Central Asia’s GameDev Industry Overview
Report by Ilya Anufriev
2018-2024
Central Asia, comprising five countries: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, has emerged as a strategic region drawing increased international attention due to its geopolitical significance and economic potential. Between 2018 and 2024, the region underwent a series of notable developments and transitions that have shaped its path forward. This report explores the evolution of the GameDev industry in Central Asia, with a particular focus on Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.
2019, Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, Asanbay Center, main hall of the Central Asia Game Show conference
Networking is the engine that drives growth in any industry — and game development is no exception. In 2018, Kyrgyz startup accelerator Neobis hosted the country’s first GameDev meetup, offering local developers a rare opportunity to showcase their games to the public.
But it was on February 17, 2019, that the region truly stepped onto the map with the launch of the first-ever Central Asia Game Show (CAGS).
CAGS was a landmark event for the region — not just another conference, but a bold, multi-faceted celebration of gaming. Its unique format brought together a professional developer conference, an official eSports tournament for World of Tanks (in partnership with Wargaming), and an interactive expo featuring gaming hardware and peripherals. The event attracted over 5,000 attendees, making it one of the largest tech gatherings in the region at the time.
The vision behind CAGS was clear: to position Central Asia as a distinct and globally visible region in the digital distribution landscape. Making it international wasn’t just a goal — it was a statement.
But it was on February 17, 2019, that the region truly stepped onto the map with the launch of the first-ever Central Asia Game Show (CAGS).
CAGS was a landmark event for the region — not just another conference, but a bold, multi-faceted celebration of gaming. Its unique format brought together a professional developer conference, an official eSports tournament for World of Tanks (in partnership with Wargaming), and an interactive expo featuring gaming hardware and peripherals. The event attracted over 5,000 attendees, making it one of the largest tech gatherings in the region at the time.
The vision behind CAGS was clear: to position Central Asia as a distinct and globally visible region in the digital distribution landscape. Making it international wasn’t just a goal — it was a statement.
In 2019, during the Games Gathering'19 conference in Kyiv,
I presented the first comprehensive overview of the game development industry in Central Asia. At the time, I had already identified more than 10 game studios operating in Kazakhstan and 7 in Kyrgyzstan. While Kyrgyz studios were still in the early stages of development, studios in Kazakhstan had already built strong portfolios and reached audiences in the millions. Uzbekistan, however, was not included in the report due
to a lack of available market data.
In my analysis, the key barriers to growth in the region’s GameDev sector included an underdeveloped education system for future specialists, the absence of major industry players in Central Asia, and a shortage of experienced, GameDev-literate investors. These factors significantly slowed the progress of the local industry and limited its ability to scale.
I presented the first comprehensive overview of the game development industry in Central Asia. At the time, I had already identified more than 10 game studios operating in Kazakhstan and 7 in Kyrgyzstan. While Kyrgyz studios were still in the early stages of development, studios in Kazakhstan had already built strong portfolios and reached audiences in the millions. Uzbekistan, however, was not included in the report due
to a lack of available market data.
In my analysis, the key barriers to growth in the region’s GameDev sector included an underdeveloped education system for future specialists, the absence of major industry players in Central Asia, and a shortage of experienced, GameDev-literate investors. These factors significantly slowed the progress of the local industry and limited its ability to scale.
Game Development in Central Asia 2019
It is necessary to choose a visual aid that is appropriate for the topic and audience.
Each type of visual aid has pros and cons that must be evaluated to ensure it will be beneficial to the overall presentation. Before incorporating visual aids into speeches, the speaker should understand that if used incorrectly, the visual will not be an aid, but a distraction.
Planning ahead is important when using visual aids. It is necessary to choose a visual aid that is appropriate for the material and audience. The purpose of the visual aid is to enhance the presentation. Each type of visual aid has pros and cons that must be evaluated to ensure it will be beneficial to the overall presentation. Before incorporating visual aids into speeches, the speaker should understand that if used incorrectly, the visual will not be an aid, but a distraction. Planning ahead is important when using visual aids. It is necessary to choose a visual aid that is appropriate for the material and audience. The purpose of the visual aid is to enhance the presentation.
Planning ahead is important when using visual aids. It is necessary to choose a visual aid that is appropriate for the material and audience. The purpose of the visual aid is to enhance the presentation. Each type of visual aid has pros and cons that must be evaluated to ensure it will be beneficial to the overall presentation. Before incorporating visual aids into speeches, the speaker should understand that if used incorrectly, the visual will not be an aid, but a distraction. Planning ahead is important when using visual aids. It is necessary to choose a visual aid that is appropriate for the material and audience. The purpose of the visual aid is to enhance the presentation.
DEVELOPERS
The game is a joint project of
two Kyrgyz game development companies
Grimwood Team: https://gwtgames.com/
two Kyrgyz game development companies
Grimwood Team: https://gwtgames.com/
Idea and project management
Andrei Gribinyuk (Grimwood Team)
Game designer, animator, screenwriter: idea, development coordinating, project general management
Turusbekov Semetei (Mad Aliens)
CEO Mad Aliens: Project Chief Technical Officer
Game designer, animator, screenwriter: idea, development coordinating, project general management
Turusbekov Semetei (Mad Aliens)
CEO Mad Aliens: Project Chief Technical Officer
Programmers
Turusbekov Adilet (Mad Aliens)
Senior C# developer: basic mechanics, project architecture, technical consulting
Islam Dzhumabekov (Mad Aliens)
С# developer: interface logic
Nursultan Toibaev (Mad Aliens)
С# developer: gameplay, characters behavior
Senior C# developer: basic mechanics, project architecture, technical consulting
Islam Dzhumabekov (Mad Aliens)
С# developer: interface logic
Nursultan Toibaev (Mad Aliens)
С# developer: gameplay, characters behavior
Graphics
Yana Lysenko (Grimwood Team)
Project Art-director, visual artist: graphic style development and characters design.
Zhazgul Zainalova (Grimwood Team)
Visual artist: environment modelling
Andrei Gribinyuk (Grimwood Team)
Game design, animator, screenwriter: animation, effects.
Project Art-director, visual artist: graphic style development and characters design.
Zhazgul Zainalova (Grimwood Team)
Visual artist: environment modelling
Andrei Gribinyuk (Grimwood Team)
Game design, animator, screenwriter: animation, effects.