Russia Moves to Take Over Lesta Studio, Makers of World of Tanks

The future of World of Tanks in Russia is looking shaky, as the government makes moves to seize Lesta Studio. Although tensions between Russia and the popular game have simmered down since the early days of the Ukraine invasion in 2022, the latest developments have stirred new uncertainty.

Originally, Lesta Studio operated under Wargaming, the company that still manages World of Tanks in most parts of the world. But when the conflict in Ukraine began, Wargaming decided to pull out of Russia and Belarus, handing over operations in those countries to Lesta. Even though Lesta officially broke away, its past ties to Wargaming, a company known for supporting Ukraine, have not gone unnoticed by Russian authorities.

Reports from RIA revealed that Russia’s Prosecutor General's Office has filed a request to shut down Lesta's activities and hand over all of its shares to the state. If approved, Lesta would effectively become government-owned, with any profits going straight into state funds. Officials accused the studio of being linked to "extremist activities," mainly because of its historical connection to Wargaming, which openly backed Ukraine during the conflict.

Back in 2022, Wargaming not only donated a million dollars to the Ukrainian Red Cross but also raised funds through special Ukraine-themed game content. The company even fired World of Tanks' creative director after he publicly expressed support for Russia. While Wargaming has no more say in Russian and Belarusian operations today, the past relationship is proving enough for the Russian government to step in.

Lesta is now pushing back against the move, but it's unclear what will happen next. Players and industry watchers are left wondering what impact this will have on World of Tanks and its team based in Russia and Belarus.

This isn’t the first time Russia has clashed with the gaming world. Late last year, the government even threatened to ban STALKER 2 over concerns about anti-Russian content, likely because the game is developed in Ukraine.

For now, the gaming community is watching closely as another major conflict between politics and entertainment unfolds.