Boris Gertsovsky: Cyprus can create games that blend Eastern and Western storytelling in fresh ways

With a long, and by his own admission “quite eventful” journey in game development, Boris Gertovsky, the Founder of Limassol-based Crazybit, has demonstrated confidence on doing business in Cyprus.

In an interview with CBN, his talks about his return to Crazybit to explore new creative challenges after Nexters, a company he co-founded, went public.

Among other things, Gertovsky also shares his thoughts on the state of the gaming scene in Cyprus and suggests how the island can make the most of its potential, noting, "Cyprus has potential to develop a distinctive approach to game development. Successful regional hubs don’t just replicate Silicon Valley; they build on unique strengths. At the crossroads of diverse cultures, Cyprus can create games that blend Eastern and Western storytelling in fresh ways."

Following your huge success at Nexters, can you tell us about your decision to return to your original studio, CrazyBit? What is your vision for the studio?

My journey in game development has been quite eventful. I led Crazybit in 2012, a studio for social and mobile games, where I applied my accumulated experience from major online projects in the Russian-speaking internet segment. Later, together with my partner Andrey Fadeev, we founded Nexters, bringing in talent from both Crazybit and Andrey's company. We achieved significant success in mobile gaming with titles like Island Experiment, Throne Rush, and Hero Wars. After Nexters went public, I felt a pull towards the creative challenges that initially attracted me to gaming. Crazybit, now based in Limassol, gives me the freedom to create deep, thought-provoking games that I've always dreamed of.

Our shift from mobile to PC and console reflects my long-standing aspiration to create more profound gaming experiences. It's like the difference between writing a short story and a novel. Both are valuable, but a novel allows for the exploration of complex ideas and characters.

What truly inspires me is using games to explore global questions of existence and human nature. Our projects aim to place players in situations without clear-cut solutions. For instance, one of our concepts examines self-perception through philosophical questions, relating to the player's development and their character's progression in the game. It challenges players to consider how changes in their game avatar reflect or influence their own identity. These will be systemic choices impacting the entire game world, not just narrative moments.

At Crazybit, we create worlds that are logically coherent from the ground up. All our projects in development follow this principle – when the game world operates on consistent rules, moral choices become meaningful rather than arbitrary. Cyprus provides an ideal environment for such work — offering space for deep reflection and creative risks that might be impossible in a larger company focused on quarterly results.

Can you also tell us more about your new venture studio FTT Labs, such as what its aims are and what some of the reasons behind your decision to work in Limassol?

FTT Labs is based in Andorra, while Crazybit is a Cyprus-based game development studio. We also have investments in several other European startups. I work directly with the founders of studios within the FTT Labs ecosystem, fostering an atmosphere of transparency and creativity in tackling business challenges for success.

Within the startup community fostered by FTT Labs' investments in our areas of interest and expertise, we are combining three increasingly interconnected fields: game development, artificial intelligence, and cognitive neuroscience.

Our approach is based on the practical application of scientific data. Through FTT Labs, we invested in Sensor23 – a future network of cognitive and psychological health clinics, with one already operating successfully in Barcelona. This is a strategic investment in the future of healthcare, not an internal studio. Sensor23 develops unique methods for identifying the root causes of changes in brain and psyche operations, opening new horizons in understanding human consciousness.

The data and methodologies developed by Sensor23 provide us with valuable scientific foundations for creating more meaningful gaming experiences. While we do not yet track brain activity during gameplay, understanding fundamental brain mechanisms helps us design game scenarios that resonate with natural cognitive processes.

In the field of AI, we invest in companies developing systems capable of understanding nuances and context in conversations. While our games currently still use standard dialogue systems, our long-term goal is to create deeper interaction between humans and technology, based on understanding cognitive processes.

We chose Andorra for FTT Labs' headquarters due to its progressive tech policies, while Crazybit operates in Cyprus to leverage its growing tech scene and attract talent from both Europe and the Middle East.

What is your view of the gaming scene in Limassol at this time and do you believe there is potential for further growth?

Limassol’s gaming ecosystem is young but promising. While metrics such as studio numbers, investments, and talent pool are modest, the foundational elements are strong. Cyprus is unique in its appeal to expats from various regions, having successfully welcomed several migration waves, and remains open to more.

Cyprus has potential to develop a distinctive approach to game development. Successful regional hubs don’t just replicate Silicon Valley; they build on unique strengths. At the crossroads of diverse cultures, Cyprus can create games that blend Eastern and Western storytelling in fresh ways.

I see parallels to the Scandinavian gaming scene's development. Instead of competing directly with larger markets, studios there have established a recognizable style with thoughtful games featuring distinctive creativity and themes. Cyprus could follow a similar path.

Crazybit hopes to contribute to this identity. While our games are still in development, we strive to introduce something unique that reflects both global standards and the region’s perspective.

To continue growing, Cyprus needs to invest in cross-disciplinary education. Future game developers should understand not only technology but also psychology, storytelling, and systems thinking. Programs integrating these fields would prepare students for the game development future.

How has your experience of doing business in Cyprus been until now and what do you suggest can be done to encourage more overseas investment and headquartering?

Starting Crazybit in Cyprus was surprisingly smooth. The technical infrastructure is reliable, with stable high-speed internet and good access to cloud services. Business regulations are clear and predictable, eliminating significant headaches often found in emerging tech locations.

To attract more studios focused on complex games in substance, not just mechanics, Cyprus could implement several targeted initiatives. Tax incentives for research in interactive storytelling and advanced AI could benefit next-gen gaming technology companies requiring substantial initial investments.

Additionally, Cyprus could establish partnerships between game studios and university research departments. During our initial major projects at Crazybit, small research collaborations helped us understand player psychology better. Formal programs would benefit both scientists and developers.

The country could also simplify immigration for specialists with interdisciplinary skills. Finding developers or game designers who understand both AI systems and storytelling principles is globally challenging. Simplifying relocation for these rare professionals would provide Cypriot studios a competitive edge.

Finally, creating programs that transform academic research into commercial applications would position Cyprus as a leader in applied gaming technologies. Bridging the gap between academic research and practical implementation could be Cyprus’s competitive advantage.

What do you consider to be some of the most exciting global gaming trends and do you plan to incorporate them in your own ventures?

The most exciting trend in games is not just enhanced graphics but creating more meaningful choices. Early games offered simple good/bad options with predictable outcomes. Today, we can develop systems where choices impact the virtual society in unforeseen ways.

At Crazybit, we integrate these principles into our games in development. We design systems where characters and groups have their own beliefs and values. Decisions are met with reactions according to their priorities, simulating real-life moral complexity without simplistic “karma meters.”

Another intriguing area is using consciousness theories to create new gameplay mechanics. Our prototypes experiment with making awareness and information processing central gameplay elements, not just narrative concepts. This translates abstract philosophical ideas into practical experiences.

We aim to create games that not only entertain but also potentially enhance players’ cognitive abilities. Though a long-term vision, the first steps in this direction are already integrated into our projects.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I believe games are evolving from mere entertainment to tools for exploring complex ideas through direct experience rather than just reading or thinking about them.

Cyprus can contribute significantly to this evolution – not by becoming the largest gaming hub but by developing a unique approach, viewing games as meaningful explorations of important ideas, grounded in advanced technology yet accessible to all. While our first major projects are still in early stages, we anticipate a 3-5 year development cycle within our Cyprus studio for both initial and subsequent games. Currently, we're collaborating with one of the largest gaming companies on incubating a game prototype, making significant progress in development and process-building.

I'm confident Crazybit will contribute both to Cyprus's tech ecosystem and the broader evolution of games as a medium.