Covid-19: 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. — SCMP

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.

Despite the growth in terms of players, revenue at some local companies has dropped 5% to 15% 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.