Details Emerge on Putin’s ‘Sovereign’ Gaming Consoles: Russian-Built Elbrus CPU and Chinese Replica, But Unlikely to Rival PS5 or Xbox

In the realm of creating a truly independent computing device, things can either fall apart due to insufficient resources or start imitating Chinese models, losing their uniqueness in the process. This spring, after President Putin urged for a Russian-designed gaming console, the industry seemed to be taking both paths. On one hand, they’re trying to craft a console using a homegrown Elbrus dual-core processor, a development covered by Habr.com. On the other hand, according to an RBC report, they are considering launching a cloud gaming service using basic consumer hardware while still branding it as “sovereign.”

Russia’s venture into gaming consoles with its Elbrus processor is noteworthy. The processor, which utilizes a Very Long Instruction Word (VLIW) microarchitecture, was initially meant for challenging and critical tasks. However, when it comes to gaming performance, the benchmarks so far indicate that it’s quite lacking, often deemed “completely unacceptable” for many tasks.

Anyone anticipating this new console to match the power of a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S might be disappointed. Politicians in Russia are pressing developers to think outside the box to bypass the performance issues.

“I hope my colleagues will approach this task with full responsibility and come up with something truly groundbreaking,” said Anton Gorelkin, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy. “It’s clear to everyone: Elbrus processors haven’t reached the level to compete equally with the PS5 and Xbox, demanding an out-of-the-box solution.”

This innovative approach could mean either simplifying games so that Elbrus CPUs can cope (though this might not appeal to Russian gamers accustomed to top-tier games) or utilizing cloud technology for rendering and processing, necessitating an impeccable broadband connection and low latency for gamers to enjoy their experience fully.

What’s particularly interesting is Gorelkin’s insistence that the console shouldn’t merely be an old games platform but should play a role in elevating domestic video games.

Speaking of cloud gaming, let’s shift focus to MTS, a leading Russian telecom company. MTS is transparent about its console being a cloud-based gaming service, dubbed as the MTS Fog Play platform.

This console, equipped with basic hardware and an Xbox-style controller, is priced at around $50. Given this price, it’s impossible for the device to manage even basic Android games. Instead, it relies on the MTS Fog Play cloud service, supporting both remote gaming and game rental models—allowing those with higher-end PCs to rent and enjoy games thanks to hardware they already possess.

Though these consoles haven’t hit the market yet, we’re eagerly anticipating their arrival for a detailed analysis when they do. Stay tuned for updates and potential benchmarks!