Nikita Mazepin in talks to acquire Russian gaming giant Lesta Games

Nikita Mazepin, the former Formula 1 driver, is reportedly in advanced negotiations to acquire Lesta Games, one of Russia’s largest video game developers. According to reports from Forbes, the deal is nearing completion, with the transaction value estimated between 30 billion and 35 billion rubles (approximately €515 million or 1.3–1.6 billion PLN).

Lesta Games, known for titles such as “Mir Tankov” (the Russian version of “World of Tanks”) and “Mir Korabley,” was previously nationalized by the Russian state after its former owners, including Wargaming, exited the Russian and Belarusian markets following the invasion of Ukraine.

A representative for Mazepin confirmed to the Russian outlet Championat that discussions regarding the transaction are ongoing, noting that his group, UCM, is actively pursuing deals in digital, financial, and artificial intelligence technologies. While the deal is in its final stages, a final price agreement is still required.