How is console gaming compared to the PC market in 2024? Have you found yourself pondering the timeless question of PC versus console gaming this year? This is a debate that echoes through the gaming community, with enthusiasts passionately defending their preferred platform.
Personal opinions aside, these two platforms encompass a large net of experiences, from the innovative and unique realms of indie games to the grand spectacles of eagerly anticipated AAA titles – something that mobile gaming often struggles to replicate.
Both PCs and consoles have their set of unique strengths: the former’s versatility and power are unmatched, while the latter’s simplicity and accessibility provide quick access to those games we all know and love.
But which one is doing better in 2023? Throughout this article, we’ll talk about console gaming compared to the PC market, telling you which one has been more successful, as well as the reasons leading it to stardom.
Put down your controller and let’s get started!
Console gaming compared to the PC market
Console gaming and PC gaming jointly dominate the gaming landscape, making up a bit over half of the entire gaming market. Their combined revenue is projected to reach $95.2 billion by the end of 2023, being the biggest segments right after mobile gaming (which rakes in an unimaginable $92.6 billion on its own according to research by NewZoo.)
In terms of their player base, both platforms boast impressive figures that highlight their massive popularity – and you’re probably part of this ecosystem! Console gaming is estimated to reach around 629 million players worldwide, while PC gaming is part of the lives of almost 900 million players. That’s more than 1 in 10 people across the globe!
But which one is doing better this year? Well, let’s (finally) talk about it.
Consoles vs PC: which platform is doing better in 2023?
So far, console gaming has experienced an outstanding year, and should soon become the largest games market sector after mobile. With an impressive growth rate of 7.4% from 2022 to 2023, consoles have far outpaced both mobile and PC gaming.
On the other hand, although growing at a much slower pace (around 0.5% year-on-year), PC gaming is still a force to be reckoned with. It’s worth mentioning that not all niches within this platform are seeing this growth, however. For example, browser-based games continue to see a massive drop year after year greatly thanks to mobile gaming being a lot more convenient.
So there you have it: consoles are definitely doing better in 2023, but by no means is PC gaming falling out of fashion.
Why is console gaming doing better than PC gaming?
Having seen the data on their market growth, you might wonder what happened in recent times. Well, several key factors contribute to the success of console gaming.
One significant element is the exclusive first-party content that console platforms usually offer. Unlike PCs, consoles like the PlayStation, the Nintendo Switch, and the Xbox have iconic and cherished franchises that are exclusive to their systems.
Titles like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, and Ratchet & Clank: A Rift Apart create a unique selling point for consoles, attracting gamers who specifically seek these exclusive experiences.
While Xbox usually launches games simultaneously on PC through its Game Pass, PlayStation strategically releases its first-party titles on PC years later, maintaining a console-centric appeal.
Speaking of this, PlayStation’s strategic partnerships and marketing deals further contributed to console gaming’s success. Timed exclusivity, exemplified by titles like Final Fantasy XVI, and co-marketing agreements, as seen with Hogwarts Legacy, directs revenue away from PC and towards the console segment.
Optimization issues also play a role in the recent surge in console gaming. PC ports, despite their inherent power and flexibility, have faced their own set of challenges in achieving optimal (and in some cases playable) performance. This has led some platform-agnostic players to prefer the console versions of third-party games, where the gaming experience is often smoother and more consistent.
We can’t say enough about their accessibility, too. Consoles provide a straightforward and user-friendly gaming experience out of the box, making them an attractive choice for consumers looking to get into gaming quickly.
In other words, we can say that consoles are designed for simplicity. Users can simply purchase a console, plug it in, and start playing games – there is no need to assemble a powerful PC, install drivers, software, and everything else that comes with those machines. Consoles also offer a streamlined configuration, which makes hardware compatibility a non-issue (it also means players don’t have to worry about upgrading components.)
Finally, they’re very affordable compared to a powerful gaming rig, though you won’t need a gigantic budget unless you’re planning to run the hottest AAA titles on a 4k screen at 144 frames per second.
Wrapping up
In a nutshell, 2023 has been a stellar year for console gaming, solidifying its spot as the largest sector in the gaming market after mobile. With a remarkable growth rate of 7.4% a year, consoles have outpaced their counterparts in the gaming industry.
However, this doesn’t, in any way, spell doom for PC and mobile gaming, which, despite experiencing a slowdown, continue to capture a significant share of the gaming market.
Looking toward the future, the landscape of PC gaming is expected to see a transformative shift in a few years.
Upcoming trends like virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), the Internet of Things (IoT) and its many connected devices, and generative artificial intelligence (AI) are poised to become the future of gaming. PC players are set to be the pioneers to experience these changes first-hand.
While games with these features are not yet mainstream, the gaming industry remains a highly dynamic space, where change is quick and its effects usually long-lasting. Amidst all the chaos these advancements unleash upon us, it’s not surprising to know that most people have ideas for games of their own.
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