Lesta Studio

Lesta Studio, also known as Lesta or Lesta Games, is a Russian video game development and film production company headquartered in Saint Petersburg. The company was founded on 22 December 1991 and initially operated as a computer graphics studio. By the late 1990s, it was regarded as one of the larger computer graphics companies in Saint Petersburg, alongside Positive and Creat. Its activities later expanded into video game production and support for large-scale online titles. Lesta became particularly significant through its relationship with Wargaming, the Belarusian publisher and developer behind the World of Tanks franchise. In 2011, Wargaming acquired Lesta Studio, bringing the Russian company into its corporate structure. Lesta subsequently became associated with the development and operation of military-themed online games, contributing to the broader World of Tanks ecosystem. On the company’s twenty-first anniversary in 2012, it reportedly had approximately 150 employees. The relationship between the two companies changed substantially in 2022 after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the resulting business and regulatory environment. On 4 April 2022, Wargaming announced that it would withdraw from Russia and Belarus. Its live-game operations in those markets were transferred to Lesta Studio, which was stated to have become independent from Wargaming. This separation resulted in the creation of region-specific versions and brands based on previously Wargaming-associated games. On 12 October 2022, Lesta released Mir Tankov and Mir Korablej, localized and separately operated successors associated with the tank and naval-combat properties previously known internationally as World of Tanks and World of Warships. These games were described as licensed products whose development and operation differed from the original Wargaming versions. Lesta also worked with EAST GAMES LLC on the publication of Tanks Blitz in the relevant market. The post-2022 business therefore centered on maintaining and developing online military games for Russian-speaking markets rather than continuing as a global Wargaming subsidiary. Lesta has maintained studios or offices in Saint Petersburg, Moscow, Minsk, and Tashkent according to the referenced Wikipedia account. Its public identity is primarily that of a game developer and operator, although its historical description also includes film production and computer graphics. The company’s best-known commercial association is the tank-game line represented by Mir Tankov and its earlier connection to World of Tanks. In April 2025, the Federal Bailiff Service was reported to have carried out a seizure of Lesta Studio’s assets following an order from the Office of the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation and a decision by Moscow’s Tagansky District Court. The available reference does not establish the ultimate legal outcome or provide a complete explanation of the proceedings.

Lesta Studio was established on 22 December 1991 in Russia. Its early identity was that of a computer graphics company rather than the large-scale online-game developer with which it later became associated. In January 1998, it was identified as one of three major computer graphics companies in Saint Petersburg, together with Positive and Creat. This early work established the company’s technical and production background in visual media. The company later moved into game development and expanded its production capabilities. In 2011, Lesta became part of Wargaming, the Belarusian video game company known internationally for World of Tanks and related military-themed online games. The acquisition connected Lesta with one of the most prominent free-to-play multiplayer game groups of the period. Lesta’s work and operating role became closely associated with Wargaming’s tank and naval game portfolio. On its twenty-first anniversary in 2012, the studio was reported to have 150 employees. Lesta’s corporate position changed in 2022. On 4 April, Wargaming announced that it would withdraw from operations in Russia and Belarus. The live services for Wargaming games in those territories were transferred to Lesta Studio, and Wargaming stated that Lesta would no longer be affiliated with it. This was more than a change in distribution: it created a separate regional operating structure for games that had previously belonged to Wargaming’s international network. On 12 October 2022, Lesta introduced three games based on Wargaming-associated properties. Mir Tankov and Mir Korablej represented regional versions of the tank and naval-combat experiences, while Tanks Blitz was published with the involvement of EAST GAMES LLC. The referenced material characterizes these games as licensed but separately developed or operated, distinguishing them from the original Wargaming versions. Lesta consequently became the principal company associated with the continuation of these game services in the Russian market. The company is described as having studios in Saint Petersburg, Moscow, Minsk, and Tashkent. In addition to video game development, its historical profile includes film production and computer graphics. Its best-known public identity, however, derives from online military games and the transition from Wargaming-linked operations to Lesta-managed regional products. In April 2025, the Federal Bailiff Service was reported to have seized Lesta Studio’s assets after an order connected with the Office of the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation and a ruling by Moscow’s Tagansky District Court. The available reference does not provide sufficient detail to determine the legal claims, the parties’ full positions, or the final resolution. Lesta’s current corporate status and operating condition therefore require continued verification beyond the cited encyclopedia material.

