main goal is to continue to earn our clients' trust, maintaining high quality standards.
We are actively expanding new, non-legal areas of our work. Thanks to the trust we’ve earned, we’re increasingly approached with requests that go beyond traditional legal services. For example, clients ask for help with marketing, design, or seek assistance in meeting potential investors.
However, we won't reveal all of our plans for 2025 just yet. Our goal is to remain a reliable partner for game development companies globally and continue setting industry trends. But we also strive for our clients to see us as a trusted advisor in all areas of their activities.
Alina: Traditionally, as part of App2Top's annual roundup, I ask my team, “What did you play this year?”
Futura's lawyers played Hogwarts Legacy, Helldivers 2, Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred, Hades 2, Escape the Backrooms, Lethal Company, Resident Evil 4 Remake, Star Wars Jedi: The Fallen Order, Satisfactory, and Far Cry 5.
My game of the year is Red Dead Redemption 2. Yes, I know it's quite a cliché, and the game is already six years old, but it was the perfect year to spend hundreds of hours riding across fields, skinning rabbits, and robbing trains.