In 2022, the popularity of the rental of game consoles in Russia increased several times: for Avito – by 47%, for Arentera – demand quadrupled. The main reason for the growth is the shrinking market for new devices, since after the start of the special operation in Ukraine, foreign manufacturers suspended deliveries and closed digital stores.
Ozon and Wildberries also noted the rise in popularity of disc-based consoles. Users rent consoles along with games on discs, in a digital copy or through a paid subscription, Kommersant found.
Offers to rent a set of equipment, for example, from a console, games and several controllers, are logically in higher demand than offers to rent only a set-top box, said Vyacheslav Lantsov, head of the advertising service for renting things Polka. “A person who rents a console is unlikely to have their own games,” he said.
In 2023, according to Ozon forecasts, a higher demand for console games and physical games is expected.
In 2022, sales of computer games on physical media doubled in Russia. The reasons for this are Western sanctions and the withdrawal of foreign companies from the market. Console games outsold PC games. The most popular platform in 2022 was the PlayStation from the Japanese Sony.
Analysts believe that in the near future the Russian gaming industry will face stagnation due to the exit of foreign companies and the inability to purchase digital copies of games.
Author:
karina pardaeva
Source: RB
I am Bret Jackson, a professional journalist and author for Gadget Onus, where I specialize in writing about the gaming industry. With over 6 years of experience in my field, I have built up an extensive portfolio that ranges from reviews to interviews with top figures within the industry. My work has been featured on various news sites, providing readers with insightful analysis regarding the current state of gaming culture.
