PC vs Console gaming. A debate I’ve pruned for the last 20 years I’ve been gaming. Today it’s stacked against consoles. They were once the affordable centerpiece of the living room, providing everything you needed.
Some Backstory First. From A Latin-American.
In Colombia, gaming consoles were a rare luxury, too expensive for most. I remember the first time I saw a GameCube—it felt like something from the future. My mom brought it back from a trip to Miami, and I loved it more than soccer. I became so hooked that my parents limited gaming to weekends, a rule that stayed for 15 years. But those weekends were magical. At this time PC vs Console Gaming wasn’t a fiery debate as it is now.
Before anime shaped my life, that console introduced me to Japanese culture. Nintendo still stands unmatched for me. Super Mario Sunshine was my obsession. Sonic became another icon I embraced. I moved on to the Wii, PS3, PS4, and now the PS5—though it often feels like an expensive paperweight. So why does PC gaming seem more appealing every day?
PC vs Console Gaming back then was an easy choice.
The GameCube launched at $200 with two controllers, and games were priced around $50. Accessories were also cheap. The Wii debuted at $250 with one controller but supported GameCube games and controllers. By the time I got a PS3, its price had dropped significantly. It felt new and stood out with free, reliable online gaming. Call of Duty dominated. PC vs Console Gaming still hadn’t entered the gaming lexicon.
Fifteen years ago, the gaming industry seemed far more accessible, but times have changed dramatically. Today, new games launch at a steep $70, even for remakes, while the PS5 Pro enters the market at a staggering $700—and that’s without a disc drive, which costs an extra $80. That’s console gaming for you. Controllers are now priced on par with new games, and online multiplayer access demands an $80 annual subscription. The shift toward relentless monetization took root during the PS4 era, but back then, DLCs and micro-transactions felt far less intrusive compared to the aggressive strategies seen today.
Next-Gen Exclusives, The Carrot on the Stick
Sony’s games offered something truly worth getting invested in. Once renowned for their incredible variety and craftsmanship in exclusives, Sony demonstrated a commitment to excellence that, while not as polished as Nintendo’s, showed a clear ambition to rival it. Premium Console Gaming. Their golden era spanned from 2017 to 2020, marked by the release of 2 to 3 major titles annually. These were cinematic, content-rich, and story-driven single-player experiences that redefined blockbuster gaming. Highlights included masterpieces like God of War, Marvel’s Spider-Man, Death Stranding, Ghost of Tsushima, and The Last of Us Part II. While other impressive titles emerged during this period, these stood out as the most impactful. PC vs Console Gaming was now a more respectable even handed debate.
What’s going on with PlayStation lately? It feels like we only get a standout game every year or so, and even then, they end up launching on PC about 18 months later. Many of their studios were tasked with creating live-service games in the vein of Fortnite, but the majority of these projects—around 80%—have either been scrapped or flopped entirely. That’s four years of effort with little to show for it.
Why are there so few games on PS5 now?
The Activision-Blizzard buy-out prompted Sony to seek other revenue sources to avoid the pitfall that would be losing Call of Duty microtransaction fees. Or the desire to have their own Fortnite. A wish that has consumed the development pipelines of other publishers.
Why even get a console at this point? PC gaming has everything. Master Race is Real.
Given the downsides like high fees, restricted game libraries, limited control, and overall inconvenience, opting for a PC is the superior choice. PCs don’t face obsolescence as quickly as consoles, and platforms like Steam provide lifetime access to your games. Steam sales are typically more budget-friendly, and PCs allow you to play titles from other platforms with improved graphics and greater customization. Online multiplayer is free, and a PC doubles as a versatile tool for work and productivity. While assembling a PC may seem daunting, there are plenty of prebuilt systems available at local stores.
That said, Nintendo still reigns as the king of gaming. They maintain exclusivity by not releasing their games on PC, and every year they deliver at least two standout games with incredible variety. At this point, they’ve mastered nearly every genre, solidifying their dominance in the gaming industry. If you wanna know a bit more about me here i have a short introduction page. So the debate has shifted from PC vs Console Gaming to Nintendo vs PC basically.
