By the end of 2024, it was announced that the upcoming Russian gaming console would be equipped with an "Elbrus" processor. It was initially assumed that one of the existing processor models would be chosen for the console, but it did not satisfy the requirements of the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Steam Deck
“Following the president’s mandate, representatives of the MCST [developer of "Elbrus" — Ed.] suggested their old chip, the 'Elbrus-2S3,' but it proved too weak for video games, leading the Ministry of Industry and Trade to direct the development of a new one,” said Oleg Izumrudov, head of the “Consortium of Domestic Data Storage System Developers,” in a comment to the newspaper "Kommersant."
According to Izumrudov, the approximate date when the new "Elbrus" model is expected to be developed is 2026.
Izumrudov believes that the processor will be manufactured in China. In such a case, the development could cost MCST 20 billion rubles. Izumrudov added that the company is currently discussing partial funding of the project with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, but he did not specify what share of the costs the ministry is willing to cover. According to another source from "Kommersant," the ministry is open to financing 50% of the total cost of creating the entire console, provided it uses Russian-made components.
"Kommersant" also reviewed the strategy titled "Goals for Creating a Russian Gaming Console," prepared by the Skolkovo Foundation at the request of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. According to the document, no final decision has been made yet on the specific type of device to be developed in the country. Skolkovo offers three options: a stationary console, a portable console similar to the Steam Deck, and a mobile gaming console.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade, MCST, and Skolkovo did not respond to "Kommersant's" request for comment.