Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has mandated the production of Russian video game consoles to compete with the likes of the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

According to a report from the Russian newspaper Kommersant, the Kremlin has directed the VK Group and GS Group to organize the production of both stationary and portable game consoles.

VK Group, a major Russian tech company, will oversee the project, while GS Group, the largest Russian developer of set-top boxes, will handle the manufacturing.

The goal is to have these consoles available for Russian consumers by June 15, 2024.

This initiative represents a significant shift for Russia, which previously attempted to enter the gaming industry and considered developing its own game engine, Kotaku has reported.

However, this move comes amidst strained relations with the global games industry due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

In addition to consoles, developers have been tasked with creating an operating system and cloud system for game delivery by the same deadline.

Analysts question the feasibility of this endeavor, suggesting that creating such a system from scratch could take up to ten years, highlighting the ambitious nature of Russia’s mandate.

Written by B.C. Begley