Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

Every fifth respondent aged 18 and over has tried playing video games. The most frequent gamers are persons aged 18-24 (40%).

 

Video games’ popularity among Russians  

Nineteen percent of Russians play video games. About half of respondents have never played them (48%); one-third of respondents quitted playing (33%). Twenty-three percent of gamers spend time playing every day. Another half of respondents play several times a week (46%); one-third (30%) play several times a month or less often.  An average of 5 hours per week is spent on video games. Gamers often use mobile phones (48%) or computers (41%). However, Russians gamers try not to spend money on subscriptions or gaming equipment (79%). Those gamers who still prefer to pay for the access or for special equipment spend an average of 959 rubles a month.

 

 

 

Only for young people? Who else plays video games?

Video games are more popular among youth. Those who play video games more often than others are respondents aged 18-24 (40%) and 25-34 (25%). Apart from mobile phones and computers gamers also use gaming consoles (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo). The 18-24-year-olds spend the most amount of time a week playing video games (eight hours); they also spend the largest amount of money on purchasing video games and equipment (an average of 1456 rub per month).

 

 

Contrary to stereotypes, persons aged 45-59 and 60 and over are also involved in gaming. They are the ones who spend the most amount of time on video game every day (28% and 35% respectively). At the same time, they spend an average of four hours per week playing. It means that they play often but not for long. They purchase video games less often (11% gamers) and spend less (an average of 417 rub per month).

 

 

Geographically, video games are favored mainly by residents of million cities (25%), whereas people living in rural area have never played video games (59%). Thus, residents of million cities spend the most time playing (8 hours); those who live in Moscow, St Petersburg, in localities with a population of less than 100,000 inhabitants or rural area spend the least amount of time playing (4 hours weekly).

How much money do you usually spend on video games (purchase, access, equipment, etc.)? Can you specify the exact amount in rubles? (open-ended question, one answer, % of those who play video games)

 

Total

Moscow and St Petersburg

Million cities

500-950,000 inhabitants 

100–500,000 inhabitants

<100,000

Rural area

Those who specified the amount

18

23

25

17

15

9

22

Those who did not spend money

79

77

74

80

75

90

77

Don’t know

3

0

1

2

10

1

1

Gamers living in localities with a population of 100-500,000 spend the most on video games’ purchase, access and equipment (1550 rub per month). Gamers from Moscow and St Petersburg  as well as those living in million cities make purchases much often than others (23% and 25%, respectively, say they spend on video games).

 

Most famous and fascinating Russian video games

Top four most famous games includes World of Tanks (3%), Tetris (1%), S.T.A.L.K.E.R. (1%) and Metro (1%).  Top favourite games Russians like to play are World of Tanks (11%), Solitaire (7%) and Pirate Treasures (4%).

About one-third of gamers also play using sport, military and pilotage simulators (28%). Sixty-two percent of gamers usually support Russia when playing (62%); 17%, the U.S.S.; 13%, Germany. A further 12% do not choose any country to support.

 

Forty percent of respondents say that the quality of video games produced in Russia is improving; those who think so are mainly respondents aged 18 -24 (47%), 25-34 (46%) and 35-44 (47%). Others think that the quality of Russian video games has not changed (21%). This stance is popular among youth: 40% among the 18-24-year-olds and 33% among those aged 25-34. Three percent of Russians point to poor quality of Russian video games. Fifteen percent know nothing about Russian video games at all; they are mainly respondents aged 60and over (35%).

 

VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on August 15, 2019. The survey involved 1,600 Russians aged 18 and over. The survey was telephone-based and carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.

 

Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory.

 

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