The European Union (EU) is said to be contemplating a prohibition on the sale of video game consoles to Russia as a means to hinder their potential usage in operating drones amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict. This initiative is part of the EU’s larger strategy to intensify sanctions on Russia, which the European Council has recently prolonged for another six months, extending them until the end of July 2025. These sanctions are a reaction to Russia’s persistent aggression in Ukraine, which surged significantly in 2022 with a full-scale military assault.

Kaja Kallas, Vice-President of the European Commission, highlighted the necessity of maintaining economic pressure on Russia while concurrently offering military aid to Ukraine. “To bolster Ukraine, so that the stronger they are on the battlefield, the stronger they are also behind the negotiation table,” Kallas remarked during a press briefing.

Since the annexation of Crimea in 2014, the EU has enforced a variety of sanctions on Russia, with considerable expansions following the 2022 invasion. These measures focus on sectors such as trade, energy, technology, transportation, and luxury goods. The potential inclusion of video game consoles and controllers in the sanctions list signifies the EU’s effort to limit any resources that could support Russia’s military actions. Kallas remarked, “We are truly examining all possible items that genuinely assist Russia in conducting this war – to include them on the sanctions list. Even aspects like consoles for video games, since it seems these are the ones they utilize to operate the drones. So, we’re really being inventive.”

Although the precise function of video game consoles in drone operations is not entirely clear, there have been claims that Russia’s military has repurposed parts from consumer electronics for weaponry. Nonetheless, evidence of widespread practices such as this is scarce. Conversely, video game controllers have long found use beyond entertainment, being used in controlling drones, bomb disposal robots, and even submarine masts. Notably, the ill-fated Titan submersible, which tragically imploded in 2023, was operated with a Logitech G F710 controller.

Regardless of the EU’s aims, the actual impact of a ban on video game consoles in Russia might be limited. Major gaming companies such as Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo had already halted sales in Russia since March 2022 in response to the invasion of Ukraine. Logitech also withdrew from the Russian market later that year. Consequently, the suggested ban would likely influence third-party vendors in the EU more than Russia itself. Moreover, Russia has progressively sought out China as a trade ally to bypass Western sanctions.

In response to these limitations, Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed the government to investigate the creation of domestic video game consoles. However, reports indicate that the prototypes currently being developed significantly lack the performance standards established by contemporary consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, restricting options for Russian gamers.

In the end, while the proposed ban on video game consoles may function as a symbolic gesture to reinforce the EU’s position against Russia’s actions, its concrete impact on the conflict remains dubious.