Russia’s contribution to the video game industry is not limited to Tetris, which is not small, but the new initiative of Vladimir Putin It is quite a blow on the table: as stated in a statement published in the official website of the Kremlin, the Russian government has started a process to create its own production consoles. Systems that will compete with Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox machines.
Putin has reportedly ordered the executive branch of the state to draw up a plan to develop and manufacture video game systems. Furthermore, the idea does not end with the hardware, as it encompasses its own operating system and even a cloud gaming platform. To use a simile, the idea is to develop a video game ecosystem similar to the one Microsoft currently has with Xbox.
Responsibility for this initiative has fallen into the hands of Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, who must supervise the plan and, according to local media, propose it in a feasible way with a deadline set for next June 15. Coincidentally, dates on which the now defunct E3 would normally be held.
However, and despite this being an order from President Putin himself, formally we are faced with a consultation to study the feasibility of the project. The idea behind the initiative is to strengthen and promote a large video game industry in Russia through an ambitious plan with a roadmap presented last February and with a view to five years. However, if we move forward, it wouldn’t take that long to see the Russian consoles.
In the statement it has been established that the console promoted by the Russian government should be fully developed by 2026-2027. Coinciding more or less with the generational change of current consoles. In fact, we will seek to establish international alliances for the publication and production of games and content. Being, logically, the most delicate topic.
Russia is one of the largest video game markets in terms of number of users in Europe (at the level of geography, not the EEC). A separate issue is how non-legally distributed software is widespread there. After the conflict with Ukraine broke out, many companies and manufacturers such as Electronic Arts or Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony themselves decided to restrict their operations or directly cancel them in Russian territory. So it will not be easy to propose that well-known franchises and sagas cover the consoles.
As a result, one of the plans goes through that strong push for the video game industry at the national level. Something that, well managed and with good expansion among neighboring countries (such as China) can redraw the panorama and position of Russia in the largest entertainment industry.
Which brings us back to the question posed at the beginning: to what extent will Russian consoles be able to compete with the tenth generation Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox? In the end it all comes down to three factors: the plan that is presented in June, the games that support the initiative and ensuring that these systems are distributed worldwide. Or, at least, enough so that the entire initiative is moderately sustainable.
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