It would be much better if PGI just translate the game and add it in MWO client and Steam (with regional pricing if needed, Steam already offers recommended regional pricing grid for everyone who publish games in Steam store and you could use the same pricing grid in your own store + you already use Xsolla for payments with regional currency support, so not a problem for you). There is a lot of local communities who make enthusiasts translates or crowdfunding companies who translates games in russian language.
For example:
https://en.gamesvoice.ru/
https://www.zoneofga...s/translations/
This is not a big deal and not expensive efforts to update future content of the game in russian text. I'm sure even MWO community can do it on enthusiasts basis for free or in-game rewards. Also you can nominate a few RU content moderators if needed so.
Next;
1. You just need merge RU with rest of the world. Veterans won't abandon their valuable MWO accounts and this is already the lion's share of current MWO RU playerbase.
2. Mature local players are trying to avoid local predatory platforms with F2P model because they are known as "dishonest money sucking ripoffs". You can always create a vote on MWO forum to find out players opinion. Don't expect 15 years old Fortnite kids will play MWO. We all understand that Battletech and Mechs are things for certain age audience, mostly.
Note: I'm speaking only about these known F2P platforms. Many of us already had "experience" with them.
3. I find that having local dedicated servers is not even nessesary thing because there will be minimal latency difference for players from West Russia (where is majority of population lives). Is it worth less 20ms ping latency? Is it critical? No. But anyway, you can always rent a servers directry in local data centers if needed East side of Russia.
I understand local publisher is easy way for you but not the best possible options for your players.
P.S. If you disagree everything I said above... Then, at least, add russian language here, for regular MWO players, who don't want to play with account made from scratch. And I still don't get it why it took so long to make a regional pricing which you could add ages ago using Steam and Xsolla. You could do this for own MWO client long ago without any third party partners.
This is just my opinion. Of course it's up to you.
Let's be optimistic and hope MWO launch in Russia will increase its playerbase and 2nd? largest MWO community.
Edited by WOLF PACIFIER, 20 December 2021 - 07:44 PM.