Russia is pursuing plans for domestically developed game consoles to reduce reliance on Western technology. These projects are spearheaded by a console based on the Russian Elbrus processor, aiming to offer a unique approach to gaming rather than raw performance.
Elbrus-Powered Console
The Skolkovo Foundation is tasked with the development of one of these consoles, which will utilize a Russian Elbrus CPU and an operating system based on either Aurora OS or ALT Linux. The specific software is still under consideration.
Acknowledging the Elbrus CPU's inability to compete with the performance of consoles like the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, the focus will be on delivering an alternative "groundbreaking" feature. Details about this feature remain undisclosed.
The specific Elbrus chip to be used is unknown. However, past testing with the Elbrus-8SV processor showed disappointing performance even in older games, often struggling to achieve a smooth 30 fps.
Streaming Console from MTS
In parallel, Russian telecommunications company MTS is working on a low-cost, streaming-focused console to access its MTS Fog Play cloud gaming platform. This device is planned to retail for under $50, including a controller. Hardware specifications are yet to be announced.
