Russia’s media regulator fines Take-Two and Electronic Arts over data storage violations, targets more game studios

Russian courts have received at least eight administrative complaints against major foreign video game studios over violations of personal data storage rules since December 2025, the independent Russian investigative outlet Verstka reports.

Roskomnadzor has been targeting game publishers for keeping personal data on servers outside Russia. Several rulings have already come down: in December, Lesta — the studio behind World of Tanks, which passed into state ownership after a split with Wargaming — received a warning; in March, Battlestate Games, the studio behind the online shooter Escape from Tarkov, was fined two million rubles; in April, the same fine was levied against Take-Two (GTA, Red Dead Redemption) and Electronic Arts (Need for Speed, Battlefield, The Sims, and others); and a court handed down a penalty — the specifics are unknown, as the ruling has not yet been published — against Chinese game developer NetEase Interactive (Marvel Rivals).

Proceedings are expected next against Epic Games, the developer of Fortnite and Gears of War; Digital Extremes (Warframe); and the Swedish studio Embracer Group, which holds the rights to Tomb Raider, Deus Ex, and other titles.

Verstka notes that complaints of this kind against gaming companies were previously rare. Since 2023, fines under the same provision have been issued to Blizzard, the American studio known for the Warcraft franchise, and to Proxima Beta (PUBG Mobile).

In late April, State Duma deputy Yana Lantratova proposed requiring distribution certificates for video games, modeled on the system used for films. She criticized Western games, including the shooter Call of Duty, and called for support for studios that make games aligned with “traditional values.”