"Explicit" is the portrayal or description used here.
In the world of video gaming, a new title is set to make waves: 'Zemsky Sobor', developed by Russian studio Cyberia Nova. This action-adventure game, scheduled for release on VK Play on November 4, 2025, is poised to become a significant player in the global gaming landscape, serving as an instrument of soft power for Russia.
Originally intended as a DLC for 'The Time of Troubles', 'Zemsky Sobor' has evolved into a full-fledged product, reflecting the growing trend of teams turning to Russian history as a source of drama, characters, and meaning, as noted by Alexander Mikheev, CEO of the Association of Professionals in the Gaming Industry.
The strategic use of interactive media to build cultural influence, enhance national branding, and engage global audiences with a country's values and stories is a key dimension of modern soft power. By embedding and exporting elements of Russian history, culture, or values, games like 'Zemsky Sobor' function as a medium for cultural diplomacy. They aim to foster a sense of national pride domestically while shaping international views of Russia through storytelling rooted in Russian heritage or ideology.
'Zemsky Sobor' is developed on Unreal Engine 5 and will be played from the perspective of the main character, a Cossack named Kirsha, a comrade of Yuri Miloslavsky. The game features reimagined core mechanics, a new system for peaceful and combat movement of the main character and NPCs, and new story elements and interactive possibilities.
However, the developers have identified certain 'weak points' in the game mechanics, leading to the abandonment of RPG elements in favour of a more focused action-adventure experience. Concerns about the game potentially turning into a walking simulator have been addressed, with improvements made to the game mechanics based on feedback from developers surveyed by Kommersant.
Authorities are paying particular attention to 'national games' in the video game industry, recognising their potential as soft power tools. The price for users will be announced later, but those who purchase 'The Time of Troubles' before the release of 'Zemsky Sobor' will receive the latest product for free.
Cyberia Nova, founded in Novosibirsk in 2015, is a significant player in the Russian gaming industry. The company is 70% owned by Elmira Kholodova, with 10% each by Alexei Koptev (CEO), Yevgeny Rusak, and Timofey Shevyakov. With 'Zemsky Sobor', they are aiming to replicate the success of South Korea, where games are seen as an element of soft power, cultural code, and national values, as part of the 'K-wave'.
As Russia tries to extend its cultural influence beyond traditional diplomatic channels, 'Zemsky Sobor' stands as a testament to the strategic use of video games as soft power tools, promoting Russian cultural codes and historical narratives, projecting national values or reinterpretations of history, and providing an engaging platform for cultural exportation.
Gadgets and technology will likely play a significant role in promoting 'Zemsky Sobor', as Cyberia Nova, the Russian studio developing the game, has utilizes Unreal Engine 5, offering reimagined mechanics and immersive gameplay.
Games like 'Zemsky Sobor', with their portrayal of Russian history and culture, serve as digital gadgets to facilitate cultural diplomacy, thus embodying the strategic use of interactive media as a tool for soft power.
