The Red Expo video game festival has announced its closure due to the refusal of a key partner, Lesta Games, to finance its organization. This was reported by the event organizers on the official website.
Lesta's expenses for the festival in 2024 exceeded 500 million rubles, while revenue was only a few tens of millions of rubles. The new management of the company decided to focus on supporting the Comic Con IgroMir festival, which unites the gaming industry and attracts more visitors.
After Lesta's refusal, the organizers tried to find a new sponsor and held negotiations with the Chinese Hoyeverse, but no agreement was reached. Independent experts note that Red Expo mainly showcased Lesta's products and did not acquire industry significance: its attendance was about 45 thousand people, while IgroMir gathered up to 180 thousand visitors.
At the same time, other gaming festivals in Russia continue to operate. In December, Comic Con IgroMir will be held in Moscow with the participation of major partners and sponsors, including Lesta, and in November, VK will hold Fandom Fest VKontakte.
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