The Cost Of Living Crisis Causes Families To Look To Pre-Owned For Cheaper Christmas Gifting
Due to tighter budgets amid the cost of living crisis, many families are considering pre-loved gifts for gifting this Christmas, with second-hand games being one of the most popular choices. Research last month also showed that 62% of gamers in the UK are turning their habit of buying new games to hunting second-hand games.
If you have games you no longer use, it's the perfect time to raise some extra cash by selling them! EBay is always a good way to sell them, however, Facebook Marketplace is free, and a popular way to sell locally, or you can use stores such as CeX to sell your games to for quick cash or store credit.
If looking to buy pre-owned or even customer returns, then check out our article on Clearance Outlets that could save you ££'s!
With a 60% increase in pre-owned games searches on Google, Theslotbuzz.com researched which UK city has the biggest second-hand gaming market and which games are the most popular.
To do this, they utilised Google Ads to record Google search volumes for relevant second-hand gaming phrases in each UK city, revealing the city most interested in second-hand gaming. Recent sales for 60 second-hand games and 10 gaming consoles were also recorded from a notable resale e-commerce website.
Key findings:
London is the city most interested in second-hand gaming, with 36,600 annual Google search for used games.
Birmingham ranked second with 8,040 Google searches for second-hand gaming, and Leeds came third with 5,040 searches.
With the successful launch of PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 is now the most popular gaming console in the second-hand market, with 13,000 used consoles sold recently. Nintendo DS ranked second with 12,000 used items sold.
Minecraft is the most sought-after second-hand game, with 5,700 used items sold online recently. The newly released shooting game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 ranked second.
London is the city with the most interest in second-hand gaming, making it the biggest UK market for used games and console resale, accumulating over 36,600 Google searches over the last 12 months; people in London are seeking pre-owned video games, especially those compatible with one of the most popular consoles: Nintendo Switch.
In second place is Birmingham, where people have been utilising different ways online to buy “second-hand consoles”, “Pre-owned games”, and “Used gaming pc” etc. A total of 8,040 average annual Google searches were recorded over the last 12 months, leaving them in second place among all 74 cities reviewed.
Leeds ranked third with 5,040 estimated annual Google searches for second-hand games and consoles. Keywords such as “used PS4” and “used Nintendo Switch” are among the most commonly searched terms, together with searches for vintage games.
With the successful launch of PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 is now the most popular gaming console in the second-hand market, with 13,000 used consoles sold online in the last 90 days.
Discontinued and retired from the market in 2020, it is not surprising that the Nintendo DS is the second most sought-after in the second-hand market, with 12,000 used consoles used recently. First released in 2004, it is also the second best-selling console of all time, with 154 million sales worldwide, according to Statista.
Nintendo’s Switch gaming device ranked third, with 11,000 used consoles sold globally. Released in 2017, this unique console enables people to enjoy gaming both at home and on the go.
Minecraft is the most popular game in the second-hand market, with 5,700 used items sold in the last three months, the highest among all games reviewed. Known as the best-selling game of all time across multiple platforms, it is not surprising that Minecraft ranked first in the second-hand market too. Pre-owned Minecraft PS4 editions are sold for £11 on average, a 50% lower price than a new official copy.
Following closely behind is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, with 5,500 used games recently sold in the second-hand market. Only released a month ago, this first-person shooting game, a sequel to the 2019 blockbuster Modern Warfare, has already become one of the most streamed games this month. The average listings for this second-hand game were priced at £46, only 10% cheaper than buying a brand new one.
Grand Theft Auto V, widely known as GTA 5, ranks third with 4,500 used games sold recently online. Rockstar’s enduring game, first released in 2013, has grabbed the headlines again after releasing on PS5 and XBOX series earlier this year. The recently sold price for the used GTA V PS5 version was £18 on average, saving gamers over 27% more than buying a brand-new copy.
Some top tips on hunting second-hand games or gaming consoles for yourself and your loved ones!
1. Check the condition. Before buying them, it is important to ask what the condition is for the item. For example, how long has it been used? Are all the external ports and software functioning perfectly? Is there any damage to its accessories, such as the Joy-Con for Nintendo Switch.
2. Remove the accounts. Make sure the previous owner has removed their accounts and has set the gaming console to a factory reset. This ensures that you can start the game with your login credentials more smoothly.
3. Ask for the policy. If you are buying second-hand games or consoles from a second-hand retail store, make sure you ask them how long the warranty cover is. For individual sellers, it is essential to negotiate the refund and return policy.