I just wanted to post this in that recent Xbox thread, but then thought this discussion deserves its own thread, so here goes:
I'm always a bit baffled by people saying things like "Meh, I don't need an Xbox, I have a gaming PC" and in the same sentence they're making that sound like that's a diss against the Xbox. Yes, if you're a PC Gamer and Microsoft ships their first party games on PC as well, YOU might not NEED an Xbox.
And that's perfectly fine.
A good gaming PC that runs games at better quality than a console will most likely cost you 1.000$ and up - and probably a bit more than that if you're trying to buy a Gaming Rig closer to the consoles release. The biggest selling point for a console is convenience and price. You're buying a box for a couple hundred dollars and if you buy games for it, you KNOW what you're gonna get. You don't have to fiddle with your OS, drivers and with obscure sounding settings, you just download the game, hit play and you're good to go. THAT is what most people out there expect and want from a console. I'd assume that a ton of people out there have no desire to put a big gaming PC tower into their living rooms. They want a sexy little box that guarantees good entertainment. And while gaming on the PC has become much more streamlined over the past decade or so, it still can't compete with a console when it comes to sheer convenience and price. It's not even close.
I mean, let's face it, PC Gamers who buy the latest and greatest hardware are a niche segment. You are representing the absolute high end, gamers who don't care as much about the price of their hardware, who'd be willing to spend 500+ dollars on just a GPU. I just don't see how those market segments compete. It's like saying 'These headphones Apple ships with their phones are completely useless cause there's way better, pricier high end stuff out there!' -> You're missing the point. Of course there's better stuff around and it's great that you can buy that and use it on your device, but for most people, those headphones that ship with the device are all they really want or need.
I'm sure everyone here would LOOOOVE for Sony to do the same thing Microsoft does (Don't tell me you wouldn't want to play games like Bloodborne, God of War, Uncharted, Last of Us, etc. at 4k, 60fps, HDR, etc. on your PC - If the OPTION would be there, a ton of people would be thrilled to play those games that way instead of the upscaled 4k, VRR-hopefully-60fps-but-not-quite, etc. experiences that you get on a console), but I think people would be scared that - if that happens - PC Gaming could kill Console gaming and let's be real here: That's just a bunch of nonsense. In no other segment are people so afraid that the HIGH END would absolutely murder the LOW END than in gaming.
I'd just love for people to accept that PC Gaming represents the HIGH END ALTERNATIVE to consoles instead of PCs representing some evil competition that might kill consoles. It never will. There'll always be a HUUUUGE segment of gamers who just don't want to deal with all the hassles that PC gaming brings with it. There's always going to be a huge amount of people who value convenience way more than performance - and that's fine. Your Prius isn't a useless piece of shit just because Porsche just made a new sports car.
Games should be available everywhere and gamers should have a choice. You want convenience, a good experience and don't want to break the bank? Get a console. You love performance and are willing to spend a bit more? Get a PC.
I'm always a bit baffled by people saying things like "Meh, I don't need an Xbox, I have a gaming PC" and in the same sentence they're making that sound like that's a diss against the Xbox. Yes, if you're a PC Gamer and Microsoft ships their first party games on PC as well, YOU might not NEED an Xbox.
And that's perfectly fine.
A good gaming PC that runs games at better quality than a console will most likely cost you 1.000$ and up - and probably a bit more than that if you're trying to buy a Gaming Rig closer to the consoles release. The biggest selling point for a console is convenience and price. You're buying a box for a couple hundred dollars and if you buy games for it, you KNOW what you're gonna get. You don't have to fiddle with your OS, drivers and with obscure sounding settings, you just download the game, hit play and you're good to go. THAT is what most people out there expect and want from a console. I'd assume that a ton of people out there have no desire to put a big gaming PC tower into their living rooms. They want a sexy little box that guarantees good entertainment. And while gaming on the PC has become much more streamlined over the past decade or so, it still can't compete with a console when it comes to sheer convenience and price. It's not even close.
I mean, let's face it, PC Gamers who buy the latest and greatest hardware are a niche segment. You are representing the absolute high end, gamers who don't care as much about the price of their hardware, who'd be willing to spend 500+ dollars on just a GPU. I just don't see how those market segments compete. It's like saying 'These headphones Apple ships with their phones are completely useless cause there's way better, pricier high end stuff out there!' -> You're missing the point. Of course there's better stuff around and it's great that you can buy that and use it on your device, but for most people, those headphones that ship with the device are all they really want or need.
I'm sure everyone here would LOOOOVE for Sony to do the same thing Microsoft does (Don't tell me you wouldn't want to play games like Bloodborne, God of War, Uncharted, Last of Us, etc. at 4k, 60fps, HDR, etc. on your PC - If the OPTION would be there, a ton of people would be thrilled to play those games that way instead of the upscaled 4k, VRR-hopefully-60fps-but-not-quite, etc. experiences that you get on a console), but I think people would be scared that - if that happens - PC Gaming could kill Console gaming and let's be real here: That's just a bunch of nonsense. In no other segment are people so afraid that the HIGH END would absolutely murder the LOW END than in gaming.
I'd just love for people to accept that PC Gaming represents the HIGH END ALTERNATIVE to consoles instead of PCs representing some evil competition that might kill consoles. It never will. There'll always be a HUUUUGE segment of gamers who just don't want to deal with all the hassles that PC gaming brings with it. There's always going to be a huge amount of people who value convenience way more than performance - and that's fine. Your Prius isn't a useless piece of shit just because Porsche just made a new sports car.
Games should be available everywhere and gamers should have a choice. You want convenience, a good experience and don't want to break the bank? Get a console. You love performance and are willing to spend a bit more? Get a PC.
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