New Weapon in the Shadows: How the Kremlin Uses Video Games for War Propaganda

Is television still the only mouthpiece of Russian propaganda?

The analytical research by LingvaLexa demonstrates that today, the battle for human minds is also taking place in the virtual world of video games — an environment where Russian propaganda operates subtly, emotionally, and on a massive scale.

We analyzed how the Russian gaming industry is gradually becoming part of the state propaganda machine - from government grants to the creation of targeted narratives through in-game content, online communities, and live streams.

The research reveals psychological mechanisms of influence that make video games such an effective tool of persuasion: the immersion effect, the illusion of choice, and the formation of empathy toward the aggressor. This is a new form of ideological control — one that works insidiously, convincingly, through play.

We believe that the role of video games as an instrument of influence remains severely underestimated. That is why we offer recommendations for expert evaluation of game content for institutions studying information operations, including within judicial or media contexts.

Underestimating this phenomenon is a strategic mistake. We particularly urge everyone to be mindful of the content consumed by children, teenagers, and young people, because today, it is through entertainment that perceptions of war, violence, and “heroes” are being shaped.

Read the full research here (PDF)