Russian lawmakers are working on a new law that would require video game publishers to verify players’ identities. Players would need to provide their mobile number, use the Unified Biometric System, or log in through the State Services portal.
This information comes from a draft law reviewed by Kommersant.
The proposal is expected to be sent to the State Duma soon. It states that all game distributors in Russia, no matter where the games are made, must verify the identity of their users. This would include popular platforms like Steam and GOG, according to a source in the gaming industry.
The source also warned that if foreign distributors don’t follow these rules, their services might be blocked in Russia.
What the Law Would Require
The draft law includes more than just ID checks. Game platforms would also need to inform players if a game contains:
Profanity,
Violence or cruelty,
References to smoking or alcohol,
Anything that could cause fear or panic.
In addition, video games would need to go through a review process to check if they contain banned content.
Lawmakers say the goal is to protect players and inform them about the content of games. They believe these rules would help protect public morals and citizens’ rights.
Concerns from the Gaming Industry
People in the gaming industry are worried about the new rules. Russian game companies would have to pay for connecting to the government’s ID systems, which could increase their costs.
Foreign companies, however, might ignore the rules and continue selling games in Russia, giving them an advantage.
Alexander Mikheev, CEO of the Association of Professionals of the Game Operation and Development Industry, pointed out that Russia already has laws to manage age-restricted content in games.
He mentioned that a voluntary labeling system is already in place to warn players about potentially harmful content.
