Putin’s ‘Sovereign’ Gaming Consoles: One Featuring a Domestic Elbrus CPU, the Other a Chinese Imitation—Russian Government Concedes They’re No Match for PS5 or Xbox

Jumping into the world of sovereign computing can be quite the adventure. Often, it either struggles due to limited resources or ends up being a mere imitation, losing its unique character. This has been especially evident in Russia following President Putin’s call for a homegrown gaming console last spring. The Russian tech scene seems to be tackling this challenge in two distinct ways. According to reports from Habr.com, one path involves crafting a console powered by Russia’s own Elbrus processor. Meanwhile, a glimpse from an RBC report suggests they’re also exploring a cloud gaming service using basic consumer tech, branding it as sovereign.

Let’s dive into this a bit more. Russia’s vision for a gaming console is centered around the Elbrus processor, known for its Very Long Instruction Word (VLIW) microarchitecture. Traditionally aimed at handling robust, mission-critical tasks, the Elbrus doesn’t exactly shine when it comes to standard gaming benchmarks. In fact, most reviews label its performance as “completely unacceptable” for usual demands.

Given these limitations, don’t expect this new console to match up with heavyweights like the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S. In light of these performance gaps, Russian legislators are pushing for creative solutions to break through these barriers. Anton Gorelkin, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, expressed high hopes, stating, “I hope my colleagues will approach this task with full responsibility and come up with something truly groundbreaking.” He acknowledges the reality that Elbrus processors aren’t on par with the likes of PS5 and Xbox and stresses that innovative solutions are imperative.

Perhaps this innovation could take the form of drastically simplified games that Elbrus CPUs can handle. However, given that Russian gamers still have access to superior international titles, it’s questionable if they’d embrace these ‘simplified’ versions. Alternatively, exploring cloud rendering might be the answer, though it relies heavily on users having top-notch broadband connections with minimal delays to guarantee a smooth gaming experience.

Another interesting angle to consider is Gorelkin’s insistence that the new gaming platform shouldn’t just port old classics. Instead, he sees it as an opportunity to promote local Russian game development.

Switching gears, there’s also a cloud-based console in the works by MTS, a key figure in Russian telecommunications. Openly labeled the MTS Fog Play platform, this cloud gaming service is quite straightforward. With a price tag of about $50, it comes with a budget-friendly console and a controller reminiscent of the Xbox design. The catch? The hardware is quite basic, far from capable of handling even entry-level Android games independently. So, it leans heavily on the MTS Fog Play cloud service. This service offers versatility by supporting both remote and rental gaming, allowing users with higher-end PCs to access games without needing additional gear.

As for when you’ll actually be able to get your hands on these consoles, well, neither has hit the market just yet. Rest assured, though, we’re keenly waiting for the first wave of reviews and benchmarks as soon as they do.