During the economic and social summit in Russia, it was reported that President Vladimir Putin has instructed the Russian government to consider producing and developing their own console gaming machines. This directive includes setting specifications for both stationary and portable console gaming devices to be organized by June 15, 2024.
Part of Putin’s order also calls for the cabinet to explore the development of operating systems and cloud systems for delivering games to players, aiming to bolster Russia’s gaming industry. The Russian newspaper Kommersant reported that Putin will task the company VK to execute this plan. However, one participant in the project mentioned that Russia may not have the capability to manufacture consoles like PlayStation or Xbox and creating their own ecosystem could take up to 10 years. They also suggested sourcing hardware from China and building portable gaming devices similar to the Steam Deck may be more feasible.
Looking back to 2022, Russia’s conflict with Ukraine led to multiple game companies such as Sony, Microsoft, EA, Activision Blizzard, Nintendo, and others announcing an immediate halt in operations in Russia. This move directly impacted the Russian gaming market, even though international game retailers may fill the void left by these companies.
Source: PC Mag via VGC
TLDR: Putin ordered the Russian government to explore creating their own gaming consoles, but challenges may hinder the development process. The conflict with Ukraine resulted in major game companies ceasing operations in Russia, affecting the gaming market.
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