The thriving Belarusian online gaming scene saw an important move last month with Playrix, a global Russian-founded gaming giant, investing in local leader Vizor, as reported by the local media.

The details of the deal were not disclosed, but the companies presented it as “a strategic partnership,” while Vizor shareholders claimed they gave priority to “smart investment” and company growth rather than quick exit.

Minsk-based Vizor publishes multiplayer games for browser, social networks, and mobile platforms. Among its most successful games is Zombie Island (Zombie Farm), which is played today by millions of people worldwide.

Founded in Vologda, Russia, 15 years ago, Playrix is now a global leader in free-to-play mobile games. Headquartered in Dublin, the company has offices in Moscow, Dublin, Almaty, Yerevan, Kiev (Kyiv), Vologda and a dozen other Russian and Ukrainian cities. Since April 2019, company founders Igor and Dmitry Bukhman have been featured in Bloomberg’s list of US dollar billionaires.