Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly directed his government to explore the feasibility of developing its own gaming consoles following the departure of major gaming companies from the country.
Rumors suggest Putin aims to create multiple systems, including portable devices, for the Russian market. Despite Russia’s historic association with the game Tetris, its gaming talent has limited international presence, with few exceptions like Ice-Pick Lodge and 1C Company.
While Putin may not be well-versed in the gaming industry, he has instructed the government to assess the potential for producing both stationary and portable consoles domestically, along with an operating system and cloud delivery system for games.
A deadline for this directive is set for June 15, 2024. However, experts doubt Russia’s capability to produce consoles like PlayStation and Xbox from scratch within a decade.
Instead, it’s speculated that Russian technology company VK may handle the task, potentially by sourcing hardware from China to create a portable console similar to Valve’s Steam Deck.
This initiative follows the withdrawal of major gaming companies from Russia in 2022 due to the country’s invasion of Ukraine. This isn’t Putin’s first foray into gaming; previously, he ordered the creation of an esports tournament featuring games from Russia and allied nations.
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