I am a seasoned leader in the gaming industry with over 18 years of experience spanning game development, product leadership, and distributed team management. My journey began in 2005 at Canadian Streko Graphics, where I contributed as a Senior Virtools Engineer to PC titles like Aura 2: The Sacred Rings and Dead Reefs.In 2007, I led the development of Formula-O2, the first online 3D real-time racing game in the CIS region, overseeing the creation of its network infrastructure, backend, and 3D client. This milestone marked the beginning of my passion for creating scalable, innovative solutions in gaming.I then advanced to CTO at TVX Media Group, driving the development and success of projects like- Hulliwood (2008) – reaching 400k active users, - Mercenaries: Cards of Destiny (2009) – achieving 1M+ active users, - Cradle of Magic (2010) – generating peak annual revenues of ~$7M and engaging 15M+ players globally.From 2009 to 2017, I played a pivotal role at GameNet, one of the top-3 MMO publishers in Russia, scaling the platform to 35M+ users. As a Development Team Lead and Product Owner, I managed the technical integration and launches of titles by global giants like Nexon and Pearl Abyss, while architecting critical solutions: B2C and B2B platforms, anti-cheat tools, DRM systems, and analytics solutions, End-user acquisition and monetization tools (CPA, CPC, CPM).In 2016, I founded AurumDust, an indie studio behind the multiplatform Ash of Gods series, successfully launching games across PC, consoles, and mobile. Between 2018-2020, I served as CTO at Protocol One, where I led the creation of open-source publishing tools, including the PaySuper payment system and Compayer real-time analytics platform.I am also recognized among the Top 20 Redis specialists on Stack Overflow and maintain open-source projects like Redis-memory-analyzer. My passion lies in scaling products, fostering distributed teams, and building innovative tools that empower developers and businesses in the gaming ecosystem.For the last 4 years at Xsolla, as VP of Products, I have been driving the development and scaling of GameTech solutions, including:- Xsolla Login and Launcher – achieving 20x and 10x growth respectively in user adoption.- Web Shop – established as the market leader, with adoption by 80% of the top-100 mobile games globally.- Spearheaded innovative products such as Cloud Gaming and Metaframe, aligning product strategy with business objectives and market demands.
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CeoAurumdustLimassol, Cyprus
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Vp Of ProductsXsolla Sep 2021 - PresentSherman Oaks, Ca, UsAs Vice President of Products at Xsolla, I lead the functional and business management of GameTech solutions, driving innovation, scalability, and revenue growth across a suite of essential products for game developers and publishers worldwide.Key Achievements and Contributions:- Web Shop (created from the scratch) became a market leader, adopted by 80% of the top-100 mobile games globally, significantly boosting partner revenues.- Strategic Leadership. Defined and executed the product vision and roadmap for GameTech solutions, aligning with market demands and company objectives. Fostered collaboration across engineering, design, product, and business development teams, ensuring timely feature delivery and client satisfaction.- Innovation and Client Impact. Spearheaded the development of Cloud Gaming and advanced monetization tools to address industry trends and client needs. Introduced data-driven decision-making practices, leveraging user feedback and analytics to prioritize features and improve product performance.- Cross-Functional Team Management. Managed and scaled distributed teams across multiple time zones, fostering a culture of innovation, ownership, and efficiency. Improved operational workflows, reducing product delivery cycles and enhancing team productivity. -
Product OwnerXsolla Aug 2020 - PresentSherman Oaks, Ca, UsAs a Product Owner at Xsolla, I drive the development and growth of Login and Launcher solutions, focusing on delivering tools that empower game developers and publishers to scale their businesses globally. I oversee the product strategy, feature delivery, and team alignment for key products, ensuring measurable impact and client satisfaction.Key Achievements and Contributions:- Xsolla Login. Grew the product’s adoption by 8.5x over the last 3 years, making it a cornerstone authentication and identity solution for game developers, serving hundreds of millions of users. Enhanced security, scalability, and user experience, contributing to client retention and seamless integration with global gaming platforms.- Xsolla Launcher. Scaled the product’s revenue by 10x, transforming it into an essential tool for developers to deliver games, updates, and content directly to players. Improved performance and feature set, enabling customizable solutions for publishers and increasing user engagement.
