How do Russian PC gamers behave during self-isolation

Methodology

A total of 27 thousand gamers aged 12 to 50 years were interviewed. Questions were asked after the end of the game session to users of games such as Warface, Lost Ark, Perfect World, ArcheAge, Revelation, Conquerors Blade, CrossFire and SkyForge.

How PC gamers observe the mode
The majority of respondents take the self-isolation regime seriously.

In the whole country, 72% of the PC-gaming population of the country are sitting at home. That’s just the proportion of gamers working remotely noticeably “jumps” from region to region. While 53% of respondents work from home on average in Russia, only 49% work from home in St. Petersburg.

Compliance with the self-isolation regime in Russia by federal districts
A very high proportion of respondents who do not comply with the regime, who, as before the pandemic, have not changed their habits and continue to go to work/study in the same format, deserves attention.

In Russia, their share is 16%. At the same time, it is much higher in a number of areas. For example, in the Khabarovsk Territory — is 22%.

Compliance with the self-isolation regime in Russia by subjectsHow PC Gamers tolerate Self-isolation Mode

Most of the respondents indicated that they are given “Excellent” home mode. In Russia, 41% of respondents answered this way. There are especially many of them in St. Petersburg – 47% (there is a direct correlation with the fact that the city has the smallest proportion of gamers working from home).

Reaction to the self-isolation regime in Russia by federal districts
Quarantine is worst tolerated in the Khabarovsk, Primorsky and especially in the Perm territories; in the latter, most suffer from the inability to go out and meet friends.

Reaction to the self-isolation regime in Russia by subjectsDo PC players have more free time

In Russia, quarantined gamers have significantly increased their free time. This is how the majority of MY.GAMES respondents answered — 44%. The residents of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug were most affected, where 51% of PC players stated this.

Free time for PC players in Russia by federal districts
Few people say that there is even less free time.

This is relevant for 10% of PC players in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, Sverdlovsk Region, Primorsky Krai and Kemerovo Region.

Free time for PC players in Russia by subjectHow spending on games has changed during the coronavirus

The majority of respondents (64%) note that their behavioral pattern regarding payments has not changed in the new conditions:

• 7% of gamers noted that they began to spend significantly more on games and in-game purchases;
• 15% of gamers noted that their costs have increased slightly;
• 5% of gamers noted that spending on games decreased slightly;
• 10% of gamers said that spending has significantly decreased;
• 30% of gamers noted that their payments remained at the same level;
• 34% of gamers said they had not paid before and are not paying now.

How has the time spent in games changed

The amount of time spent in games by PC players during isolation increased by 55% on average across the country: from 5.5 hours to 8.5 hours per day.

Video content (32% of respondents noted that they started spending more time on it), sleep (32% of respondents said that they began to sleep more), as well as social networks (25%), household chores with cleaning (22%) and self-education (22%) compete for the player’s time. The majority of the players did not read more (only 15% of respondents stated that they now devote more time to books).

PC Gamer’s Time BudgetAlso on the topic:

• Interest in esports and online games has grown significantly in Russia against the background of coronavirusApp Annie: Quarantine in Russia has not significantly affected mobile game downloads
• Is there any news?