• 2025

  Reported seizure of company assets

  [1]Lesta Studioen.wikipedia.org

  The Federal Bailiff Service was reported to have seized Lesta Studio’s assets following a Moscow court order connected with the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office.

• 2022

  Separation from Wargaming and regional service transfer

  [1]Lesta Studioen.wikipedia.org

  Wargaming announced its withdrawal from Russia and Belarus and transferred live-game services in those markets to Lesta, which was described as no longer affiliated with Wargaming.

• 2022

  Launch of Mir Tankov and Mir Korablej

  [1]Lesta Studioen.wikipedia.org

  Lesta launched region-specific games based on Wargaming-associated tank and naval properties, with separate development and operation from the original versions.

• 2012

  Twenty-first anniversary and reported workforce of 150

  [1]Lesta Studioen.wikipedia.org

  On its twenty-first anniversary, Lesta Studio was reported to have approximately 150 employees.

• 2011

  Lesta joins Wargaming

  [1]Lesta Studioen.wikipedia.org

  Lesta Studio became part of Belarusian video game company Wargaming.

• 1998

  Recognition as a major Saint Petersburg computer graphics company

  [1]Lesta Studioen.wikipedia.org

  The studio was identified as one of three large computer graphics companies in Saint Petersburg, alongside Positive and Creat.

• 1991

  Lesta Studio is founded

  [1]Lesta Studioen.wikipedia.org

  Lesta Studio was founded on 22 December 1991 in Russia.

Developer and operator of military-themed online games, with a strong focus on Russian-speaking markets and the regional continuation of titles associated with the Wargaming game portfolio.

• Online multiplayer video game · 2022

  Mir Tankov

  Mir Tankov is Lesta’s regional tank-combat game associated with the World of Tanks property. It was released in October 2022 after Wargaming transferred its Russian and Belarusian live-game operations to Lesta. The game is based on a licensed property but is developed and operated separately from the original international Wargaming version.

• Online multiplayer video game · 2022

  Mir Korablej

  Mir Korablej is Lesta’s regional naval-combat game associated with the World of Warships property. Released in October 2022, it formed part of the regional transition of Wargaming-linked live services to Lesta. The available reference describes it as a licensed title with distinct development and operation.

• Online multiplayer video game

  Tanks Blitz

  Tanks Blitz is a mobile-oriented tank game associated with the broader Wargaming game portfolio. In the regional restructuring announced in 2022, Lesta worked with EAST GAMES LLC, which published the relevant offering. The supplied reference does not specify the complete division of development, publishing, and operating responsibilities.

• 2022

  Establishment of an independent regional game operationStrategy

  Background

  Wargaming announced that it would withdraw from Russia and Belarus and no longer operate its live games directly in those markets.

  Action taken

  Lesta received the live-game services for the affected territories and became separate from Wargaming’s corporate structure.

  Aftermath

  Lesta released Mir Tankov and Mir Korablej and participated in a regional Tanks Blitz publishing arrangement, creating localized successors to Wargaming-associated services.

  Source

• 2011

  Integration into WargamingM&A

  Background

  Lesta had developed from a computer graphics company into a game-production studio, while Wargaming was expanding its international game development and publishing organization.

  Action taken

  Lesta Studio became part of Wargaming.

  Aftermath

  The studio became associated with Wargaming’s military-themed online game portfolio and later supported World of Tanks-related operations.

  Source

1. 1Lesta Studioen.wikipedia.org