Legal video game sales in Russia in the first half of 2023 fell 4 times compared to the same period last year due to a significant increase in prices and the increase in gray imports. This was reported by RBC.
According to the publication, according to a study by the Russian Association of Distributors and Importers of Video Games, sales of legal games on physical media in January-June 2023 reached 133.9 thousand units, compared to 547.1 thousand in the previous year.
It is stated that the average price of a game increased by 75% during the year, from 3.7 thousand to 6.4 thousand rubles per unit. This is the first time such a rapid increase in prices has been observed. According to expert Denis Kuskov, the decline in sales of legal products is directly linked to the price increase. He noted that users are not ready to overpay when prices are much lower in the “gray” market.
In contrast, industry association president Yasha Haddaji pointed out that there has been a sharp increase in the number of “black” sellers selling at more affordable prices in the marketplaces. Experts agree that the situation is also affected by exchange rate fluctuations, as most of the games are imported from the USA and Europe.
At the end of September, a psychologist talked about five signs that a child has become addicted to games.
Previously, scientists have determined which computer games to develop cognitive abilities.