How is the gaming industry developing in Uzbekistan

The rapidly developing IT sector in Uzbekistan has the potential to meet the global gaming industry's demand for young and creative specialists. This is the perspective of Azamat Rakhmon-Zoda, head of the office for advanced projects at IT Park Uzbekistan. We share his insights on the country's game development situation.

Azamat Rakhmon-Zoda

Let's start with the numbers. Today, there are more than 147 indie teams, 30 game studios, and two publishers operating in Uzbekistan, including companies from the USA, France, Korea, Japan, and the CIS.

This is unsurprising, as the country offers unprecedented growth conditions for industry participants, including tax benefits, support measures for business startups, and access to quality human resources.

Games for Youth by Youth

Uzbekistan is the most populous country in the Central Asian region, home to nearly 38 million people. Moreover, it has a young population, with a median age of 29 years.

There are over 200 universities in the region, more than 80 of which train specialists for the IT industry, including branches of well-known foreign universities such as Moscow State University, Inha, Amity, and others.

In December 2024, with the support of IT Park, the GameDevHQ Academy educational platform was launched to train game developers. This is the first specialized educational institution of its kind in the region, bringing together developers, designers, investors, and enthusiasts.

Today, the country boasts a young, ambitious, and creative developer community ready to present the world with products that reflect the spirit of the era.

Quick and Risk-Free Studio Startup

The starting point for the development of Uzbekistan's IT sector can be traced back to 2019, the year IT Park Uzbekistan was founded.

IT Park acts as a bridge connecting the needs of the IT business with the capabilities of the state. Its goal is to create ideal conditions for the accelerated establishment of high-tech production in the country.

Game industry companies can benefit from the following advantages within IT Park Uzbekistan residency:

The IT Visa for foreign investors, specialists, and founders of IT Park residents. This multi-entry visa, valid for up to three years, allows foreigners to access medical services and receive education on par with Uzbek citizens. IT Visa holders also have the right to purchase housing on the secondary property market without price restrictions.
Risk-free company startup with the Zero Risk program. Game development companies can apply for free office rental in Uzbekistan's regions for up to 12 months. Assistance is provided in equipping the office with equipment and furniture, and up to 15% of the salary costs for Uzbek citizen employees are reimbursed.
Tax relief in the form of exemptions from VAT, corporate, property, and social taxes, with income tax for company specialists at just 7.5%.
A company in Uzbekistan can be launched "turnkey" remotely via the One Stop Shop program. After the founder completes a simple form on the website, IT Park specialists will register the legal entity, open a bank account, and register the company with the tax authorities.

These government-developed programs aim to simplify and speed up the launch of game development companies in Uzbekistan and help them free up resources for investment in developing new products and expanding existing ones by saving on capital investments and tax deductions.

From the very beginning of our work in Uzbekistan, we have felt the benefits of tax incentive policies. This is crucial for small and medium businesses, as it allows for more funds to be retained for company growth. Reducing tax payments increases profitability and efficiency, enabling more investment in modernization, expansion, new products, or employee salary increases. This, in turn, enhances the competitiveness of Uzbek companies in the global market. We considered other countries for business launch, including in Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. However, we chose Uzbekistan, highlighting not only tax benefits but also the availability of real estate, ease of business startup, absence of bureaucracy, the ability to own all company assets without handing shares to third parties, a pleasant climate, and a convenient time zone.

Yevgeny Ponomarev

Founder of EVEGOPLAYON

A Symbiosis of Security, Comfort, and Prospects

Uzbekistan is located in the heart of Eurasia. This allows companies outsourcing game development services to foreign clients to quickly respond to their needs. For instance, the time difference between Tashkent and Seoul is just four hours.

Despite the large potential user market in Central Asia, where the population exceeds 80 million, the capabilities of local game development studios are widely promoted on international platforms. This is facilitated by IT Park representations in countries like Saudi Arabia, UAE, USA, Republic of Korea, Japan, Germany, and China.

Thus, game development companies based in Uzbekistan can find potential clients and new markets for their products and services. Currently, local studios work in markets throughout Korea, Japan, and the CIS.

For example, IT Park resident studio EVEGOPLAYON, which has assembled a team of experienced artists from around the world, collaborates with major international clients such as Mundfish, Azur Games, TripWire, Saber Interactive, Nekki, Blizzard, Dead Astronauts, and others.

Furthermore, Uzbekistan is recognized as the safest country in the world according to the latest Safety Perception Index data, making the region not only promising for business but also comfortable and safe for foreign specialists.

A Part of the Global Industry

Another significant event in the development of the gaming sector was the Game Gap event held during ICT Week Uzbekistan 2025. This gathering attracted key industry players, from independent studios to representatives from international giants like Voodoo, Tencent, Level Infinite (Tencent Games Global), and more.

Game Gap showcased that Uzbekistan is rapidly transforming into a key hub in global game development. Cutting-edge projects, technologies, and ideas were presented, with participants actively exchanging experiences, establishing partnerships, and discovering new opportunities for collaboration, strengthening the international gaming industry's ecosystem.

Such initiatives demonstrate that the country is not just making a name for itself — it is setting trends, creating platforms for innovation, and becoming a magnet for talent and capital.

The rapid growth of the game development sector in Uzbekistan indicates a large-scale transformation of the region's digital economy, involving dozens of players with various roles. Government support, a wealth of young talent, and a favorable business climate have made the country home to many studios and a growth point for local developers, including indie teams and startups.

For foreign teams and investors, Uzbekistan today represents a unique opportunity to enter a promising market without risk, taking advantage of beneficial conditions and growing infrastructure.

More on the results of ICT Week Uzbekistan 2025 and Game Gap can be found at this link.

Next Stop — Moscow

Uzbekistan continues to strengthen its position on the international stage, promoting the opportunities of its IT and creative industries abroad. On November 26, 2025, the Uzbekistan Outsourcing Conference — Moscow 2025 will be held in Moscow, organized by IT Park Uzbekistan in collaboration with the Creative Industries Association under the Government of Moscow, RUSSOFT, and the Moscow Export Center.

The event will serve as a key platform for exchanging experiences and finding partners in IT, outsourcing, creative industries, and game development.

Participants can expect:

Expert discussions on global and regional trends;
Insights into the development of creative and gaming industries;
Networking with business leaders and investors;
Presentation of Uzbekistan’s outsourcing ecosystem and IT Park support programs.

Date: November 26, 2025

Time: 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM

Venue: Technograd Innovation and Education Complex, Prospekt Mira, 119, building 63, Moscow

Registration is available here.

Don't miss the opportunity to meet key representatives of IT Park Uzbekistan, find partners, and open new horizons for collaboration in technology and game development.