Noah Romsdal Hallundbæk Sørensen
In Russia, gaming just got dangerous. These titles are now treated as criminal offenses.
Russian gamers are facing a new and unexpected legal threat. A decision by state prosecutors has placed a major Ukrainian game developer on a blacklist, turning ordinary digital purchases into potential criminal evidence.
According to reports from Russian outlet RBC, lawyers now warn that simply buying or promoting certain games could expose players to harsh criminal charges.
Blacklisted studio
The Ukrainian company GSC Game World known for the STALKER shooter series and the historical strategy game “Cossacks” was officially labelled an “undesirable organisation” by Russian prosecutors.
RBC reported that this designation opens the door to both administrative and criminal cases against its fans.
Lawyers told the outlet that Russian authorities claim the studio supports the Ukrainian military and “discredits” Russia. As a result, players could fall under legislation on financing extremism, terrorism, or even treason.
Sergei Egorov of the law firm EMPP said buyers of the studio’s games must understand that authorities consider their purchase equivalent to “donating to UPA” or “supporting extremist and terrorist activities,” because the company openly states it raises funds for Ukraine’s armed forces.
He advised players to avoid any paid content from the studio, although he stressed that simply playing “Cossacks” or “STALKER” is not, by itself, a criminal offence.
Online posts at risk
Artem Yablokov, a partner at Yablokov Brothers, explained to RBC that writing online about personal achievements inside these games could be interpreted as promoting the activities of an undesirable group.
He added that players streaming GSC titles live or sharing promotional materials, including merchandise, could also draw police attention.
Anastasia Abysova from the A-PRO legal group warned that even distributing advertising items tied to STALKER might be enough to trigger scrutiny.
These interpretations come as prosecutors cite Russia’s articles on financing terrorism and extremism, which carry sentences of up to 20 and eight years in prison respectively.
Harsh penalties
Under administrative law, participation in the activities of an undesirable organisation can lead to fines ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 rubles.
A repeat violation may escalate to a criminal case under Article 284.1 of the Russian Criminal Code, which allows prison terms of up to four years.
The prosecutor’s office stated that GSC Game World had repeatedly used Ukrainian fundraising groups such as Lesia UA and the charitable foundation “Poverni Žyvim.”
According to the statement, the studio sent 17 million dollars in 2022 for combat drones, parts, and vehicles for the Ukrainian military.
Prosecutors also claimed that STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl, released in November 2024, contains “aggressively Russophobic content” and promotes “Ukrainian narratives.”
Growing pressure
The designation marks another step in Russia’s tightening control over digital culture and cross-border tech connections.
While the law does not criminalise the act of playing the games, almost any paid interaction or public expression surrounding them could fall under extremist-related statutes.
Legal experts told RBC the situation is likely to create uncertainty for ordinary gamers, many of whom may now risk severe penalties for content that was previously considered harmless entertainment.
Sources: RBC, Digi24
This article is made and published by Noah Romsdal Hallundbæk Sørensen, who may have used AI in the preparation
