Sacred Symbols+, Episode 197: Gaming While Russian (Patreon)

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has completely roiled the world. Thousands are dead, economies, currencies, and societies are suffering, and we're walking headlong into a global food crisis in the coming months, too. The results for Ukraine are obviously most devastating, but what's happened within Russia's borders is a little more mysterious. This is where today's guest, Roman, comes into play. Roman was born-and-raised in the Soviet Union just as it was falling apart. He ended up first coming to the United States in the '90s, largely splitting time between the US and Russia before (shockingly) going off to spend a decade in China. Roman's perspective is interesting, as he speaks both English and Russian, has lived in both societies, knows people in both places, and -- for the purposes of our show -- creates a gaming podcast specifically for a Russian audience. We hear a lot about Ukraine these days, and rightfully so. But I was curious to explore the Russian angle, particularly when it comes to our industry. What's it like over there right now for gamers? What are their options with the suspension of the SWIFT banking system and the refusal of many gaming entities to do business there? Is piracy on the rise? The use of VPNs? There's clearly much to consider. We totally understand that political episodes aren't for all of you. Be warned: This is very much one of those episodes.

Check out Roman’s podcast: https://youtube.com/c/SplitSkrin