Thanks to Vladimir Putin, Russia might soon have its own video game console entering the market. By soon, that would be a minimum of 5 years according to the proposal.
In a surprising move, Russian President Vladimir Putin has directed the government to explore the possibility of entering the gaming hardware market. This directive possibly comes as a reaction to the broad steps that other video game companies have taken in Russia.
Vladimir Putin Targets Domestic Gaming Consoles for Russia
On Vladimir Putin‘s order, Russia has set its sights on developing its own gaming consoles.
The Organization for Developing the Video Game Industry (RVI) presented a detailed roadmap to the government earlier this year, outlining an extensive program spanning five years with 83 key points aimed at fostering the growth of the video game sector in Russia.
This directive was announced through the Kremlin’s official website. The president’s order, issued after a meeting on the socio-economic development of the Kaliningrad Region, specifically targets the production of both stationary and portable game consoles within the country.
A deadline for this ambitious project has been set, with June 15, 2024, named as the last day for analyzing the proposal. Prime Minister, Mikhail Mishustin, was tasked with overseeing its execution.
Putin’s vision doesn’t just cover console manufacturing, as he’s also called for developing a proprietary OS and a cloud-based delivery system for games and programs. The country is holding no stops for its upcoming domestic gaming console.
Why is Putin Interested In a Russia-Made Console Line?
While we could say this is a result of Vladimir Putin’s strong will to reduce Russia’s reliance on foreign technology and strengthen its self-sufficiency, it would be disingenuous to say that’s the only reason.
Recently, there’s been a ton of tension between international video game companies and Russia, owing to the ongoing war between the country and Ukraine.
Activision-Blizzard, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Sony, and Microsoft are among a long list of video game companies that have either ceased sales or shipments to Russia following the escalating geopolitical tension in the area.
There’s also the issue of Russia banning any media with pro-LGBTQ+ messaging, having categorized the LGBTQ+ movement as a terrorist organization. Creating consoles in Russia that run on their own OS and cloud server means there’s a lot more control over what’s featured and what isn’t.
This wouldn’t come as a complete surprise anyway. In 2022, many video games that contained some form of LGBTQ+ representation (including Apex Legends, The Sims 4, and Assassin’s Creed) were under consideration by the Russian parliament to be banned, but ultimately weren’t.
To build these consoles, Russia’s going to have to get creative. It’s not just video game companies withdrawing their products and services in the country—sanctions have been imposed that have made it difficult for Russia to acquire chipsets for different tech.
What do you think about Vladimir Putin’s venture into the video game market? Let us know in the comments below!
