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Hong Kong social distancing
Hong KongHong Kong economy

Coronavirus: online games are helping social-distancing Hongkongers kill time, but few willing to pay for it, firms say

  • Fears about the economic downturn amid Covid-19 have led city residents to make fewer in-game purchases, Hong Kong firms say
  • Many local companies have also held off on releasing new titles during the pandemic

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A 2018 report showed that 90 per cent of Hong Kong residents play video games at least once a week. Photo: AFP
Snow Xia
Hongkongers are playing video games more than ever due to being stuck at home under the city’s Covid-19 social-distancing rules, but they are also spending less money on them given their pessimism about the economy, according to local gaming companies.
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Despite the growth in terms of players, revenue at some local companies has dropped 5 to 15 per cent since the pandemic’s outbreak. That stands in contrast to the global market, which has seen growth in both, two members of the Hong Kong Game Industry Association (HKGIA) said recently.

“During the time of Sars [severe acute respiratory syndrome] in 2003, the number of players and revenues increased by 30 to 40 per cent. But what is special about this outbreak is that it has made many people pessimistic about the future of the economy,” said Jack Lai, chairman of the HKGIA and manager of Chinesegamer International (Hong Kong).

A copy of Nintendo’s ‘Animal Crossing: New Horizons‘ is displayed in a shopping centre where masked customers browse other games. Photo: AFP
A copy of Nintendo’s ‘Animal Crossing: New Horizons‘ is displayed in a shopping centre where masked customers browse other games. Photo: AFP

“In this outbreak, many people are afraid of losing their jobs, so it is safer to keep their money in their pockets and try not to spend it on luxuries. I think the business model for our games is very similar to the models for watches or jewellery, which requires spare money.

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“Showing off a piece of virtual equipment in a game and showing off a luxurious watch in the real world are the same, and the willingness to show off and spend money is not as strong when players have no confidence in the economy.”

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