In Russia, it was proposed to introduce video game rental certificates.

According to one of the participants in the debate, the idea is considered a tool to limit the access of international companies to the Russian market. For example, to obtain a rental certificate, it is necessary to adapt a foreign video game to a future national video game console.

The initiative was supported by the first deputy chairman of the Education Committee of the State Duma, Yana Lantratova (party “Fair Russia – For Truth”). In his words, in the gaming sector there is a huge national market that is currently not regulated in any way. He added that the State Duma is developing a corresponding bill.

The head of the Gaming Industry Association (GIA), Vladimir Prokuronov, believes that video game rental certificates could have a negative impact on the market. He noted that games are a more complex product than movies or television series and licensing them will require many more resources. Prokuronov also stressed that the requirement to adapt foreign games exclusively to Russian consoles will be an obstacle to entering the market for global hits.

The director of the Organization for the Development of the Video Game Industry, Vasily Ovchinnikov, warns that the introduction of rental certificates could close the Russian market to foreign developers and limit the access of domestic studios to the international market. The main income of domestic studios comes from the foreign market, as the country still does not have enough monetization opportunities, he noted.

General Director of the Association of Game Development and Operations Industry Professionals Alexander Mikheev added that foreign companies are already reluctant to enter the Russian market. The introduction of rental certificates will only worsen the situation and many developers will refuse to work with the Russian public. This will undermine efforts already made to create a gaming industry ecosystem in the country, he said.

Prokuronov also noted that publishers will agree to invest resources in the port for a local console only if there is a promising market and a developed ecosystem. We must first focus on creating attractive conditions for publishers and only then introduce protective measures, he concluded.

In March 2024, President Vladimir Putin ordered the government to consider creating Russian game consoles. In June, the Ministry of Industry and Trade began looking for potential developers for the Russian console.