“Moving forward meant entering completely new territory, taking on significantly more responsibility and accepting a very real risk of failure. It was scary and I had a lot of doubts about it. But now I’m glad I took the risk,” says the Executive Producer of MY.GAMES, Boris Burangulov, on the sidelines of his win at the CBN Young Dragon Awards, for his contribution to the gaming sector.
Speaking to GOLD magazine on the occasion of the Awards, Burangulov highlighted the volatility of the gaming industry, noting that calculated risk-taking is essential and that adaptability is key to growth in a rapidly evolving landscape.
Reflecting on his recognition as a Young Dragon in one of the island’s fastest-growing industries, he also shared advice for young professionals looking to follow in his footsteps.
Gaming is a volatile industry. Trends shift, player loyalty is fragile and crises can erupt overnight. What has been the toughest decision you’ve had to make as Executive Producer?
The very first one – the decision to become the leader of the project. At the time, when I got the opportunity to step into the role of War Robots producer, everything in my career was already going well: I was working in analytics (and I was good at it) and had a great team on a great project. It was very much my comfort zone. Moving forward meant entering completely new territory, taking on significantly more responsibility and accepting a very real risk of failure. It was scary and I had a lot of doubts about it. But now I’m glad I took the risk. That decision changed me for the better and reshaped both my career path and my life trajectory.
Expanding into China was a major strategic step for War Robots. What capabilities did it demand – in terms of strategy, partnerships, mindset and leadership – to ensure its success?
It needed flexibility, above all else. Entering the Chinese market was like going into terra incognita. We had to operate in what was a completely new environment – especially for teams coming in with a European mindset. We had to learn a lot of new things very quickly. One of the biggest shifts was learning to rely on a partner. Historically, we have tended to depend primarily on our internal capabilities. In China, that simply wasn’t an option. We had to communicate more deeply, negotiate carefully and build real trust-based collaboration.
How does winning a CBN Young Dragon Award reshape the expectations you place on yourself, going forward?
It doesn’t – but not because the award means nothing to me. On the contrary, this recognition matters a lot and I truly appreciate it. However, both in my personal and professional life, I don’t tend to define my efforts by specific goals, achievements or failures. At any given moment, I just try to do the best I can. Receiving this award hasn’t changed that approach; it has only reinforced my commitment to continue giving my best.
Looking back on your journey so far, what is the biggest lesson you have learned and what advice would you offer to ambitious young professionals?
Let me highlight three points. First, learn to communicate – how to explain your ideas clearly, negotiate effectively and defend your position when necessary. This is a critically important skill, though there are a lot of misconceptions about it. Many people believe that it requires some kind of innate talent but it’s a skill and, like any skill, it just needs practice to be improved. Second, learn to adapt. Even in my own career, a lot of sharp turns for the better became possible because I was able to adapt quickly, learn new skills and move across different professional domains. In a world that is already changing faster than we might expect – and will continue to do so – adaptability will only become more important. And finally, don’t limit yourself through rigid goals. Goals are useful tools but they can also act like horse blinkers if you become too fixated on a single outcome. Keep your field of vision wide and look out for the opportunities that life puts in front of you.
BORIS BURANGULOV
Boris Burangulov began his journey with MY.GAMES as a product analyst at the Pixonic studio, working on War Robots – a fast-growing tactical PvP shooter with a strong reputation in the market. At the time, he had no idea just how far the game – and his own role – would grow. As War Robots evolved, so did Burangulov’s responsibilities. Starting as an analyst, he went on to lead the product analytics team and, by 2021, he had taken charge of the entire game. One could say that he and War Robots grew up together. Under his leadership, the team has achieved major milestones: over US$1 billion in revenue, the launch of a dedicated version for the Chinese market, the successful delivery of countless features and the navigation of more than a few crises.
This interview first appeared in the March edition of GOLD magazine. Click here to view it.
