Putin’s ‘Sovereign’ Gaming Console Plans Unveiled: One Features Homegrown Elbrus CPU, the Other a Chinese Replica — Russian Government Concedes Inability to Rival PS5 or Xbox

When it comes to the concept of sovereign computing, there always seems to be two paths that highlight its challenges. Often it struggles due to insufficient resources, or it takes a detour that resembles the infamous Chinese knockoffs, losing its essence of being truly independent.

Earlier this year, after President Putin gave the nod to develop a Russian gaming console, the industry took a unique route. As reported by Habr.com, one strategy involves creating a native console powered by the dual-core Elbrus processor. Meanwhile, another direction, highlighted by RBC, involves crafting a cloud gaming service using affordable hardware but labeling it as sovereign.

The gaming console in development centers on the Elbrus processor, known for its Very Long Instruction Word (VLIW) microarchitecture, typically reserved for heavy-duty and critical tasks. On the flip side, performance reviews suggest Elbrus leaves much to be desired, falling short in benchmark tests deemed crucial for gaming efficiency.

Anton Gorelkin from the State Committee on Information Policy candidly expressed, “It is obvious to everyone: Elbrus processors [cannot] compete equally.” This stark assessment sheds light on the challenges ahead.

The upcoming console isn’t anticipated to rival heavyweights like the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S in terms of performance. As a result, Russian lawmakers are urging developers to think outside the box and craft something innovative to surmount these performance hurdles.

Gorelkin, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, hopes his peers tackle this challenge with dedication. “Elbrus processors are not yet at the level required to compete equally with the PS5 and Xbox, which means the solution must be unconventional,” he notes, encouraging a fresh, imaginative approach.

This out-of-the-box thinking could mean simplifying games for the Elbrus CPUs, though it’s unlikely to appeal to a Russian audience used to top-tier gaming experiences. Alternatively, leveraging cloud computing could be an option, but it would necessitate flawless broadband and minimal latency to ensure enjoyable gaming.

Intriguingly, Gorelkin points out the console should do more than just revisit old games; it should serve as a platform to elevate domestic game development.

In the realm of cloud gaming, Russian gamers might find interest in the console being developed by MTS, a key player in Russian telecommunications. MTS is upfront about its console being a cloud-based gaming service, christening it the MTS Fog Play platform.

This device boasts simple hardware, comes with a controller inspired by the Xbox, and is priced around $50. At this price point, rendering even basic Android games isn’t feasible. Instead, it will bank on the MTS Fog Play cloud service, supporting remote and rental gaming experiences (for instance, owners of more powerful PCs could rent games and use their robust hardware).

While these consoles are still in development and yet to hit the shelves, you can bet we’ll be on the lookout for benchmark data once they do.