Konami to Restrict Server Access for Russian and Belarusian Users Starting June 2026

• May 18, 2026

Japanese video game company Konami has announced it will block access to its online gaming servers for users located in Russia and Belarus as of June 15, 2026. This move follows years of limited commercial activity in these countries, where Konami had already ceased selling its games.

Shutting Down Access to Online Gaming Services

Konami’s decision affects players who maintained access to online features via the company’s unified Konami ID system. While Konami stopped distributing its titles in Russia some time ago, this centralized account system previously allowed users to log in and participate in multiplayer gaming and other online services. The forthcoming restriction will prevent such access entirely.

The company did not provide specific reasons for the restriction or details about the impact on in-game content or services beyond server access. Pricing changes, refunds, or compensations related to this policy update were not disclosed. The enforcement date of June 15, 2026, gives users several weeks’ notice to prepare for the disconnection from Konami’s servers.

This action reflects trends in the gaming industry where service providers periodically review and adjust regional availability, often in response to regulatory, political, or business considerations. Konami’s approach contrasts with simply halting sales by extending server access for a period before full cessation.

Users from Russia and Belarus will no longer be able to engage in multiplayer gaming supported by Konami’s network infrastructure following the cutoff date. The change includes all titles that rely on Konami ID for online functionality, although single-player modes that do not require server connectivity are unaffected.

The company continues to operate its services in other regions with no announced changes to server access elsewhere at this time.

Konami will block access to its gaming servers for users in Russia and Belarus from June 15, 2026, continuing its limited presence in the region.