Victoria is the Co-Founder and CEO of Nordcurrent, the largest Baltic mobile game development and publishing studio. Over the years, Nordcurrent has evolved from a simple ‘developer for hire’ to a global force in casual gaming, achieving over €100M revenue and expanding its portfolio to include PC and console games. With the acquisition of River End Games and the Cinemaware catalog, Nordcurrent has cemented its position in the evolving mobile gaming market.
Victoria’s journey with Nordcurrent began from a personal passion for developing games, a skill she learnt while studying Computer Science and Economics. Together with her husband, Michail, Victoria co-developed their very first game, Santa Claus Saves the Earth, and from there they set out to create a new class of games that would resonate with players globally.
Currently, Nordcurrent has a portfolio of over 50 titles, which have accumulated more than half a billion downloads. Among their most iconic releases is Cooking Fever, a cooking simulation game launched in 2014 that has earned an astonishing 250 million downloads and continues to thrive with 15 million monthly active users. The game also holds a 4.3-star rating from over 5 million player reviews.
Other Nordcurrent apps include the fully interactive crime novel Murder in the Alps, the fashion and styling game, Pocket Styler, the time-management hospital game, Happy Clinic, and the latest hit, the time management cooking game Airplane Chefs.
Nordcurrent is completely bootstrapped and has a 360+ strong team with studios in Vilnius, Warsaw, Gothenburg, and Ukraine.
In your own words, what’s your role in the app business right now?
As Co-Founder and CEO of Nordcurrent, my primary focus is shaping our vision, which means making sure our games not only entertain millions of players worldwide but also create meaningful cultural impact. On a day-to-day basis, that means I’m balancing creativity with business strategy and ensuring that our teams have the freedom and support to innovate.
How did you end up working in apps?
I’ve always been fascinated by storytelling and technology. Games combine both. When you develop a game, you’re developing an interactive story powered by tech. When mobile platforms started expanding, I saw an opportunity to reach a global audience in a way that wasn’t possible before. This realization led to Nordcurrent’s pivot from console to mobile. I’ve been part of that journey since day one.
What are you most excited about in apps right now?
Right now I’m excited about the fusion of technology and user experience. AI is beginning to deliver on its promises, enabling smarter personalization, predictive insights, and efficient development. At the same time, we are seeing a strong momentum across verticals like gaming, health, wellness and education, where apps are not only entertaining but also actively enriching people’s lives. For me, the most exciting part is how these innovations make digital experiences more intuitive, accessible, and impactful on a global scale.
Is there anyone you’d like to shout out to who has influenced your journey in the app industry?
I wouldn’t be here if Google and Apple hadn’t fundamentally built this ecosystem by introducing free-to-play games. Obviously that shift transformed how apps are monetized, but it also completely changed the developer approach to long-term engagement, retention, and global reach. Out of this ecosystem grew entirely new business models created by studios of all sizes. Innovation and scaling within gaming took on a brand new dimension.
What’s in your app tech stack?
Unity is at the heart of our development, together with our custom-made solutions. For marketing and analytics, we rely on a mix of industry-standard tools like Adjust, Sensor Tower, and in-house solutions. We have also been increasingly using AI-powered creative tools for prototyping and marketing support.
What do you like most about working in apps?
There’s no delay! Feedback is immediate. Within hours of launching a feature, you’ll know if players love it or hate it. The gap between us and our users feels miniscule. Working in this industry always feels dynamic. You’re always in some stage of a collaborative cycle with your community.
What one thing would you change about the app industry?
I’d like to see a better balance between creativity and monetization. Too often, this industry rewards aggressive monetization tactics. There’s a real opportunity for apps — particularly mobile gaming apps — to build deeper, longer-lasting connections with players that prioritize experience and retention over short-term gain.
If you weren’t working in apps what would you be doing?
Developing games for consoles and PC.
iOS or Android?
Both.
What apps have been most useful to you over the last year?
I’m always listening to books and music on Audible and Spotify. I also do most of my shopping on apps: Barbora for groceries, Zalando for clothes, Wolt for when I’m too tired to cook, and Amazon for everything else.
What’s on your Spotify playlist?
I recently visited South Korea and just fell in love with K-pop. It’s a total mood booster.
Any TV show recommendations?
I’m a bit late to this party, but my kids and I have been watching Lost together and loving it. I also really like Ted Lasso.
Is there anything else we should know about you?
I’m very proud of where I come from, and I’m passionate about promoting Lithuania on the global stage. Through games, we’ve managed to put Lithuanian culture, creativity, and even cuisine in front of millions of people around the world.
I’m equally proud of Nordcurrent’s charitable initiative Įkvėpti ateičiai — that’s Lithuanian for “Inspired for the Future” — which supports young people in this country who are facing social or educational difficulties.
For me, business is about more than profit accumulation. It should go hand-in-hand with giving back, especially to people in whatever community it calls home. Our success didn’t happen in a vacuum, and it’s important we acknowledge that and use it to create opportunities for others.
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