Oleg Grushevich: We create products that stand the test of time

Oleg Grushevich, the CEO and Co-founder of Easybrain, shares his views of the sector and explains why a passion for quality and a culture that supports its people allow the company to keep growing and succeeding.

Can you tell us more about your company, when you were established in Cyprus and how many offices/ members of staff you currently have?

Easybrain is a leading mobile game developer with a core focus on logic puzzle games. Our portfolio includes Sudoku.com, Blockudoku, Jigsaw Puzzles, Art Puzzle, Nonogram.com, and other chart-topping titles. Having surpassed the milestone of 1.5 billion downloads, we're thrilled to provide entertainment, fun, and brain training to players all over the world!

Our Cyprus office was established in 2016, and since then, we've been growing at a rapid pace! Currently, Easybrain has a strong presence in Cyprus, with its headquarters in Limassol and more than 100 team members.

Easybrain Cyprus team is made up of experts in various areas of game development, including product management, programming, design, marketing, customer support, monetisation, administration, and others. We're always on the lookout for new talents and excited to see more and more colleagues relocating to our Cyprus office from other locations.

What do you believe sets your company apart from its competition?

At Easybrain, we're all about creating a culture that excels. We put people first, and our supportive work environment encourages our team to be creative and take the initiative. We also love to see our teammates expand the boundaries and come up with amazing ideas that keep us ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving industry.

We create products that stand the test of time. Games that not only are fun to play but help players keep their brains active, exercise logical thinking, and fight stress. We love creating simple and intuitive user interfaces and gameplays, but there are really complex back-end and business intelligence systems below the surface supporting the business. Besides, most of the decisions taken at Easybrain are data-driven, which removes personal bias out of the equation.

Overall, our passion for quality and a culture that supports our people allow us to keep growing and succeeding. I believe that this unique combination is what sets us apart in the industry.

How has your experience of doing business in Cyprus been and would you recommend it to other foreign interest companies looking to relocate?

We’re having a positive experience doing business in Cyprus. From a well-established legal framework to a competitive tax regime, the country offers a range of benefits that make it an attractive destination for IT companies like ours.

Along with its attractive business conditions, the island's stunning climate creates an opportunity for Easybrain and other IT companies to relocate and attract top professionals.

Being part of the local tech community is a real joy. We would certainly recommend Cyprus to other foreign interest companies looking to join the thriving IT scene here.

What is your view of your sector (locally and on a global level) both as it is today and its potential for growth?

The mobile gaming market has experienced considerable volatility in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the industry, causing changes in consumer behavior.

What I also see is that it's not always easy for smaller studios to break through in an industry that's increasingly consolidated through a large number of M&As in past years.

And speaking of possibilities, we are currently witnessing the rise of AI. As it takes over routine tasks, people will have more time for entertainment, and gaming will undoubtedly be part of it.

In general, I suppose the future of mobile gaming is bright, and we look forward to continuing our contribution to its growth and development.

Where do you see your company in five years? Are there any immediate plans for your company you can reveal to us today, for example new products, services, plans for expansion?

Our team has always had a clear vision of what we're great at, and that's creating top-quality casual mobile games that people love to play. We're focused on basics and continuing to innovate and grow within the mobile gaming space, building on our existing strengths and capabilities.

Being part of Embracer Group, we have the opportunity to tap into diverse expertise contributed by a wide range of game studios. We’re able to leverage valuable resources and share knowledge that foster our growth.

We will continue to invest in our team and plan to expand our Cyprus office. And I’m excited to see where our passion and expertise will take us next.

How much focus do you put on CSR and being part of the local community?

As a company, we see CSR as a vital part of our culture and an opportunity to give back to the places that have welcomed us.

We've had the pleasure of supporting several local charitable organisations and community initiatives. Our most recent donation in the amount of 100,000 euros went to the City Friends Club, which cleans the streets, runs volunteer projects, and promotes eco-friendly habits in Limassol. Amidst the Covid-19 outbreak, we contributed to the efforts to combat the virus by contributing 100,000 euros to the Treasury of the Republic of Cyprus. Following the 2021 wildfire in Cyprus, Easybrain stepped in to assist with the recovery initiative by the non-profit organisation TechIsland.

At Easybrain, we feel the responsibility to be a positive force in the community. By doing so, we can help make Cyprus an even better place to live and do business.