PC is actually the only platform that has remained stable throughout the entire history of the video game industry, precisely because it is constantly being renewed within its changing limits, so it becomes difficult to establish a true golden age. to the ups and downs, the historical courses and the appeals.
Over the decades, PC has seen the rise and fall of multiple video game generations, going through different phases but remaining an integral entity of the video game landscape, first with a certain break, then joining consoles and finally overlapping them. it has never been able to take advantage of the vast and ubiquitous world of consoles, as it was during this period, but also from its own custom-made reserve, which, in fact, was never lacking.
In short, a huge step forward compared to when PC gaming was feared to be over, a view that telling the truth has cyclically returned in debates in the video game landscape, but has so far been always rejected. The fluidity of the PC platform is what makes it essentially stable and seemingly immortal: at this point, it’s no longer a complementary device compared to the console experience, because it’s proving that it can. proxy in a more holistic way.
It’s not just in terms of the game catalog, but also in terms of usage, which remain the biggest distinguishing elements compared to machines built specifically for video games. Let’s see why this is kind of Golden age of PC gaminghowever, keeping in mind what remains to be persistent issues for the platform.
Accessibility, savings and use
On the economic front, gaming on PC represents a kind of paradox: it is known that a substantial investment of money is necessary to create a performance platform for video games, but this is easily offset by major paradoxes. saving Prices much lower than consoles on average, which could result from the purchase of software offered on the Windows platform. On consoles, especially digital, the gap may have narrowed over the years thanks to greater regularity in the promotion of games, but it’s impossible to balance the score with an open platform like PC that doesn’t have to rely on centralized digital. stores can therefore offer lower prices with a much more dynamic economy. In fact, the cost of games on the PC is much lower, this is a practically indisputable fact.
To all this we must add frequent attempts that even allow you to download large quantities of games (like the weekly titles of the Epic Games Store) practically for free, or bundles at ridiculous prices that are impossible to find on consoles. So in the long run, this savings on the software front can certainly offset the higher expenses incurred for assembling (or buying in bulk) a gaming PC or even possibly even for individual components that need to be replaced. tempo. It is superior to the new generation consoles.
However, there is another element that can intervene to reduce this obstacle, which has emerged especially in recent years: cloud games and the ability to play with the flow. Various cloud gaming services such as Nvidia GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud remove the access barriers imposed by the hardware requirements of games, allowing anyone with a good enough internet line to play even expensive games on much lower machines. wants..
Not only that, the ability to use small and agile machines or access the stream directly through various existing systems has changed it. style of play PC history: The classic setting on a desk with mouse and keyboard lying on a desk is no longer a necessity or limit, because it is easy to resort to PC games even from a comfortable sofa, with a controller and connected to a computer. main television. Without thinking of the Steam Deck.
The catalog is increasingly comprehensive
From a platform complementary to consoles, the PC has gradually evolved into a machine that can understand others and basically replace them almost entirely, even on the front. game catalog available. Obviously, there are a few console-only exclusivity, and on that front, Nintendo games remain largely off-limits on the Windows platform, but the progress made in relation to other manufacturers and third-party publishers in general has been really impressive. these years. For a while, PC has been an integral part of the Microsoft Xbox ecosystem and has been treated on par with consoles, but we’ve seen some notable progress on the Sony front as well. PlayStation-exclusive real estates are starting to appear on Steam and the Epic Games Store, and mark a sea change in the gaming landscape, but there’s still a long way to go to reach parity seen elsewhere.
However, the pool of certain PC games remains intact: the standalone environment has expanded dramatically, and its main core is still found on the Windows platform, although it is now normally at home and on consoles. Many indie games first launch on PC or stay there for a long time and eventually land on other platforms. “special”also thanks to early access, more dynamic and modular distribution systems than before, incremental distribution crowdfunding projects and other modern solutions focused on integrated “walled gardens” that are not possible in closed machines.
The latest technology
A key feature of the PC is that it is, from the point of view, a potentially superior machine.equipment. That’s because, given the long lifecycle it has to go through and the fact that it’s the result of a long-term design, configurations can vary to very advanced technological heights, more than a console can do. release. The result is obvious: a hardware configuration that can be constantly updated and improved will always be superior to a predefined machine and is destined to remain more or less unchanged during its almost 10 years of existence on the market. On the other hand, architecture designed to achieve specific results like that of consoles certainly allows for superior optimization immediately, but the struggle on this front will always be unequal as the PC inevitably represents the most technologically advanced front of video. games.
It should also be noted that the dynamism of the hardware market in the PC also led to significant developments. Technological developments when it comes to software solutions: The work on ray tracing starts from graphics cards for PCs and machine learning applied to the optimization of graphics; all the features that resonated in the console space at the time, but that had appeared before. emerged and has been in-depth mainly in computers. This is generally true of all early experimental trends in the video game space, from virtual reality to interface systems and related services and online games; All the elements that had to spread elsewhere, starting with the PC, and this pioneering spirit remains a core feature of the gaming world. computer scope.
persistent problems
In the face of all these favorable points, however, it should be noted how some elements remained. critical elements Regarding PC gaming, compared to the use of consoles. To make the most of the full potential of this platform, you have to be willing to seize it: The assembly of the computer is the backbone of the PC, and also a real source of “games” among the entertainments for fans. and sorrows. , but not everyone wants to keep up with the more practical part of managing computers. In addition to hardware, other additional problems can arise with just managing software, a machine much more complex than a console, a complete operating system and everything else. It is clear that this is a platform that requires a certain amount of dedication, and this is absolutely not necessary on gaming-only platforms.
this is big complexityIt also shows up in various other aspects of gaming on PC, resulting from the wide openness of the platform that allows for different approaches: optimization of games requires a certain work and deeper action on the graphics settings to be adopted, all elements are carefully chosen. and passionate users, who can be very different from what represents a good portion of the audience on consoles. Another big problem is what has come to configuration, especially in recent years: the difficulty of finding hardware parts available and at human prices. First, the boom in cryptocurrency mining, and then the crisis caused by the Covid pandemic created a chronic shortage of products available in the market, resulting in an uncontrolled rise in prices.
But in any case, we are in the midst of a true golden age for the PC market, and the surprising thing is that the future looks even better.
Source: Multiplayer
