"We are considering different types of cooperation": Mail.Ru about the new initiative

This morning, April 25, Mail.Ru The Group has announced the creation of a structure that will invest in gaming companies. App2Top.ru I took a short interview about the initiative from Ilya Karpinsky, director Mail.Ru Games Ventures.

Company Mail.Ru The Group has always been strong with its own game projects. What made you seriously take up the development of an essentially external direction?

Ilya Karpinsky
About 10 years ago, our Game direction was created from several top Russian teams.

It is these teams that have allowed us to become a market leader today, creating and publishing dozens of games of various genres around the world. And this once again confirms that the main asset of the gaming industry is people. They are the ones who make projects the way they are, add personality and character to them. We want to continue to develop, to continue to look for new promising and already established teams that are ready to change the market together with us, to create new products that will be of interest to users both in Russia and abroad. And in order to preserve the unique cultural code of each such team, we offer several options for cooperation in order to choose the most comfortable one together.

Has the positive experience with Pixonic influenced this decision?

Yes, for us, this deal was another confirmation that such forms of interaction with external studios can have a positive impact on the development of both sides.

You have stated that you plan to carry out investment activities of several types. But, most likely, you have preferences in the form of cooperation. What is the type of collaboration with publishers and game developers Mail.Ru Group will be most interesting and why?

As stated, we are ready to consider different types of cooperation – from direct investments and full-fledged purchases to investments in exchange for royalties from the product. We will discuss the format individually with each potential partner, it is much more important for us to find the right team and idea for investment.

You have announced plans to invest $100 million over two years. Why this amount, and not $50 million or $250 million?

This is the amount that we are ready to invest in the coming years, and then everything will depend on our joint success.

In the publication about you in Vedomosti, it was noted that you will, first of all, look closely at mobile projects. What is the reason for this decision?

Now mobile games are showing active growth, and in almost all markets. With the increase in the number of devices and the development of their technical capabilities, more and more game genres are adapting to mobile platforms. And many of these adaptations become truly loved and in demand by users. Now both the developers and the audience are ready to experiment, so it would be difficult to imagine a better moment.

The press release mentioned that Mail.Ru Games Ventures is ready to work with both experienced and young teams. What do both of them need to have on their hands so that you pay attention to them?

Send a request via our website gamesventures.mail.ru and provide the list of documents specified in the form. We are open to ideas and suggestions