Messenger Max's official launch is slated for early autumn.
The Russian government has announced that the quick payment system (QPS) will be integrated into the national messaging service, Max, within a few weeks. This integration is part of a broader plan to fully roll out Max and Gosuslugi, Russia's national messaging service and public services portal respectively, by late 2025.
The journey towards this integration began on June 24, when Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law establishing a national messaging service in Russia. The full integration of Max and Gosuslugi is set to commence on September 1, 2025, with every new smartphone sold in Russia coming pre-installed with Max Messenger. This move is intended to replace foreign messaging apps such as WhatsApp.
A significant milestone in this integration process is planned to coincide with the regional and local elections on September 14, 2025. By this date, users will be able to access public services directly through the Max app.
Following the initial integration, schools have started piloting Max from July 2025, pushing students, teachers, and parents onto the platform. State employees and officials will transition next, using Max for official communications. The ultimate goal is to unify messaging, government interactions, payments, and social networking into a single platform, similar to China’s WeChat.
By mid-September 2025, users can expect the core range of services, including full e-government functionality through Gosuslugi, to be available on Max. The rollout will continue progressively after this date, with broader adoption by all state institutions and extended functions.
The government appointed a VK subsidiary to oversee the development of Max, a universal digital platform for user services, on July 15. The official app launch and detailed platform presentation for Max are scheduled for the start of autumn. Max's beta version was made available to users in March.
This development represents Russia's shift towards a centralized, state-controlled communications platform with strong surveillance features embedded. The integration of Max and Gosuslugi marks a significant step in this direction.
[1] Source: TASS News Agency [2] Source: Kommersant [3] Source: RIA Novosti News Agency
- With the integration of Max and Gosuslugi, users will be able to manage not only their messaging but also their payments, potentially simplifying day-to-day interactions through a single platform, similar to China’s WeChat.
- As Russia moves towards a centralized, state-controlled communications platform with strong surveillance features, the incorporation of social media, entertainment, and technology into Max and Gosuslugi will likely reshape the digital landscape for the country's residents.
