Exploring the Booming Ukraine Gaming Industry: Trends and Insights for 2023 and Beyond
By
Alexey Menshikov, CEO, Beatshapers
As the proud owner of a game development studio in Ukraine, I’d like to share with you the unique advantages and opportunities that we have to offer in this industry. Let me start by saying that the talent pool in Ukraine is simply exceptional. We have some of the most technically skilled and talented individuals you will find in the game development world. The engineers and artists here are truly outstanding, and their code and designs are nothing short of beautiful.
One thing that sets us apart from other countries is our dedication and work ethic. The Ukrainian game industry is comprised of professionals who are passionate about their craft and work tirelessly to create the best possible games. While we may not have a strong gaming culture here, we make up for it with our exceptional talent and willingness to learn. Many of the individuals in the Ukrainian game industry are self-taught. We do have some weaknesses in areas such as animation, but our strengths lie in engineering and artistry.
Why Shooter Games are Our Forte
Ukraine’s military heritage stems back as far as World War II, being part of the USSR, and all the way up through the Cold War to where we are today. From movies to games focused on war and shooters, you won’t find an industry of game developers more experienced. Out of the 9 big studios we’re working with right now, 8 of them are focused on developing shooters.
At our studio, we are constantly pushing ourselves to innovate and take on new challenges. We have worked on everything from shooters to racing games to space exploration and action-adventure titles, such as X8. And while shooters are currently the most popular genre in Ukraine, we are always looking to break new ground and try something different.
How the Pandemic Impacted the Industry
The global pandemic posed a significant challenge to the game development industry in Ukraine, as many had to quickly transition from traditional office work into remote roles. This shift was harder for some than others – designers experienced challenges with isolating themselves when needed and being unable to have face-to-face conversations whereas engineers were able to showcase their adaptability by operating effectively across time zones. For example, our teams are now collaborating with team members across different time zones, from Japan to Canada. And we are not slowing down anytime soon.
What’s Happening in VR
With 40 million VR devices already out there, the market is finally a force to acknowledge. Meta Quest and PSVR are dominating the scene with their respective innovations. Despite this growth, many companies are choosing to play it safe and focus on tried-and-tested VR mechanics rather than innovative titles. This is why I’m excited about our upcoming hero shooter title with Thirdverse, X8, because it will introduce novel gestures that are sure to challenge players more deeply.
Our studio has been working in VR for over seven years and are currently working on mixed reality projects with companies like Meta. I am excited to see more experimental titles come out of Ukraine and push the boundaries of what is possible in gaming.
Expectations for the Future of Game Development in Ukraine
The Ukrainian game development industry has had a roller coaster of an evolution over the past decade – from flourishing when PC gaming was at its peak in the early 2000s, to struggling in light of the 2008 financial crisis. Since then, it’s shifted towards casual and mobile games before returning to a larger focus on PC games again with remote work redefining working cycles for developers.
Looking to the future, I am excited to see how the game development industry in Ukraine will evolve. We are already seeing big projects and acquisitions happening. I believe that as the world recognizes the dedication of Ukrainian developers, we will continue to attract more investments that will open opportunities across a wide scope ranging from interesting indie titles to AAA all the way through service providers.
I am incredibly proud of what Ukraine has to offer the games industry. Our talented team, dedication to our craft, and willingness to innovate make us a force to be reckoned with in the game development world. I can’t wait to see what we will achieve in the coming years.
Alexey Menshikov is CEO of Beatshapers.
Twitter: @Beatshapers
Instagram: @Beatshapers
YouTube: @Beatshapers
