PC Gaming

The only reason I still want consoles to be developed is that a lot of cool features were designed and pioneered with consoles. Stuff like DirectStorage was implemented on the XSX before it was on PC, but that's an example of consoles having pushed the boundaries and built new systems that benefit the whole computing ecosystem.

I don't find this to be the case anymore. They keep claiming "technological leaps" but they only quantify the leaps in terms of being able to run at a higher resolution with higher frames, and we've gotten to the point with processing that we can brute force all of that stuff. There used to be a lot of limitations to run on a console, and it caused a lot of creative workarounds and solutions within the industry. It feels like those limitations have been removed everywhere but the Switch, and I would argue that's the console with the most interesting exclusives.

Consoles used to help push the limit of what could be done on lower-end hardware. Now there's basically no limits, especially with size. American games are like 100+ gigs now, it's insane. Say what you want about their business practices and how anti-consumer they are, but I at least value Nintendo's efficiency in game design and development having been limited by hardware. They make fun games that are functionally massive but do not require tons of storage in comparison to other AAA titles.

Various executives have been ripping bongs and saying this about gaming since the late 90s.

Still waiting on Millenials to ditch consoles and PC games entirely to play on the N-Gage.

Only reason I would have to justify newer console is the exclusive games and even then exclusive games are becoming less of a thing. At the very least that's what it feels like. The only exception are Sintendo, and they are about as pro-consumer as a cannibal in a morgue.

I care about exclusives and officially or unofficially PC has had access to the most with Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo. Might not get them all, but with the other console systems they don't get them at all usually.

There's a market for people who want a console as simple as a smartphone, but I don't have that need. And I already hook up my PC to the TV with a long hdmi cable, so couch gaming isn't a selling point of a console to me.

Windows simply needs a good console mode and we're there. Pre built market needs to mature the fuck up or steam console needs to be a thing again and we can be there now.

Yeah I can see it. Kids didn't seem to be as interested in that stuff. They have way more digital entertainment available than what we had,

The only console I’m vaguely interested in is PS5. Only because of console exclusive games.

I want to play Spider-Man 2 and Final Fantasy, but I don’t want to have another big bulky thing in my house. My PC is bulky enough.

If it were smaller I might have considered.

So I'm a millennial (35 years old), and I have the following devices that I play games on (in order of most gaming prestige to least):

• Xbox Series X
• Steam Deck
• Lenovo Thinkpad T480
• Macbook Pro M1

I can tell you right now I am struggling to find a reason to play games on my XSX. On my Steam Deck/Thinkpad? I have a massive library of games, from old and new.

One of the biggest mistakes that this generation of gaming has done is do lots of remasters of old games - now I have my Steam Deck with all these old titles, I wonder in most cases why I'm paying so much money for such little return (my personal feeling is that the Resident Evil franchise is the only exception to this - the PS1/PS2 games, if they were ported onto PC, had horrible controls and lacklustre saving mechanisms. The remasters solve this as well as enhanced graphics).

Furthermore, the biggest selling point for me with the XSX was the backwards compatibility of old games like GTA IV and RDR. RDR aside, most of these games have made their way onto PC with a controller scheme that is fully compatible with any modern controller, let alone the Steam Deck.

It's quite funny how my XSX in recent times has been used more as a TV streaming device until I upgraded my TV, which has the smart apps on the TV, so I don't need the XSX any more.

I have strongly considered selling my XSX, but honestly GTA VI is the only thing that's keeping the XSX in my living room. I am awfully tempted to pack it up and put it in the loft until GTA VI comes out - that is how little I care about the console. Over the weekend I went to my brother's and played on his PS5 - apart from the triggers, I couldn't immediately find the selling point, nor could I convince myself to shell out up to £500 on a console where the only game I would be interested in playing is God of War Ragnarok and/or Uncharted franchise.

This console generation by both companies has been exceptionally weak. It's kind of funny that I sold my Nintendo Switch for the Steam Deck, but I've found owning a Switch to be far more compelling and memorable than owning any of the modern games consoles; Super Mario Oddysey was great, even if it was a little too hard for me, and BOTW was actually a little fun, but I really had to tap out after a few hours in. Donky Kong Tropical Freeze was just absolutely incredible and stellar. I can't tell you any first party game I've enjoyed on XSX outside of Forza Horizon 5, but even then, FH5 was effectively a reskin of FH4).

Oh, and I don't think it needs to be said, but the Macbook is not very good as a gaming machine. It's OK for small indie titles, but unless Apple gets its finger out (it never will unless gaming makes them gangbusters for very little money - not very likely in long term), the Macbook/iPhone/iPad/Apple TV will always be a second class citizen to even the crappiest PC.