When it comes to developing a gaming console locally, there seem to be two paths: either faltering due to resource constraints or imitating an international model, losing the essence of innovation. After Putin’s order in the spring to create a Russian game console, the industry is exploring both these avenues. According to Habr.com, one strategy involves building a console using a homegrown Elbrus processor with its dual-core setup. On the other hand, RBC reports that the alternative approach is to establish a cloud gaming service that relies on budget-friendly consumer hardware, yet dub it a sovereign product.
Russia is working on a game console featuring the Elbrus processor, known for its Very Long Instruction Word (VLIW) microarchitecture. This technology was initially intended for demanding, crucial tasks. However, in terms of performance, the Elbrus doesn’t exactly impress, with most benchmarks labeling it as inadequate for most functions.
It’s unlikely that this new console will match the performance level of a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S. This discrepancy is pushing Russian officials to encourage developers to think outside the box to tackle these performance hurdles.
Anton Gorelkin, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, expressed his hope: “I trust my colleagues will take this task seriously and propose something truly innovative. It’s clear that Elbrus processors aren’t yet capable of holding their own against the PS5 and Xbox, so an unconventional solution is needed.”
Such innovation might mean either designing simpler games that the Elbrus CPUs can handle – though the Russian gaming community, familiar with top-notch global games, might not be interested in ‘simplified’ versions – or utilizing cloud rendering and computing. This would require gamers to have excellent broadband with minimal lag to enjoy their games.
Interestingly, Gorelkin stressed that the console should not only be a tool for remaking old games but should also promote local video game development.
Shifting gears to cloud gaming, MTS, a notable Russian telecommunications firm, is working on a console. Openly cloud-based, this service is branded as the MTS Fog Play platform.
The console, priced at around $50, incorporates low-end components and includes a controller resembling an Xbox one. At this price point, it’s impossible to build a console capable of handling even the most basic Android games, so it will depend heavily on MTS’s Fog Play cloud service. This service is designed to support both remote gaming and a rental model, allowing gamers with higher-end PCs to rent games and use their existing systems for a smoother experience.
Neither of these gaming consoles has hit the market yet. We’ll stay alert for when they do and provide the latest benchmarks and reviews.
