Computer clubs in Russia

Computer and video games (Russian market)

Main article: Computer and video games (Russian market)

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2024: Russia's True Gamers esports club network raises $45 million to launch 150 locations in Saudi Arabia

In early February 2024, it became known about investing $45 million in True Gamers. The company is going to spend the funds received on the launch of 150 esports clubs in Saudi Arabia over five years. Read more here.

2023: Demand for computer clubs soars in Russia

In Russia, the popularity of gaming clubs has sharply increased. The number of e-sports venues increased by one and a half times in three years amid rising attendance, which became known in mid-June 2023.

According to the Kommersant newspaper, the number of e-sports and leisure sites in Russia is growing for several reasons. This, in particular, is the tournament component. Users come to practice Counter-Strike and Dota, gain experience and exchange it with other players. The fact is that it is quite problematic to get such a practice at home, while the clubs are large, they are warm in winter and cool in summer. In this case, you can communicate with like-minded people and receive support.

Demand for computer clubs has grown in Russia

The second reason is the price. In the current geopolitical situation, it is legally difficult to purchase both games and subscriptions to them. To do this, you have to start foreign cards.

And who will spend 5 thousand rubles. in order to pay for the Xbox Game Pass? It's easier to give 200 rubles. and play for two hours. There are no restrictions on e-sports, market participants say.

In addition, the price of equipment is high. It is very difficult to purchase a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X. Computer equipment is also very expensive. Therefore, come and pay 100 rubles. in order to play the super hit for an hour, which also appears in these clubs with the help of gray imports, this is a really big opportunity.

Director of the Intercontinental Esports League Alexander Gorbachenko says that in the current situation, Russia has lost the opportunity to hold the finals of world gaming competitions. Russians, Belarusians, Ukrainians, Kazakhs are one of the best in e-sports. That is, if we draw a direct analogy, this is something like our athletes who are forced to compete under a neutral flag. In this situation, the popularity of gaming computer clubs is growing.^[1]

2022: Growth of revenues of computer clubs by 1.5 times to 20 billion rubles in 3 years

Revenues of computer clubs in Russia for 3 years increased 1.5 times - from 13 billion rubles in 2019 to 20 billion rubles in 2022. This is stated in a study by the Russian developer of solutions for cyber clubs and the organizer of the annual professional conference Langame.

As Vedomosti writes with reference to this report, by the end of 2022 there were 2,300 cyber clubs in the Russian Federation against just over 1,000 three years earlier. The number of monthly visitors during the same period doubled to 2.5 million people. The main audience of cyber clubs are men, they make up 92% of guests. At the same time, the number of women - visitors to the Langame aggregator site is many times more, said the head of Langame Pavel Golubev.

In 2022, revenues of computer clubs amounted to 20 billion rubles

Girls have a clear interest in clubs, but those, in turn, have not yet managed to lure them to themselves. We associate this with the primordial masculinity of such places and increased attention to any female visitor, he said.

According to a 2022 Langame study, most often visitors to cyber clubs from 18 to 24 years old, this age category accounts for 32.7% of their audience. In addition, cyber clubs are popular with visitors aged 25-34 years (28.5%) and less than 18 years (17.6%).

In 16.8% of clubs, an hour of play costs 100 rubles, in 12.9% - 70 rubles, and in 12.5% - 50 rubles. In the most expensive places, the price tag can reach 300 rubles per hour, and the average check for all categories is collectively about 500 rubles, including both the game time itself and the payment for food and drinks. According to statistics of average attendance, the guest spends approximately 1,500-2,000 rubles a month, Langame reported.

The top three in terms of the number of cyber clubs are the Colizeum, True Gamers and CyberX networks. Their shares in Langame were not disclosed.^[2]

Notes