While gaming has historically been best represented on consoles, the world is quickly changing. Recently, personal computers can do a lot with gaming technology, if not more adequately than their game console counterparts. Whether mods, graphical proficiency, framerate precision, or convenience, there are many reasons why PC has become the best place for gaming for many players around the world. See if the average gamer would rather play on PC than console, and if the days of console dominance are quickly dissolving.
The following is comprised of data collected through optional polls and viewer responses. What all was collected includes:
- 1,656 respondents through eight questions.
- Polls running between the beginning of March and April of 2021.
Information on whether PC is the best option for gaming.
The following is information collected in more detailed form, going over every aspect of the graph listed above. Summarized information and some occasional discussion will also be present.
How Important Are Graphics and Performance in Games?
You hear talk of it constantly in console announcements and game ports to new technology. 4K pixel resolution. 120 frames per second (or FPS). Ray tracing. These things and more are put to the forefront to try and sell new players into buying in on new technology, or re-buying in on old technology coming to new places. The comparisons between the Xbox Series X’s and PS5’s specs were instrumental to people’s interest in the consoles (outside games, of course). But how important is this really?
Information on the importance of graphics and performance in games.
One can argue one way or the other on whether graphics or performance is more important. Nevertheless, the prospects together seem to be a crucial selling point for players around the world. If a game is not taking full advantage of the technology present within society today, is it really worth forking over a potentially increasing retail price for it? If left to the masses, those that lag behind may be left there indefinitely.
Is the Cost of a Gaming PC Worth it Compared to Consoles?
Most know that a high-end gaming PC can be rather pricey. Being able to run the biggest games at the highest graphical settings, as well as have it run smoothly, requires a lot of power. This also isn’t accounting for down-the-road expenditures necessary to adapt to ever-evolving technological breakthroughs. All said and done, one must willing to part with an arm and a leg to get the most out of their games. Despite this, do players think it’s worth it?
Information on whether the high price of a gaming PC is worth it.
If one is willing to save up for it, most seem to believe the performance is worth it. Being able to experience games at the highest of their potential is obviously a very appealing offer. With a system that could run potentially anything you want at the highest settings imaginable, the high cost may simply be expected. And given the sense that companies will simply release new consoles at similar if not higher costs down the road, maintaining a PC might not be so expensive long-term.
Does the Convenience of Services like Steam Make PC More Appealing?
Chances are, if you think of a game coming to “PC,” you immediately check for a Steam page. The distribution service is host to so many games that one cannot possibly fathom all that it contains—this isn’t even counting all the new games that flood in daily. Even other services such as the Epic Games Store or GOG have become reliable places for games of all sizes to provide themselves to. So with such a massive selection, does this make gaming on PC the best option?
Information on online game services making PC more appealing.
Like an online plug and play, services such as Steam are a highly convenient place to store and play games. No hassle with physical media nor the need to even leave the home. Everything is perfectly obtainable from the comfort of your couch. With PC in hand, you’re even able to quickly access other menus and options that would otherwise be a hassle on console. When it comes down to it, convenience is a fruitful factor.
Is the High Storage Value a Good Factor for PC Gaming?
Remember the days of memory cards? Well, technically they still exist, only they’re referred to as SD Cards now-a-days. Older consoles, however, would have these chunky, rectangular objects that would insert into the console in order to hold any save data for games on the system. As technology has advanced, the amount of space necessary for games increased, causing consoles to adapt in turn. What computers have always been advantageous in, though, is the amount of storage space they provided. Is this enough to go with gaming on PC?
Information on if storage space is advantageous to PC gaming.
Almost as one-sided as the previous poll, PC reigns dominant in convenience for the player. With higher storage space means less hassle to buy endless amounts of SD cards and switching them out for individual games, if not transferring them. It also means that one’s PC can pack a lot of data on it via mods, updates, and more without hampering the proficiency of games. Like a Space Bag, only it’s a computer.
Are the High Number of Games on PC Enough to Swear Off Consoles?
Circling back to the topic of services like Steam, they provide a substantial number of games to play. According to Statista, since the launch of Steam, roughly 49,000 games have released on it, and that number will only grow with time. Indies and AAA games alike have made PC their home, waiting for adept gamers to give them a shot. With such a wide selection, is this enough to swear off consoles entirely?
Information on whether the quantity of PC games is enough to swear off consoles.
It’s a tad closer than polls prior, though it seems people are pretty keen on sticking to what’s available on PC. And with services such as Xbox Game Pass allowing one to play games on PC, that’s an even larger variety of games that would otherwise be limited to console libraries. Even without the Marios or Links of the gaming world, PC players still have an ocean’s worth of games on offer.
Should All Games Be Available on PC?
Speaking of the Marios and Links of the gaming world, there’s been some recent discussion on exclusivity in gaming. Are console-exclusive titles really the right way to go? Some would argue that exclusivity invigorates competitors to put more work into games to sway consumers their way, resulting in better games. Others argue that it ends up depriving those without financial privilege the opportunity to play great games that may only be available for one platform. So what does the average player think of this?
Information on if all games should be available on PC.
In what may come as a surprise to some, an overwhelming amount of people believe all games should be available on PC. Imagine; being able to play the latest The Legend of Zelda title on Steam, fully moddable and at performances typically unheard of for Nintendo hardware. It’s a dream many have likely had at some point in their lives. However, given the current corporate landscape, this isn’t too likely. Nevertheless, many can remain hopeful.
How Important Are Mods to PC Gaming?
If you were to go back and play Skyrim today on PC, chances are you would be packing it up with tons of mods and fan-made fixes to improve on the base game. Because, well, the base game is infamous for being a little buggy. Yet it is this consumer spirit that makes PC so recommendable for games of this nature—the opportunity to mod games into a better state. Consoles don’t typically have this option. How important are mods to the experience of PC gaming?
Information on the importance of mods to PC gaming.
While not an essential tool, many are more in favor of the option to mod than otherwise. Being able to create bugfixes and smoother performance for games not up to par on PC is integral to experiencing a game at its fullest potential. Although, it may say something when a player’s urgency to improve a game is stronger than the specific developer. Though that’s a discussion for another time.
Is Gaming Best on PC?
With all the information gathered in this article, it may paint a rather obvious picture. Gaming on PC offers a somewhat different experience than on console, with a variety of things that are more beneficial and detrimental to the average gamer. The high storage space, convenience, and modding opportunities are among its better selling points, though the cost and upkeep might keep some away. With all this in mind, do people think gaming on PC is best?
Information on if gaming on PC is the best option.
It seems the positives far outweigh the negatives when it comes to PC gaming. With all that was described above, even the high price is worth it enough to join the crowd chanting “PC master race!” With better performance, tools for modding, a substantially large number of games to choose from, and much more, it’s the most logical option.
Are you exclusively a PC gamer? What did you think of the results shown in this article? Let me know in the comments below!
(Video by The Infographics Show.)
