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Late-2024 reports described two different Russian game-console efforts, but neither was shown to match Xbox or PlayStation hardware or to have reached retail. One proposal centered on a console using a Russian Elbrus processor; another, associated with MTS, was a device for streaming games through Fog Play. The reporting left key specifications and the projects’ eventual status unresolved, so these should be understood as reported plans—not confirmed products.
What Russia was reported to be developing
The coverage described a broader push than one console: stationary and portable devices, related operating systems, and cloud game delivery were all part of the stated ambitions. The reports, published from 28 December 2024 through 2 January 2025, outlined two distinct approaches rather than a single unified system.
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An Elbrus-based local-processing console
Tom’s Hardware reported on 28 December 2024 that a console associated with the Skolkovo Foundation was planned around a dual-core Elbrus processor. The exact chip was not identified, and the report said the choice of operating system—Aurora OS or ALT Linux—had not been settled. These details came from reporting on a proposal, not a final specification sheet. Tom’s Hardware’s report
An MTS streaming terminal
Separately, reports described MTS working on a device intended to stream games through its Fog Play service. Notebookcheck said the device’s hardware was not confirmed. Unlike the Elbrus proposal, this route would rely on remote game delivery rather than a disclosed console processor doing the main game rendering locally. Notebookcheck’s account
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How the two approaches differ
| Approach | What was reported | Where game processing would occur | What remains unknown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elbrus console | A planned console associated with Skolkovo, using a dual-core Elbrus processor; Aurora OS and ALT Linux were both mentioned as possibilities. | Locally on the console, as implied by the proposed processor-based design. | Exact chip, final operating system, complete specifications, performance, game catalog, and release status. |
| MTS streaming device | A separate device intended to access games through MTS Fog Play. | Through cloud streaming, with the device acting as a terminal; the reports did not verify its hardware. | Hardware, performance, supported games, service requirements, retail availability, and release status. |
The comparison is architectural, not a performance contest: the reports provide no verified benchmarks that would support numerical comparisons with a PS5 or Xbox. The Elbrus concept would need capable local hardware and a usable software and games ecosystem. A streaming terminal could potentially avoid the need for equivalent local graphics hardware, but its usefulness would depend on the cloud service and a suitable internet connection.
Could either project rival Xbox and PlayStation?
“Rival” can mean competing on console performance, building a domestic platform and game ecosystem, or offering a lower-cost way to access games through streaming. The late-2024 reports did not establish that either project had achieved any of these outcomes.
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Tom’s Hardware attributed this assessment to Anton Gorelkin, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy: “It is obvious to everyone: Elbrus processors are not yet at the level required to compete equally with the PS5 and Xbox, which means the solution must be unconventional.” This was Gorelkin’s characterization, not a benchmark or independent measurement. His reported hope that colleagues would devise something “truly groundbreaking” was an aspiration, not a description of a finished product. Tom’s Hardware’s report
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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →That distinction matters: a domestic console could serve strategic or ecosystem goals without matching the performance of established consoles. A cloud device could take a different route again, but the reporting did not demonstrate that it had a confirmed hardware design, a proven service experience, or a released game lineup.
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What games were these consoles meant to play?
The reporting presented promotion of domestic games as an intended purpose. It did not establish a finalized catalog, name a confirmed launch lineup, or show that the proposed systems were limited to older or less demanding games. In particular, there is no published, verified compatibility list in these accounts that would let buyers judge which titles either device could run.
For the Elbrus proposal, the operating-system choice was still open in the report, making it especially difficult to infer what games or software would be supported. For the MTS device, access to Fog Play was the stated direction, but the reports did not confirm the hardware or enumerate playable titles. Neither path should be treated as having a demonstrated Xbox- or PlayStation-sized library.
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What is known about price and availability?
TechSpot reported a projected price of about $45 for the planned MTS device and said a controller would be included; Notebookcheck described the intended price as under $50. Those were historical estimates in secondary reports, not confirmed retail prices. No identified model or retail listing established that the device went on sale. TechSpot’s report · Notebookcheck’s account
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchThe available reporting does not verify whether either project was ultimately released, remains under development, or was cancelled by October 2026. A planned device, operating-system option, or projected price should not be mistaken for a current product announcement.
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