Add a game

Video tutorial. How do I add a game to the Games Console? Watch the video

The Yandex Games Console is a tool for adding your apps to the catalog and deploying them on the Yandex server. To access the Games Console, you need to create a developer account.

Games featured in the Yandex Games catalog should be stored on the Yandex server. If your game requires a complex server architecture (for example, to support multiplayer), you may request integration via iframe. To do this, send us a message in the support chat. In your request, list the name of the game, the developer account, and a link to the game in https format. Explain why you want to use an iframe instead of uploading an archive.

You can upload a new game or a game, which was previously created and published on other platforms, to the Yandex server.

Through the Games Console, you can publish your game in Russian or in any other supported language. Non-Russian versions of the game must meet the general rules as well as some additional requirements:

• The game title, description, and instructions are written in the localization language.
• The words on the icon, cover, screenshots, and videos are translated into the localization language.
• The The game is allowed to distribute on the international market option is enabled.

Step 1. Prepare your game

Check your game for compliance with the requirements.

Games are most often rejected for publication due to the following violations:

Requirement Item	Violation	Explanation
8.2.3	The application interface is not translated into all declared languages, or the interface language does not match the game language.
4.4.1	Improper advertisement display settings.	Learn more
1.14	The application contains technical messages or errors, the game hangs or crashes.
5.1.3	The application's name does not match across the application itself and the draft materials in the same language.
2.7	The application's age rating does not correspond to its content.
1.15	The application contains flaws or errors that make it difficult to use.
1.10.1	Important game interface elements are cut off by the edges of the game area.	Learn more
3.6	The game completely or partially copies another game from the catalog.

If all requirements are met, proceed to step 2.

Step 2. Open the Yandex Games Console

Log in to the Games Console from your developer account.

Step 3. Create a draft

Click Add app in the upper-right corner.

Step 4. Read the license agreement

When adding your first game, read the license agreement. If you agree to the terms, select Accept license agreement with developers hosting games on the Yandex Games platform and click Create.

Step 5. Select localization languages

Specify the languages that your game has been localized into.

By default, the main languages in the Games Console are Russian, English, and Turkish. To add localization into another language, click and select that language from the list.

To remove an unused language, click to the right of it.

Step 6. Fill out the draft

Fill in the fields on the Draft tab.

Game localization languages

For the game to successfully open in the appropriate localization, list the languages supported by the app in the Game translated into field.

This field is required.

Title

This name is shown in the Yandex Games Console and catalog for users.

Maximum length: 46 characters (including punctuation marks).

This field is required.

SEO description

A brief description of the game that will be displayed in the information section on the Yandex search page.

Write what's special about your game that users might be interested in, following the recommendations for the text:

• Minimum text length: 50 characters. Maximum text length: 255 characters (including punctuation marks).
• Starts with a keyword.
• Presents a coherent text.
• Describes a competitive advantage that prompts the user to click the link.
• Calls for action.
• Ends with a full stop or an exclamation mark.
• Does not duplicate the title, game content, or text from the Description and How to play fields.
• Does not contain special characters (=/\+_ in the middle of the text, but may contain graphic symbols to attract a user's attention.

Description

This description will be shown in the Yandex Games Console and catalog for users.

Write what's special about your game: describe its unique features, the number of levels, and other things that users might be interested in.

Minimum text length: 100 characters. Maximum text length: 1000 characters (including punctuation marks).

This field is required.

How to play

Instructions for the game that will be displayed in the Yandex Games Console and catalog for users.

Specify the rules and goals of the game.

Minimum text length: 100 characters. Maximum text length: 1000 characters (including punctuation marks).

This field is required.

Version

The current version of the game that will be displayed in the Yandex Games Console and catalog for users.

This field is required.

Categories

Categories that the game belongs to.

You can select a maximum of two categories.

This field is required.

Tags

Tags that describe the features of your game.

You can select an unlimited number of tags.

Keywords

A list of keywords that can be used to find the game with Yandex Search.

The words should be only lowercase and separated by a comma.

Maximum length: 100 characters.

Icon

The game icon that will be displayed in the Yandex Games catalog and promo materials.

Size: 512 × 512 pixels.

Format: PNG.

We recommend using:

• Bright colors to attract players' attention.
• Simple associations: if your game is a Tetris clone, show the famous colored blocks on the icon.

This field is required.

Cover

The game cover that will be displayed in the Yandex Games catalog.

Size: 800 × 470 pixels.

Format: PNG.

This field is required.

Promo materials

Promotional materials that can be used to attract more attention to your game.

Show the gameplay elements, the advantages and uniqueness of the game. These promotional materials are displayed in the catalog and other entry points to attract more attention to the game.

