The Move Towards Online Gaming – and What This Means for Console Players
Analysts from Piper Jaffray assert that by the year 2022, all profit made from video games will be digital. A mix of human globalization and data digitization has pushed games towards online existences. This will come as no surprise to PC players, but what does it mean for people who prefer their console?
Are consoles dying?
ver the course of the mid-2010s, consoles have not done very well. Console producers report losses in profit and customer numbers. Many saw these as proof of the death of the console industry. Gaming analyst Michael Pachter predicted “console software is going to move off console” as a result of the increasing quantity of non-console options made available to gamers. But then in 2017, console gaming revenue brought in an astonishing $41 billion, the highest sales since 2001. Meanwhile, online gaming has only gotten stronger, with increased sales and steady customer interest. Keeping up with the trends, consoles have seen digital copies of their games outsell physical copies.
What’s the draw of PCs?
Source: Pexels
PCs offer the largest selection of online games. While most console games can be made available on PC, there are many popular online games that are PC-exclusive. For many PC fans, though, it comes down to a matter of hardware. While some consoles can be used to stream Netflix or Amazon Prime as well as play games, that pales in comparison to what a PC can do. Graphics on a PC can be set to higher levels, meaning games look and run smoother. PCs are also customisable, from choosing your in-game hotkeys to replacing your processor with the newest model. PCs can serve many non-gaming purposes; in the modern age, computers are a household fixture.
The downside of PCs
Consoles are undoubtedly the cheaper of the two options. PCs cost at least twice what consoles do. With ever-evolving technology, upgrading a console won’t break your bank the way upgrading a graphics card on a PC can. Then again, many advocates will argue that while a PC costs more, games for PCs cost less.
How the world has changed so far
The late 1970s saw the golden age of arcade games. With Space Invaders released in 1978 and Asteroids in 1979, gamers flocked to arcades to spend their afternoons in the warm glow of beeping monitors. By the 1990s, arcades were a shell of their former glory. The reason? Sales in PCs and consoles meant people could play from the comfort of their own home. Gaming changed and gamers adapted. Video games aren’t the only games affected. A study by Kahil S. Philander found that the online casino market leeches around 27-30% of casinos profits. Online casinos are convenient and accessible. It’s easier to fall into the slot games at William Hill than it is to book a ticket to Vegas.
Five years ago, the console vs PC debate may have leaned more towards PCs. But consoles have been going strong, adapting hardware to create products that attract both new and established customers. At this point, the debate lies in a manner of preference. Following global trends, the way forward for any format is ensuring it provides online availability.