Lesta Games

Overview

Lesta Games (Леста Игры) is a prominent full-cycle video game developer and publisher operating across Russia, Belarus, and Central Asia. Originally founded in 1991 as Lesta Studio, the company spent its first decade specializing in high-end visual effects, CGI, and post-production for Russian cinema and commercial advertising. In 2001, the studio transitioned into game development, eventually becoming a major force in the CIS gaming market.

Core Operations

Today, Lesta Games focuses on the development and live-service management of large-scale multiplayer titles. Following its separation from Wargaming in 2022, the studio assumed full operational control of regional titles including Мир танков (Mir Tankov), Мир кораблей (Mir Korabley), and Tanks Blitz. The company maintains a robust infrastructure for game design, engineering, and community management, supported by a workforce of over 2,000 professionals.

Development and Technology

• Technical Expertise: The studio utilizes custom engine technology alongside Unreal Engine 5 for new projects, with specialized pipelines for hard-surface 3D modeling and procedural environment generation.
• Educational Initiatives: Through Lesta Games Academy and Lesta Start, the company provides mentorship and paid internships to foster new talent within the game development industry.
• Production Hubs: The studio operates a distributed development model with major hubs in Saint Petersburg, Minsk, Moscow, and Tashkent, each contributing to the maintenance of flagship titles and the development of an unannounced AAA multiplayer PC project.

Ownership and Status

Following a period of state-managed operations, the company was acquired in October 2026 by the private investor consortium JSC "Industrial Structures" (АО «Промышленные сооружения»). The studio continues to operate as an independent entity, maintaining its established development roadmaps and regional publishing operations.