THQ Nordic, Alkimia Interactive och den ryska marknaden: The Gothic 1 Remake Controversy

Although THQ Nordic is part of the Embracer Group, which formally exited the russian market after selling Saber Interactive, the publisher continues to operate under its own rules. This is particularly evident in the Gothic 1 Remake, an upcoming project that has drawn attention for its approach to the russian audience.

russian Involvement in the Industry: A Widespread Issue

The recent backlash against Warhorse Studios—which hired several programmers from the russian-based (though Cyprus-registered) Owlcat Games as outsourcers for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2—highlighted an ongoing issue: completely avoiding russian involvement in large international projects is nearly impossible. However, the extent and influence of that involvement are what truly matter.

Hiring a few contractors who might end up in the credits after a few months is one thing. But direct participation in the development process, where decisions impact the game’s trajectory, is another.

At first glance, one might assume that Gothic 1 Remake falls into the second category, but the reality is even more concerning.

Alkimia Interactive and Its Pro-Russian Priorities

The remake is being developed by Alkimia Interactive, a Barcelona-based studio founded in 2021. While the European nationalities of its employees are easy to verify on LinkedIn, what stands out is that the studio appointed a russian national as its sole community manager.

This decision is particularly striking given that many gaming companies ceased operations in russia and belarus. Instead, Alkimia Interactive has someone actively fostering privileges for the russian market.

Meet Timur Khodyrev (2:26 minute video), a Saint Petersburg State University graduate who joined Alkimia Interactive in September 2022 and now resides in Barcelona. Officially, he is responsible for social media management and media relations in multiple regions. However, his priorities are clear.

For instance, on VK, the russian social network, the official Gothic community (which is more active than the game’s other social pages) was the first to learn about the updated 2025 release window. Timur’s engagement with russian networks has been consistent and uninterrupted.

Additionally, he gave an interview to M.Video, a major russian electronics retailer, where he confirmed that:

• Original voice actors will return for the remake’s russian dubbing.
• Physical console copies will be officially available in russia on day one.

The latter point means direct taxation of game sales in russia, ensuring revenue for the russian government.

THQ Nordic’s Long-Standing Presence in russia

Unlike many other publishers, THQ Nordic never left the russian market. Since 2022, its games have remained available in russian Steam regions. The company has also supplied russian retailers with official manufacturer-backed releases featuring regional pricing.

Notable recent examples include the Alone in the Dark reboot and Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed.

Censorship of Ukrainian Localization Requests

Following the recent demo release, Steam discussions quickly filled with requests for a Ukrainian localization. However, these posts were swiftly deleted. Since users did not violate any community guidelines, the only logical conclusion is that someone on the developer’s side was responsible for the removals.

Who could that be?

Alkimia Interactive’s Strategic Choice: russia First

This is not a coincidence. Looking back to the early 2000s, when Gothic 1 was released, it wasn’t just Germany that kept the game alive—it was Eastern Europe, which, at the time, was often synonymous with russia in the gaming industry.

This historical factor explains the developer’s persistent loyalty to the russian audience. The studio grants them special treatment, including:

• Full russian voiceovers featuring the original actors.
• Day-one physical releases in russia.
• Uninterrupted access to THQ Nordic games via Steam.
• Active engagement in russian social media.

In short, Alkimia Interactive is betting on the russian market to drive sales for Gothic 1 Remake. That’s why, unlike many Western gaming companies, the studio didn’t withdraw after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Instead, it waited around nine months before hiring a russian PR manager and launching an active marketing campaign in russia.

The Results: A russian-Dominated Fanbase

In the newly released Gothic 1 Remake demo, russian-language reviews already outnumber all others on Steam. This clearly indicates that the studio has successfully secured the attention of russian players.

A Clear Message from Alkimia Interactive

Whether or not to support Gothic 1 Remake remains a personal decision. However, in 2025, Alkimia Interactive has made its priorities crystal clear—favoring russia as a key market. Ironically, even some russian studios don’t take such an aggressive approach.

This speaks volumes.