In the third quarter of 2024, Russian gamers spent 52.4 billion rubles on video games, which is several percent less than in the second quarter. According to the online school for game developers XYZ, there are about 25 million active gamers in Russia who spend at least five hours a week playing games. The study, which covered 1,500 participants, found that spending spanned across all key segments: gaming for personal computers (PCs), consoles and mobile devices.
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In the first and second quarters of this year, Russian gamers spent 49 billion and 54.5 billion rubles on video games. respectively. Despite lower spending in the third quarter, the share of users making purchases increased from 60% to 64%. Among the most popular games, Baldur’s Gate 3, Frostpunk 2, Tiny Glade, Black Myth: Wukong and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 stand out. These projects attracted audiences due to the combination of a detailed story, innovative gameplay and wide availability, which ensured high sales in various segments video game market.
The seasonal decline in spending on video games is explained by a number of factors: summer holidays, a decrease in the number of significant releases and the absence of large discount promotions. The summer months are traditionally characterized by a decrease in activity among gamers, who often prefer to wait for fall or holiday sales. In the mobile segment, 90% of sales are carried out through official platforms such as Google Play and Apple App Store, despite the impossibility of paying with Russian bank cards. In the PC gaming segment, only 10-15% of transactions are made through official channels, while the majority of purchases go through intermediaries.
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The PC gaming market is traditionally dominated by Steam with a share of 90–95%, but replenishing an account on this platform is only possible through intermediaries. Among popular mobile games, projects such as PUBG and Mobile Legends stand out, while in the PC segment, interest remains consistently high in Baldur’s Gate 3, Roblox and the domestic project World of Tanks. In the console segment, there is a gradual decline in interest in large AAA games due to the limited access of Russian gamers to Western releases.
According to a study by the Organization for the Development of the Video Game Industry (ORVI) and Strategy Partners, in 2023 the video game market in Russia grew by 4.7%, reaching 176 billion rubles. In 2024, growth is projected to be 6.1%, which will increase the market volume to RUB 187 billion. The basic development scenario assumes stable annual growth of 5%, thanks to which by 2030 the market volume could reach 257 billion rubles. Key growth factors include a moderate expansion of the range of new games, retention of the current audience and a stable economic situation.
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However, experts have expressed doubts about the score provided by XYZ Online School. Konstantin Sakhnov, co-founder of Vengeance Games, noted that the amount of 52.4 billion rubles. may be overestimated due to the complexity of accounting for transactions through “gray” channels, including cryptocurrencies and the services of foreign intermediaries. In addition, the calculations are affected by the US dollar exchange rate, which from June to November 2024 increased from 85 to 99 rubles, which increased the cost of foreign games for Russian users.
Indie games, despite having lower financial returns compared to large projects, continue to gain popularity among Russian gamers due to their originality and non-standard approach to gameplay. Among the international releases, Black Myth: Wukong, a game based on Chinese mythology, attracted particular attention. However, the lack of Russian localization and the difficulty of perceiving the cultural context limited its popularity among Russian audiences. Nevertheless, interest in the project remains at a high level.
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By the end of the year, a significant increase in spending by Russian gamers is traditionally expected. This is due to holiday sales, major releases and a seasonal increase in audience activity in the run-up to the New Year. Users more often purchase games in the fourth quarter thanks to discounts and seasonal promotions that occur in October – December. It is during this period that the majority of major releases, updates and monetization events in the gaming industry usually occur.
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