The game form and virtual weapons have become an asset for investors. What you need to know

Skins, various video game elements that are used to customize virtual weapons or character clothing, are gaining popularity among non—traditional assets for investment. The profitability of some skins exceeds 40% per annum, niche investments outperform most traditional and alternative assets, including gold and cryptocurrency. How risky it is to invest in video games is described in the Izvestia article.

The skin market is on the rise

• The market for virtual items used in video games is at an all-time high. In early March, according to estimates Pricempire.com It has exceeded $4.3 billion. Skins for the popular Counter-Strike 2 shooter stand out especially against the background of other investment assets. Their cost depends on the rarity of the items and other non-traditional economic indicators. In June 2024, the skin in Counter-Strike 2, which was used to decorate weapons, was sold for a record $1 million.

• According to the Higher School of Economics and the Russian School of Economics, prices for skins in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive for the period from 2013 to 2024 ranged from 1 cent to almost $4 thousand. The average skin price was $155, but the median was only $11.5. At the same time, the Sharp coefficient (the ratio of profitability and risk; the higher the indicator, the better) for skins is 0.34. For gold, it is 0.12, for bitcoin — 0.21.

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• Concerns about the duties announced by US President Donald Trump and his plans to create a strategic bitcoin reserve have led to a sharp decline in the S&P 500 index and cryptocurrencies. Since few people can predict the situation in traditional stock or commodity markets in such conditions, the market capitalization of game elements for customization of virtual weapons has increased dramatically.

• Non-traditional investment assets also include, for example, luxury bags like Birkin, which are steadily increasing in price. Currently, they cost from $9 thousand, but they can be resold for $30 thousand, depending on the color, size and condition of the accessory. On average, from 1980 to 2015, Birkin prices rose by 14.2%. At the same time, the average annual return on securities of companies included in the S&P 500 index is about 10%.

What is the danger of non-traditional investments?

• Investing money in any asset requires special qualifications. It is necessary to correctly evaluate investment items, analyze the market, and understand its liquidity and volatility. Simply buying any asset, including shares, is not enough: its value will constantly change. It is necessary to study the company's financial statements and management activities in order for the investment to bear fruit.

• The risks of buying non-traditional assets are the same as with traditional investments. Among the main factors of changes in their value are the decline in the popularity of the asset and regulatory changes: for example, the game ceased to exist, the server was closed, the game mechanics changed, or some restrictions were imposed on the trading of game items.

• Investing in gaming assets is popular only in certain circles. The percentage of investors who deal with them is extremely small. This makes the gaming market susceptible to manipulation and speculative purchases, which can dramatically change the value of other players' assets and bring them to ruin.

During the preparation of the material, Izvestia interviewed:

• economist Alexey Rodin.