Highlights
- Indian gaming leaders joined the Moscow International Game Week to build bridges beyond Western markets.
- The summit focuses on "Games as Soft Power," using video games for cultural storytelling and branding.
- Experts from over 20 nations are collaborating on ecosystem growth and export strategies.
A major delegation of Indian gaming industry heavyweights has arrived in Russia this week, marking a significant step in diversifying the global video game economy. This group is participating in the inaugural Moscow International Game Week, a massive three-day summit running from November 28 to 30 at the Moscow Game Hub.
Bringing together over 200 executives and experts from more than 20 countries—including China, Vietnam, Serbia, Argentina, and the UAE—the event signals a decisive shift as industry leaders look to build bridges beyond traditional Western markets.
Leading the representation for India is Chaitanya Chinchlikar, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Whistling Woods International, the country’s premier institute for film and creative arts. He is joined by Shantanu Basu, founder of the pioneering community platform Let's Game Now, and Anand Jha from the Maharashtra Digital and Creative Content Industry Association (MIDCCA).
Their presence reinforces India’s rising status as a heavyweight in the digital entertainment sector and highlights the nation’s rapidly expanding creative technology capabilities.
Games as Soft Power
A defining theme of the summit is "Games as Soft Power", a topic Chinchlikar is addressing directly during the "Industry Trends" track. He is set to explore how video games are evolving into powerful vehicles for cultural storytelling and national branding.
The goal is to blend Indian creativity with top-tier global tech. This approach allows developers to build virtual worlds that celebrate unique national identities while still captivating a worldwide audience.
The summit will also serve as a critical networking hub for Indian delegates to engage with other high-profile counterparts. The discussion could open doors to export strategies and ecosystem growth. Key international figures include Li Jie of China’s Internet Society, Maria Ilic of the Serbian Games Association, Hernan Lopez of Argentina’s Game Developers Association (ADVA), and Cipto Adiguno of Indonesia’s Agate studio.
Meanwhile, on the hosting side, Russia is represented by major players like Alexander Mikheev of VK Play, which boasts tens of millions of users, and leaders from Astrum Entertainment and 1C Game Studios, renowned for the IL-2 Sturmovik flight simulator series.
Strengthening the Ecosystem
The event’s business agenda is anchored by four core tracks: "Gaming Ecosystem", "Industry Technologies", "Player Decides Everything", and "Industry Trends". In the ecosystem sessions, experts are expected to compare infrastructure and developer support systems across nations, which will serve as vital intelligence for India's startup scene. Meanwhile, "From Globalisation to Localisation" sessions are tackling the nuances of cultural adaptation.
On the technical front, developers will dive into practical tools, including a showcase of the Chinese COCOS Engine designed to optimize workflows for diverse hardware.
Beyond business and tech, the summit will delve into the psychology of the player. The "Player Decides Everything" track is set to explore consumption culture and how to keep audiences engaged for the long haul. In sessions like "Mechanics of Engagement", experts will dissect the specific tools, from in-game events to user-generated content, that allow games to remain relevant for decades.
By combining these technical deep dives with high-level strategy, the Moscow International Game Week aims to provide a roadmap for avoiding critical mistakes and transforming creative concepts into commercially viable products for a global audience.
