Summary
- The EU proposes a ban on exporting controllers to Russia to limit military drone operations.
- Russian drone operators reportedly mostly use Chinese-made controllers, which could reduce the impact of EU sanctions.
- The proposed bill is awaiting EU approval.
The EU has proposed a new ban to restrict exports of video game controllers and equipment to Russia. The legislation is designed to aid the Ukrainian war effort by limiting the supply of equipment used by the Russian military to operate drones.
In March 2022, Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo suspended console and eShop sales in Russia in response to Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Hardware manufacturers such as Nvidia also joined the embargo by suspending all sales in Russia, along with many gaming studios and publishers, including Take-Two, Ubisoft, EA, and CD Projekt Red. Retaliating against these Western sanctions, Putin effectively legalized video game piracy, and the Russian government even commissioned the construction of a new Russian console to rival the Xbox and PlayStation.
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With the third anniversary of the Russian invasion approaching on February 24, the EU is looking at a new set of sanctions to restrict the sales of video game equipment into Russia. According to the Financial Times, EU officials have clarified that the proposed controller ban would include second-hand sales of video game consoles, gamepads, flight simulator controllers, and other devices capable of controlling drones remotely. Both sides in the conflict often use gamepads to control drone flights and military equipment, and the Ukrainian Territorial Defence Forces have even developed remotely controlled turrets operated using Steam Decks. The proposed EU bill is designed to prevent the trade of this vital equipment from reaching Russia through Europe.
Proposed EU Export Ban on Controllers Used by Russian Drone Pilots
While companies such as Sony have realized the potential that drones can offer to the world of gaming, the Ukraine war has seen military drones used for reconnaissance and precision bombings on a massive scale. Sometimes costing as little as $500 and capable of destroying tanks and artillery targets worth millions of dollars, drones have become some of the most valuable and feared assets on the battlefield. However, the proposed EU sanctions may have little practical effect on the front lines. Speaking to the Financial Times, Olena Bilousova, a military and dual-use goods expert from the Kyiv School of Economics, warned that “most [Russian drone] operators rely on Chinese-made controllers available on online marketplaces in Russia,” not on controllers acquired from Europe. After Western hardware companies pulled out of Russia in 2022, the Kremlin looked to other markets such as Iran and China. According to Trade Data Monitor, Chinese sales of gaming appliances to Russia have quadrupled from $30 million in 2022 to $120 million in 2024.
The upcoming EU bill will also ban exports of chemicals “needed for the Russian military industry,” according to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. However, the bill will first need to be approved by all 27 EU member states. Russia has also recently retaliated against the West with sanctions of its own, banning social media app Discord and allegedly developing its own competitor to Unreal Engine 5.