A new state-of-the-art facility, the Moscow Game Hub, has officially launched in Russia, creating a significant new opportunity for gaming and animation studios from the MENA region. Unveiled during Moscow International Game Week, the hub aims to be a global center for game development by offering comprehensive, end-to-end support from initial concept to international market launch.
A Full-Cycle Development Ecosystem
The Moscow Game Hub is designed as a one-stop shop for developers, housing world-class infrastructure that covers every stage of the production pipeline. Resident companies gain access to motion-capture and facial-capture studios, photogrammetry facilities for 3D asset creation, professional sound recording studios, and dedicated screening rooms.
Beyond production tools, the complex features an esports arena for testing and tournaments, modern coworking spaces, and a high-performance data processing center. The hub also provides an integrated support system that includes development mentorship, publishing partnerships with global platforms, and strategic market access consulting.
Strategic Benefits For MENA Studios
The initiative is actively courting studios from the Middle East, offering a compelling value proposition for companies looking to scale. MENA-based companies can apply for residency status, which includes benefits such as preferential rent and direct access to Russia’s highly engaged gaming market, where 88 million people spend an estimated $4.5 billion annually.
Furthermore, the hub highlights significant cost advantages, with development costs reported to be approximately three times lower than in the United States and twice as low as in Europe. This allows studios to optimize their burn rate while leveraging top-tier infrastructure and talent.
High-Profile MENA Representation
The launch event attracted senior representatives from across the MENA gaming sector, signaling strong regional interest. Attendees included Mustafa Yaya, CTO and co-founder of Blackburne Games; MJ Fahmi, CEO of Qatar’s Digital Dunes; Wael Elemam from Saudisoft.Co; and Ziad Toukhy, Art Director at Rawa Games.
Gulnara Agamova, head of Moscow’s Creative Industries Agency which leads the project, emphasized the strategic importance of the partnership. “MENA companies are our priority partners,” she stated. “The entire game creation cycle from concept to international market release is now concentrated here in Moscow, creating a platform where Middle Eastern and Russian studios can collaborate, co-develop, and access each other’s markets.”
About Moscow Game Hub
The Moscow Game Hub is a full-cycle gaming and animation development facility offering end-to-end support for game studios. It provides world-class infrastructure, development mentorship, publishing partnerships, and international market access to resident companies. The hub aims to become a global point of attraction for developers by fostering a professional community and facilitating cross-border collaboration in the interactive entertainment market.
Source: Zawya
