Russian Lawmakers Propose Cutting Out Esports IP Holders
In a groundbreaking move, Russian lawmakers have drawn up proposals that could sever esports competitions in the nation from major intellectual property (IP) holders. First reported by Esports Legal News reporter Leonid Shmatenko, the legislation, if passed, would allow esports tournaments to take place within Russia unhindered by licensing agreements or the need for permission from IP owners such as Riot Games, Activision Blizzard, Ubisoft, Epic Games, and other Western and European game makers.
Source: Esport Legal
The proposed change in law comes following a State Duma Committee meeting on Physical Culture and Sports earlier this month, with representatives from the Ministry of Digital Development, the Russian Esports Federation, and other government bodies in attendance. The legislation may be an attempt to overcome international sanctions that have arisen due to Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
Under the new proposals, a public-law company (PLC) would manage licensing fees and hold them for a three-year period. However, the method by which this PLC would determine the fair market value for these fees raises concerns due to the lack of consultation with esports stakeholders outside of Russia. After three years, unclaimed fees could be redirected to Russian game developers and/or the Russian Esports Federation.
If the proposed legislation is passed, Russian teams and players may face exclusion from major international competitions due to a potential ripple effect on the esports industry.
Furthermore, the proposed changes introduce a new term, “innovative sports,” to describe sports involving physical activity (e.g., VR games) that rely on technology and establishes a legal framework that permits “free use.” This may be a response to international rights holders refusing to license software technology for use at the planned Games of the Future competition set for 2024.
It remains uncertain which games will feature at this event. While Dota 2 and Counter-Strike enjoy popularity in the region, Riot-owned titles like Valorant, Wild Rift, and League of Legends are unlikely to be included, even though Chinese game publisher Tencent owns the company. Tencent titles, such as Honor of Kings and Peacekeeper Elite, may take precedence due to their more significant Chinese IP presence.
Whether professional teams will participate in these games is uncertain, though Games of the Future head Igor Stolyarov has disclosed negotiations with at least three teams: Team Spirit, Virtus.Pro, and Fnatic, as reported by Tatar-inform.
The notable shift in the Russian government’s stance towards esports and the rights of IP holders is hardly surprising, given the recent deliberations to allow pirated entertainment to be played in theaters and on television networks. With both positive and negative consequences, the outcome of this proposed legislation will have a profound effect on the esports industry within Russia, as well as its connection with the international gaming community.
Russian Federation Esports Results & Statistics
In recent years, Esports has seen tremendous growth and has become an ever-present industry. The Russian Federation is no exception to this global phenomenon. In this report, we will analyze various aspects of the Esports industry in Russia, including major tournaments, the number of players and teams, top-performing players, and key performance indicators. With the goal to provide a comprehensive picture of the current state of Esports in Russia, predictions for the coming years, and recommendations for how the industry can improve in the given context.
Top Games Earning in Russia
| Game Name | Total (Game) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Dota 2 | $34,904,011.35 |
| 2. | Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | $15,446,435.53 |
| 3. | PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS | $3,744,397.18 |
| 4. | Fortnite | $3,684,637.11 |
| 5. | PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS Mobile | $1,897,208.95 |
| 6. | Rainbow Six Siege | $1,795,547.57 |
| 7. | World of Tanks | $1,619,431.53 |
| 8. | League of Legends | $1,536,699.32 |
| 9. | VALORANT | $1,492,890.07 |
| 10. | Chess.com | $1,145,299.29 |
| 11. | Counter-Strike | $1,127,428.11 |
| 12. | Hearthstone | $1,120,696.11 |
| 13. | Apex Legends | $640,422.01 |
| 14. | chess24 | $579,647.20 |
| 15. | Counter-Strike 2 | $534,775.05 |
| 16. | StarCraft II | $384,984.30 |
| 17. | Free Fire | $372,524.00 |
| 18. | Point Blank | $309,136.26 |
| 19. | Call of Duty: Warzone | $308,560.88 |
| 20. | CrossFire | $298,696.30 |
| 21. | WarCraft III | $296,886.67 |
| 22. | WarCraft III: Reforged | $276,654.74 |
| 23. | Quake Champions | $262,429.38 |
| 24. | Overwatch | $260,750.76 |
| 25. | Brawl Stars | $192,649.52 |
Top Russian Players
| Player ID | Player Name | Total (Overall) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |  Miposhka | Yaroslav Naidenov | $5,612,036.49 |