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CeoAurumdust Jul 2016 - PresentAurumDust is an independent game development studio specializing in high-quality, multiplatform strategy games. As the CEO and Studio Lead, I oversee product development, art direction, and business operations, building a sustainable studio and releasing successful games to global markets.Key Achievements and Contributions:- Launched Multiplatform Games. Successfully developed and released flagship titles: Ash of Gods: Redemption (2018): A tactical role-playing game launched on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and mobile platforms. Ash of Gods: The Way and Ash of Gods: Tactics (subsequent titles), expanding the Ash of Gods universe and reaching diverse audiences.- Ensured seamless porting, performance optimization, and compliance with platform-holder certification processes (Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo).- Built and Scaled an International Team. Assembled a remote-first team of developers, artists, and designers from 4 countries.Established efficient workflows using Agile methodologies to ensure transparency, accountability, and on-time delivery.
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Chief Technology OfficerProtocolone Jul 2018 - Oct 2020Nicosia, Cyprus, CyProtocol One is a cutting-edge ecosystem that empowers game developers, publishers, and webmasters with open-source publishing technologies, offering solutions to reduce costs, improve marketing efficiency, and enable seamless integration with third-party stores. My role as CTO focused on building robust, scalable tools and products to simplify self-publishing and streamline monetization for the gaming industry.Key Achievements and Contributions:- Built a Payment System (MoR Model). Designed and launched a merchant-of-record (MoR) payment system from the ground up to full commercial release within 11 months. The system’s success culminated in its acquisition by Unlimint Group.- Developed Compayer (Real-Time Payment Analytics). Created a real-time payment analytics platform, enabling publishers and developers to monitor transactions, optimize revenue streams, and enhance financial decision-making. Delivered seamless integration with multiple payment providers, reducing processing latency and errors.- E-Commerce Tools for Video Game Publishers. Built e-commerce APIs to support digital sales, SKU management, and payment workflows, facilitating robust integrations with game publishers.Developed tools for creating landing pages, customized launchers, and optimizing digital storefront operations. -
Консультант По Информационным ТехнологиямSyncopate Jul 2016 - May 2019Cy -
Head Of DevelopmentSyncopate Nov 2010 - Jul 2016CyGameNet, an international publisher and one of the top-3 most recognized gaming platforms in the CIS region, successfully launched over 60 projects, ranging from small indie titles to globally renowned MMORPGs. During my tenure, I contributed to the company’s growth and scalability through leading technical development, team management, product management and process optimization.Achievements:- Scaled the platform from 0 to 35+ million users while ensuring system stability and scalability during rapid user growth.- Streamlined technical processes, introducing automated pipelines and agile practices that improved team efficiency and reduced deployment cycles.- Successfully managed cross-functional and distributed teams, ensuring smooth collaboration between engineering, design, QA, and localization teams.Key Projects and Contributions:- GameNet Game Launcher. Designed and developed a robust and user-friendly game launcher used by millions of players. Ensured seamless game delivery, user authentication, and content updates, improving player retention and user satisfaction.- GameNet Publishing Platform (B2B and B2C). Developed and scaled the publishing platform supporting both business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) workflows. Automated game integration processes, reducing launch time from weeks to days, significantly improving time-to-market for partners. Supported integration with international partners, including Nexon, Pearl Abyss, Barunson, and Kongzhong.- Thetta Protection. Led the development of a modern anti-cheat solution for PC games, protecting game integrity and reducing cheating incidents by 99% (add never was cracked).
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Chief Technology OfficerTvx Games Jun 2007 - Oct 2010Led the development of multiple successful games, including:- Formula O2: First real-time online racing game in the CIS region, introducing innovative real-time multiplayer mechanics.- Cradle of Magic: Achieved peak annual revenue of approximately $7 million, solidifying its position in the competitive market.- Mercenaries and Hulliwood: Managed end-to-end development processes, ensuring product delivery and market success.Implemented robust technical architecture and optimized performance for real-time gaming experiences.Developed cross-functional teams, aligning engineering, design, and art teams for seamless collaboration.
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Senior Application DeveloperStreko Graphics May 2005 - Jun 2007
Nikolay Bondarenko Education Details
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Mit Sloan Executive EducationMastering Design Thinking -
Moscow Technical University Of Communications And Informatics (Mtuci)Сети Связи И Системы Коммутации
Frequently Asked Questions about Nikolay Bondarenko
What company does Nikolay Bondarenko work for?
Nikolay Bondarenko works for Aurumdust
What is Nikolay Bondarenko's role at the current company?
Nikolay Bondarenko's current role is CEO.
What schools did Nikolay Bondarenko attend?
Nikolay Bondarenko attended Mit Sloan Executive Education, Moscow Technical University Of Communications And Informatics (Mtuci).
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