Played - not enough: the fashion for computer clubs is reviving in Russia
It seems that computer clubs, which are dying out as a genre, are beginning to find a second life. One of the reasons for this may lie in the fact that computer clubs now offer an opportunity to try modern games at high settings, while a really powerful computer costs up to 200,000 rubles. According to experts, today such clubs are not just a place for games, but a full-fledged social space. The industry suggests that over the next few years, the market of cyber clubs in Russia can grow by as much as 30-40%. Details - in the material "Izvestia".
Popular again
At the end of 2024, the volume of the cyberclub market exceeds 26 billion rubles. Last year's growth amounted to 13%, calculated at the request of "Izvestia" in the Association for the Development of Cybersports Infrastructure (ARKI). There are about 3100 computer clubs in Russia, which is 84 thousand gaming places.
- In 2024 we record the growth of the number of clubs, which amounted to 17% in Moscow and 23% in St. Petersburg, - said the director of ARKI Pavel Golubev. - At the same time, the trend is to increase the number of clubs in the regions: more than two thirds of such spaces in Russia are located outside the cities with a million inhabitants.
In the company "Kontur.Focus" "Izvestia" reported, for 13 months the industry is experiencing record growth: if in January 2024 there were 153 companies in it, then by February 2025 their number increased to 461 - the market added 308 participants, that is, it has become three times more. At the same time, the number of registrations six times exceeded the number of liquidations - 323 against 51.
"Contour.Focus" in the calculation takes into account the activities of companies under OKVED "Activities of computer clubs", and this classifier is used by less than 13% of organizations, comment on the statistics in ARKI. More often in the industry used OKVED rental (the object of rental is a game place). With this status for the owners of clubs has a more favorable tax regime.
The SME Corporation told Izvestia that computer clubs can also choose the general classifier "Recreation and entertainment activities other", which includes computer clubs and other entertainment (skiing, boat rentals, etc.).
Mikhail Novoselov, Head of the Department of T&M of computer sports, chess and digital technologies of RUS "GTSOLIFK" added that today computer clubs are not particularly eager to get into the All-Russian register of sports facilities, which is necessary for official competitions.
Nevertheless, the increased popularity of computer clubs is evident, confirms Vasily Ovchinnikov, general director of the Video Game Industry Development Organization (VIDO).
- In the first half of 2024, the revenue of Russian cyberclubs amounted to 14 billion rubles, which is 2.5 billion more than in the same period last year. This business is expanding beyond Russia. For example, Langame has already opened clubs in Indonesia, adapting the format to the peculiarities of the local audience: from the choice of games to tariff plans," Ovchinnikov noted.
According to him, for many players, especially in the regions, clubs are not only access to powerful equipment, but also an opportunity to train at a level close to professional cyber sports teams. A home PC costing 100-150 thousand rubles cannot compare with the top configurations of clubs, where RTX 4090 graphics cards and monitors with a refresh rate of 240 Hz are used, emphasized the head of ORVI.
Roman Ivashkevich, co-founder and CTO of SmartShell, explains that this is not only a Russian phenomenon, moreover, Russia lags far behind other markets. He cites Kazakhstan and Vietnam as examples. Kazakhstan has 20 million people and 1500 computer clubs, i.e. one club per 13 thousand people. Vietnam: 100 million people, 4500 computer clubs - one club per 22 thousand people.
- In Russia, these figures are much less: according to my calculations, one club per 42 thousand people," says Roman Ivashkevich. - We assume that in 3-5 years the market in Russia may grow by 30-40%.
Why the market is growing
According to Alexander Shishenin, general director of the JJoy company, the popularity of the clubs is due, among other things, to the fact that phones have become the main gaming device.
-Parents believe that this covers their child's needs in entertainment," says Alexander Shishenin. - It has become difficult to persuade parents to buy a full-fledged gaming PC. Plus, online games require voice communication, which is almost impossible in today's small-sized apartments. That's why computer clubs have become relevant again. There is modern hardware there, you can make noise and communicate by voice.
The growing popularity of computer clubs in Russia and worldwide is due to several factors, says Dmitry Alexandrov, head of the immersive technologies committee of the ARPP "Domestic Soft", GR manager of Atlantis.
- Firstly, it is the social aspect: team games, cyber sports tournaments and VR-entertainment are becoming a fashionable trend. Secondly, clubs give access to top equipment. Thirdly, there is a nostalgia for LAN-parties of the 2000s," the interlocutor listed.
In Russia, according to his judgment, the situation is also aggravated by the fall in demand for electronics: in 2024, it fell by 9%, and imports of laptops and equipment decreased by 15-30%. Computer clubs have become an alternative to home gaming and high-end VR lounges, Alexandrov believes.
Sergey Tingaev, manager of Reksoft Consulting's government and social initiatives practice, notes that a modern player wants not just to spend time comfortably playing his favorite game, but to feel part of a competitive environment. Players aspire to the atmosphere of a real cyber sports arena - with professional monitors, comfortable chairs, neon lighting, tournaments and team training.
Thus, according to him, computer clubs have gone through an evolution: if 15-20 years ago they were semi-dark basement rooms with outdated PCs, today they are modern spaces with high-class equipment, recreation areas, thematic design and advanced service.
At the same time, Yaroslav Meshalkin, managing partner of Heads'made digital communications agency, believes that the growth in the number of computer clubs is not something new. In his opinion, the renaissance began in 2017-2018, when the flagship clubs Yota Arena (now VK Play Arena) and Winstrike Arena appeared, and the first establishments of the Colizeum network opened. Since then, the number of clubs in the capital and across Russia has been steadily growing, he notes. Just now the capacity of the capital market is exhausted, so the regional development is accelerating, the expert added.
Is it profitable to open computer clubs
Pavel Golubev from ARKI does not agree with the widespread assertion that the computer club is necessarily a profitable business or super profit. Opening a cyberclub requires considerable investment and a high degree of involvement of a competent manager, he explains.
-The payback period in the current realities is an average of 2-3 years, - says Golubev. - But since the market is still far from saturation and is generally at a formative stage, investments under effective management will be justified.
The main sources of income of computer clubs - rent of game places and additional sales, say the GC "Lesta Games". Most often the profits come from cafes (food and drinks), and in the case of network clubs - the sale of advertising.
According to the company, opening a club is most profitable if you have your own premises or if you choose locations with low rental rates and high population density, for example, in dormitory districts. For network projects, an additional source of income is franchises, which allow entrepreneurs not to spend time choosing software, furniture and equipment suppliers.
Roman Ivashkevich, co-founder and technical director of SmartShell, is convinced that this is still a relatively inexpensive business, with a low entry threshold, while bearing less risk than opening a bar or restaurant. An average computer club can be opened for 7-12 million rubles, he believes.
Alexander Ivanushkin, head of advertising and collaboration in the Colizeum network of computer clubs, said that opening cyberclubs is advantageous because it allows novice entrepreneurs to enter the industry and requires less investment than, for example, restaurants. In addition, the requirements for staff and their number are lower. The high margin of a computer club can exceed 50%, he added.
- A financial model has been formed which is very similar to the one that was common in the 90s," notes Anton Yakovlev, Kontur.Focus' expert on legislation and economic security of business. - The main source of income, in fact, is equipment rental. Prices are quite democratic, from 150 rubles per hour. Thus, a small room for 30 computers only at the expense of rent every day can earn about 100 thousand rubles, because the club, as a rule, works around the clock.
It turns out, he notes that solely on the lease can pay off the cost of all the equipment in less than six months. If you don't mention the services of snack bars, hookah bars, and the sale of devices (headphones, mice, keyboards).
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