| 2. | Collapse | Magomed Khalilov | $5,379,876.07 |
| 3. | TORONTOTOKYO | Alexander Khertek | $4,242,881.30 |
| 4. | RAMZES666 | Roman Kushnarev | $2,050,003.88 |
| 5. | Solo | Aleksey Berezin | $2,021,135.61 |
| 6. | 9pasha | Pavel Khvastunov | $1,727,185.13 |
| 7. | electroNic | Denis Sharipov | $1,610,392.00 |
| 8. | Larl | Denis Sigitov | $1,433,989.07 |
| 9. | RodjER | Vladimir Nikogosyan | $1,403,436.10 |
| 10. | Perfecto | Ilya Zalutskiy | $1,208,304.11 |
| 11. | Boombl4 | Kirill Sergeyevich Mikhailov | $1,146,471.87 |
| 12. | flamie | Egor Vasilyev | $874,215.23 |
| 13. | Nightfall | Egor Grigorenko | $775,381.80 |
| 14. | dyrachYO | Anton Shkredov | $766,172.80 |
| 15. | gpk | Danil Skutin | $716,821.20 |
| 16. | ubah | Ivan Kapustin | $672,155.27 |
| 17. | Malibuca | Danila Yakovenko | $665,434.65 |
| 18. | Jame | Dzhami Ali | $660,267.72 |
| 19. | Ax1Le | Sergey Rykhtorov | $646,296.95 |
| 20. | sh1ro | Dmitry Sokolov | $629,100.59 |
| 21. | nafany | Vladislav Gorshkov | $615,233.92 |
| 22. | interz | Timofey Yakushin | $543,676.34 |
| 23. | DM | Dmitrii Dorokhin | $517,043.14 |
| 24. | G | Sergey Bragin | $436,327.16 |
| 25. | FL1T | Evgeniy Lebedev | $425,861.05 |
Major Esports Tournaments in Russia
There have been 8,017 esports tournaments held in Russia, with over 5,024 Russian esports players competing for a total of $76,807,111.75 USD in prize money. The top 5 highest awarding games include:
- Dota 2 – $34,904,011.35
- Counter-Strike: Global Offensive – $15,446,435.53
- PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS – $3,744,397.18
- Fortnite – $3,684,637.11
- PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS Mobile – $1,897,208.95
It’s clear that Dota 2 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive are the most popular games in terms of tournament prize money, together making up over 65.53% of all earnings by Russian players.
Top-performing Players and Teams
Yaroslav “Miposhka” Naidenov is the highest-earning Russian esports player, having won $5,612,036.49 USD overall from Dota 2 tournaments. Other top performers include Magomed “Collapse” Khalilov ($5,379,876.07) and Roman “RAMZES666” Kushnarev ($2,050,003.88). The majority of these top players have earned their prize money from Dota 2 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
Key Performance Indicators
- Total players: 5,024
- Total tournaments: 8,017
- Total prize money awarded: $76,807,111.75
- Top game by earnings: Dota 2 ($34,904,011.35)
- Highest earning player: Yaroslav “Miposhka” Naidenov ($5,612,036.49)
- Top players primarily earned money from Dota 2 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
Trend Analysis
Based on the available data, we can observe a few key trends in the Russian esports industry:
- Dota 2 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive are the most popular and highest earning games for Russian esports players.
- A significant portion of the total earnings comes from top players, indicating heavy competition in the industry.
- There is a growing interest in games like Fortnite and PLAYERUNKNOWN’s BATTLEGROUND in recent years, which signals a rise in battle royale competition in the Russian market.
Future Predictions
As the Russian esports market continues to develop, we can expect:
- Sustained growth in the popularity and prize money of games like Dota 2 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
- Increased interest in newer titles, including Fortnite, Apex Legends, and VALORANT, which may lead to a shift in some players’ focus.
- A rise in the number of tournaments and players entering the Russian esports scene, resulting in a more competitive landscape.
Recommendations
To continue growing and flourishing in the global esports market, the Russian esports scene should implement: Robust support systems for players, such as providing better access to sponsorships, training programs, and medical care.
Stronger regulations around fair play and anti-cheating measures, which would help maintain a level playing field. Increased collaboration between game publishers and tournament organizers to ensure that events are well-organized and properly promoted.
Efforts to engage with younger generations and bring them into the world of esports by creating content geared towards them on streaming platforms. Advancement of technology related to streaming, broadcasting, and analytics in order to improve the viewing experience for both spectators at home and those attending live events.
By taking steps like these, Russia has the potential to become an international leader in esports. With the right investments, they can create a thriving esports ecosystem that provides not only entertainment but also economic opportunities for players and fans alike. Together, we can all help make the future of esports bright!
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