Design requirements:

Vertical video

• Aspect ratio: 9 : 16.
• Format: MP4. Height: 400 pixels or more.
• Recommended duration: Up to 30 seconds.

Horizontal video

• Aspect ratio: 16 : 9.
• Format: MP4. Height: 400 pixels or more.
• Recommended duration: Up to 30 seconds.

GIF image

• Aspect ratio: 16 : 9.
• Maximum size: 600 KB.

Archive

Source archive of the game.

An index.html file should be added to the root of the archive

Maximum size of all game files inside the archive: 100 MB.

Format: ZIP.

To integrate the game via an iframe using your server, write to the support chat. In your message, list the name of the game, the developer account, and a link to the game in HTTPS format. Explain why you want to use an iframe instead of uploading an archive.

This field is required.

Instructions

Game rules.

Upload 2 or more screenshots with instructions for the mobile and desktop game versions. Design requirements depend on the platform:

Mobile

• Orientation: Portrait or landscape. Upload images in one of the formats. Avoid mixing orientations.
• The aspect ratio for landscape orientation is 16 : 9, for portrait orientation 9 : 16.
• Size: From 1280 to 2560 pixels (the longer side).
• Format: JPEG or 24-bit PNG (without alpha channel).

Desktop

• Orientation: Landscape.
• Aspect ratio: 16 : 9.
• Size: From 1280 to 2560 pixels (the longer side).
• Format: JPEG or 24-bit PNG (without alpha channel).

This field is required.

Age rating

For more information about what age limit to set for your game, see the Draft tab in the Features section.

This field is required.

Supported platforms

A list of supported apps and browsers.

The list is used to automatically filter games in the Yandex Games catalog. For example, if only the Mobile — iOS platform is selected, the game is not shown in the catalog for Android users.

This field is required.

Orientation

The mode in which the game will run on the user's device.

This field is required.

Service worker support

This option lets you use offline mode.

Enable this option if your game has a Service Worker script installed.

The game uses cloud saving

Enable this option if the game uses the /setData and /setStats methods on the Player object.

Last modification

Filled in automatically when the Save button is clicked.

Postpone publication

This option pauses the publication of the game.

While this option is enabled, the game will not be published in the Yandex Games catalog. At the same time, the moderation of the game will not be canceled.

This option is enabled by a developer or administrator as per agreement.

Postpone publication comment

If the Postpone publication option is enabled, specify the reason for pausing the publication.

Developer’s comment

Filled in by the administrator based on moderation results.

Advertising video

This video will be used to advertise your game in external sources.

Show the gameplay elements, the advantages, and uniqueness of the game.

Step 7. Fill out the draft for the other localizations

Select the tab with another localization language and repeat step 6 for that language.

Step 8. Set up sticky banners

A sticky banner is a customizable ad that takes up a portion of a user’s screen.

To set up a banner, go to the Advertising tab and indicate its location in the game:

• Sticky banner in portrait orientation: Select the location of the banner in portrait orientation for the game's mobile version.
• Sticky banner in landscape orientation: Select the location of the banner in landscape orientation for the game's mobile version.
• Sticky banner on the desktop: Enable this option to display the banner in the desktop version of the game.
• Use the API to display a sticky-banner: Enable this to not show the sticky banner at the start of the game. You can configure when the banner is displayed via the API.

Step 9. Check the allowed hosts

Make sure your game complies with the Content Security Policy. Learn more about the CSP and allowed hosts in New Host Access Rules and Content Security Policy.

If you need a specific external host for your game, go to Settings, pick the hosts, and enter why you need to use them. We will consider your request.

Step 10. Configure distribution countries

By default, games are distributed to all countries. Here's how to limit where your game is distributed:

1. Go to the Countries and regions tab.
2. Select a region, at which point a list of countries will open.
3. Deselect the countries where you don't want your game to be distributed.
4. Click Save.

Step 11. Submit the game for moderation

Click Submit for moderation.

The game will be uploaded to the Yandex server and its status will change to Waiting for moderation.

Moderators will check whether your game meets the requirements. Moderation time depends on the current number of applications. Moderation is not performed at night.

You can see the results in the dashboard:

• If your draft passes moderation, its status changes to Verified and the Publish button appears on the Draft tab. Proceed to step 12.
• Otherwise, the draft status changes to Rejected. A notification is sent to the email address saved in Yandex ID containing a detailed description of the reasons for rejection. Make the necessary changes and go back to step 11.

Step 12. Publish the game

Click Publish on the Draft tab.

The draft status changes to Published within a few minutes, and the game appears in the Yandex Games catalog.

After you have published your game, you can:

• Make any changes to your game parameters or source code. However, after the changes are made, the game should be submitted for moderation and checked for compliance again.
• Enable monetization and earn revenue from placing ad units in your games.
• Enable purchases and earn revenue by providing paid services in your games.