PC Gamer or Console in 2019?
The video game market changed a lot in 2018. We had almost a change in console generation with the new configurations of PS4 Pro and Xbox One X, as well as the triumphal and relatively unexpected arrival of the Switch. As for PC Gamers, they are increasingly compact and intuitive to build.
So finally in 2018, is it more interesting to invest in a Gamer PC or a console?
How many PC players and Consoles?
Before moving forward in the matter, one essential data: the division between PC players and Consoles.
The Power of Machines
On paper, PC Gamers remain far superior in terms of pure power. Especially since gamers have rather a heavy hand when they choose their components. But unfortunately, the graphics rendering and quality of a video game are not simply defined by gigahertz numbers.
On the one hand, many triple-A games are first optimized for consoles then “ported” to the PC and not always very neat. And even games exclusive to PC are not always very well optimized like Total Warhammer for example.
On the other hand, what is the use of an ultra-powerful Gamer PC if, in the end, you are playing small indie games like Stardew Valley or titles that date back a few years.
Your style of play, your favorit franchises
If you love Management and strategy games, the PC catalog is naturally more suitable for you. The party games are much more on consoles, etc
We can find its happiness on all platforms but globally if you want Mario, it will be the consoles Nintendo.
As proven in the various statistics, when you buy a console, it is primarily to play a specific title.
Playing in the living room
The physical boundary between the different gaming machines is becoming increasingly blurred. Smartphones and tablets offer more and more games; it has even become the most cost-effective support), Nintendo has made an explosive and unexpected return with the Switch, a living room, and portable console.
The same goes for the Gamers PC, which is getting smaller and smaller, and have been meeting for a few years in desktop format to fit in best in the living room. While the large ATX tower with its red neons still exists, it coexists with horizontal and discrete models โ the proof in our guide to mount a Hptc Gamer.
Even stronger, with Steam Link or NVidia Shield and a good connection, you can launch and play your games directly in the living room, with your sublime LEDs-laden gamer tower, away from your living room and your companion.
The budget: a choice, not if sliced
At first glance, it is obvious that consoles are much more affordable than PC Gamers. But, because there is a but :
A PC Gamer budget is very fluctuating depending on the games you want to play. From โฌ 500 to โฌ 2300 the range is wide. However, for power and rendering similar to an Xbox One X, you have to charge โฌ 1,200, which is 2.5 times more expensive.
But be careful, we have to think about this investment in the medium term: the cost of games on PC is cheaper than on consoles, there is no monthly subscription to play online, and it is much more versatile in the type of uses.
A calculation proposed by a study showed that in four years, a PC Gamer paid 800 โฌ with an average of 10 games per year was more profitable than a PS4.
Attention, this notion of a budget is held for towers PC. If you switch to the gamers portable PC market, prices will skyrocket due to more compact components and therefore more expensive.
Exclusive
In 2019 as in 2018, the number of exclusives on consoles compared to PC is much less marked than with the previous generation. There are a lot of games, typically consoles on PCs. Take, for example, the best-rated games on Metacritic in 2018 :
- God of War: excludes PS4
- Celeste: PC, PS4, XB1, and Switch
- Monster Hunter: World: PC, PS4, and XB1
- Into the Breach: PC and Switch
- Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire: PC, PS4, XB1 and Switch
- Subnautica: PC and XB1
- Dragon Ball Fighter Z: PC, PS4, XB1 and Switch
- DJMax Respect: excludes PS4
- Full Metal Furies: PC and XB1
- Ni No Kuni 2: PS4 and PC
Titles that were not found only on Playstation a previous generation such as No Kuni or Monster Hunter are now released regularly on PC.