On April 13, Yandex unveiled Igromir, a new service combining cloud gaming with a digital storefront for game content. Integrated into Yandex’s entertainment division, Fantech, Igromir aims to bring a fresh take on gaming to Russian audiences by fusing streaming gameplay and digital purchases.
- Cloud gaming has officially left beta, offering pay-as-you-go pricing without mandatory subscriptions.
- The service supports over 150 titles drawn from Steam, Epic Games, and Lesta Games libraries.
- Its coverage radius extends roughly 1,000 km from the data center, including cities like Saint Petersburg, Kazan, Samara, and Volgograd.
How Yandex’s Igromir cloud gaming works
Igromir streams games running on virtual machines directly to users’ browsers, similar to an online video platform. Streaming quality depends on the player’s proximity to the data center.
The service is compatible with Windows, Android, iOS, macOS, ChromeOS, and Linux devices. Yandex Plus subscribers can pay for gameplay time using bonus points earned within the Yandex ecosystem.
Games and purchases available in the Igromir store
The Igromir marketplace offers account top-ups for platforms like Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, and Battle.net. It also sells in-game currencies and items for popular titles such as World of Warcraft, Minecraft, Fortnite, Genshin Impact, League of Legends, Valorant, and more.
Yandex Plus members receive a 3% cashback on account recharges. Payment is accepted only via bank cards issued in Russia, reflecting local financial regulations.
Igromir’s transition from expo to online gaming platform
Yandex acquired the Igromir trademark in January 2025. Previously, it was the name of an offline video game expo in Russia. Last year, Yandex merged the Igromir and Comic Con brands to host the Comic Con Igromir pop culture festival. Now, Igromir exists both as a physical event and as an online platform.
This transition echoes moves by global tech giants integrating gaming and digital marketplaces into their ecosystems, though Yandex’s focus on Russian-language content and local payment methods sets it apart from Apple Arcade, Google Stadia (now defunct), and Xbox Cloud Gaming.
”According to Mediascope, nearly 70% of Russians play video games on PCs, consoles, or mobile devices, and about 40% buy gaming-related products annually. The Igromir brand is already well-known and beloved by much of this audience, and now it will be more than just an offline event-it will be a service aimed at diverse gaming needs, from content purchases to playing anywhere,” said Vladimir Tolmachev, head of marketing for Yandex’s Fantech gaming division.
Vladimir Tolmachev, Head of Marketing, Fantech
Igromir’s cloud gaming service still faces challenges common to streaming platforms: latency, bandwidth limits, and regional availability. But by offering hourly rates without subscription lock-ins, plus a broad game library, Yandex may carve out a niche for Russian gamers underserved by Western cloud gaming alternatives.