The Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation has prepared a set of measures aimed at developing the gaming industry in Russia. The head of the ministry, Maksut Shadaev, discussed this initiative in a meeting with journalists.
Maksut Shadaev
According to Shadaev, the main goal of the Ministry of Digital Development while working on the package was to create a "special regime for applying existing benefits for the IT industry" for Russian gaming studios. Therefore, at least part of the proposals are related to taxes.
For instance, the Ministry proposed adding games, the rights to which are owned by foreign entities, to the registry of Russian software. Once the package is adopted, their developers will be eligible for VAT exemptions. However, there are conditions: games will only be included in the registry if they are hosted on servers in Russia for the Russian audience.
The other measures in the package from the Ministry are designed to encourage the creation of new Russian games, as well as assist with the release and promotion of games abroad. More details on these measures will be available later.