Lesta Studio
{{Short description|Russian video game developer}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Lesta Games
| logo = Lesta Studio.png
| native_name = Леста
| native_name_lang = ru
| romanized_name = Lesta, LTD
| industry = Video games
| founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1991|12|22}}
| defunct = {{End date and age|2025|04|17}}
| fate = Assets seized by Russian government
| founder =
| hq_location_city = Saint Petersburg, Moscow, Minsk and Tashkent{{cite web | url=https://legal.lesta.ru/eula/ | title=Лицензионное соглашение с конечным пользователем | Юридические документы }}{{cite web | url=https://vk.com/lestagames?w=club38955906/ | title=Леста Игры }}
| hq_location_country = Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan
| key_people = Malik Khatajaev (CEO){{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/04/21/wargamingnet-and-lesta-announce-exclusive-strategic-partnership |title=Wargaming.net and Lesta Announce Exclusive Strategic Partnership |author=IGN Staff |date=21 April 2011 |website=IGN |access-date=24 January 2021 |archive-date=10 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410202825/https://www.ign.com/articles/2011/04/21/wargamingnet-and-lesta-announce-exclusive-strategic-partnership |url-status=live }}
| num_employees = 1500 {{cite web | url=https://vk.com/lestagames?w=club38955906/ | title=Леста Игры }}
| num_employees_year = 2023
| parent = Wargaming (2011–2022)
| website = {{URL|https://lesta.ru/|lesta.ru}}
}}
Lesta Games ({{langx|ru|Леста|translit=Lesta}}; also known as Lesta Studio) is a Russian video game development and film production company with studios in Saint Petersburg, Moscow, Minsk and Tashkent.{{cite web | url=https://spb.hh.ru/employer/856498 | title=Вакансии в компании Lesta Games. Начни работу в Lesta Games }}{{cite web |url=https://www.igromania.ru/article/29576/Vyhodnye_s_Wargaming_den_rozhdeniya_Lesta_Studio_i_konferenciya_4C.html |title=Выходные с Wargaming: день рождения Lesta Studio и конференция 4C |first=Денис |last=Павлушкин |date=30 September 2017 |website=Igromania |access-date=24 January 2021 |archive-date=10 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410141536/https://www.igromania.ru/article/29576/Vyhodnye_s_Wargaming_den_rozhdeniya_Lesta_Studio_i_konferenciya_4C.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.kotaku.co.uk/2015/02/18/like-inside-wargamings-weird-offices |title=What it's Like Inside Wargaming's Weird Offices |first=Ben |last=Griffin |date=18 February 2015 |website=Kotaku UK |access-date=24 January 2021 |archive-date=8 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200908050748/https://www.kotaku.co.uk/2015/02/18/like-inside-wargamings-weird-offices |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/09/24/the-evolution-of-world-of-warships |title=The Evolution of World of Warships |first=Tristan |last=Ogilvie |date=24 September 2018 |website=IGN |access-date=24 January 2021 |archive-date=27 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927013930/https://www.ign.com/videos/2018/09/24/the-evolution-of-world-of-warships |url-status=live }} From 2011 to 2022, the company was owned by Wargaming.
History
Lesta Studio was founded on 22 December 1991.{{cite web |url=https://lesta.ru/en/news/2012/12/22/lesta-studio-21-anniversary/ |title=Lesta Studio: the 21st anniversary |date=22 December 2012 |website=Lesta Studio |access-date=24 January 2021 |archive-date=29 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229031253/https://lesta.ru/en/news/2012/12/22/lesta-studio-21-anniversary/ |url-status=live }} In January 1998, the studio was one of three large computer graphics companies of Saint Petersburg, alongside Positive and Creat.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/1998/01/sterling/ |title=Art And Corruption |first=Bruce |last=Sterling |date=1 January 1998 |magazine=Wired |access-date=24 January 2021 |archive-date=29 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129033357/https://www.wired.com/1998/01/sterling/ |url-status=live }} In 2011, the company became part of Belarusian video game company Wargaming.{{cite web |url=http://gotominsk.wargaming.com/en/about/our-locations/saint-petersburg/ |title=Discover Lesta Studio |website=Wargaming |access-date=24 January 2021 |archive-date=2 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702150724/http://gotominsk.wargaming.com/en/about/our-locations/saint-petersburg/ |url-status=live }} On its 21st anniversary in 2012, Lesta Studio had 150 employees.
On April 4, 2022, Wargaming announced that they would be pulling all operations out of Russia and Belarus, and transferring all its live games services in those regions to Lesta Studio, which was announced to no longer be affiliated with the company.{{cite web|url=https://wargaming.com/en/news/business-operations-worldwide/|title=Wargaming announces decision to leave Russia and Belarus|website=Wargaming|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404155541/https://wargaming.com/en/news/business-operations-worldwide/|archive-date=April 4, 2022|url-status=live}}
On October 12, 2022, they released 3 new games that are based on Wargaming games. The games are licensed, but their development is different. The games are Mir Tankov and Mir Korablej, and they work with another company called EAST GAMES LLC who publishes the Tanks Blitz game.
On April 17, 2025, according to the Federal Bailiff Service, the Tagansky District Court of Moscow seized the assets of Lesta Studio, following an order issued by the Office of the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation.{{cite web|url=https://www.rbc.ru/technology_and_media/24/04/2025/680a30609a794772af778315|title=Суд арестовал активы российского издателя игры «Мир танков»|date=April 24, 2025|author1=Evgeniya Stogova|author2=Daria Molotkova|website=RBK Group|language=ru|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250424143612/https://www.rbc.ru/technology_and_media/24/04/2025/680a30609a794772af778315|archive-date=April 24, 2025|url-status=live}}
Games developed
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://lesta.ru/}}
{{Wargaming.net}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Russian companies established in 1991
Category:Companies based in Saint Petersburg
Category:Film production companies of Russia
Category:Video game companies established in 1991
Category:Video game companies of Russia