As more and more console gamers move to the PC, a reader argues that they’re not going out of choice but because of mistakes made by Sony and Microsoft.
We live at a time when everything seems to be spiralling out of control and no one in any position of power seems to know what they’re doing… except making the rich richer. This applies just as much to important world-shaking events and the trivial world of video games.
I assume anyone reading this loves gaming, as I do, so it’s been agonising watching it constantly shooting itself in the foot for the last five years. If you want an image of the current console generation of gaming just think of that Simpsons clip where Sideshow Bob is constantly stepping on rakes, even though he can see them all right there on the ground.
I don’t think anyone’s happy this generation, as even though the PlayStation 5 is running away with it in terms of sales they’re not making the games, or doing any of the other things fans actually want them to do. They’re just selling hardware and that’s it. They’re an absentee console manufacturer.
I think most people accept this description of current events but for those with their head still in the sand, pretending everything is perfectly normal, we’ve been getting reports over the last few years that console use is going down but PC is going up.
This is a clear indication that what I’ve just said is having an effect on sales and player habits but one thing I do disagree with is how it’s been reported as PC gaming increasing. It’s not, console gaming is going down and the overall level of people playing games is staying the same.
Expert, exclusive gaming analysis
Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.
PCs aren’t attracting more people into gaming, but people who used to enjoy using consoles are migrating to the PC. I think the reasons for this are very obvious and Sony’s panicked response, of suddenly stopping exclusives going onto PC, shows that they never understood the dangers of doing so – even though fans like me pointed them out before they ever started.
Somehow Sony bosses couldn’t see how getting rid of the main reason anyone buys a particular console – to play its exclusives – could possibly have a negative effect. It always seemed blindly obvious to everyone else but short term profit is all these people ever care about.
So now we’re left with a gaming industry which seems horribly unhealthy compared to last generation and where the only sensible purchase choices are a Switch 2, which can’t run everything, or a PC that is more expensive than a console.
And now, to hammer things home, both Valve and Microsoft are currently making next gen ‘consoles’ which are actaully just gaming PCs with a different logo on the front. Worst of all, the first and almost only definitive thing Microsoft has said about its device is that it’ll be super expensive.
I really do think these execs are living in another world. What we need is for gaming to get cheaper, not more expensive. The PC wouldn’t seem nearly as attractive to people defecting from consoles if it wasn’t for the wider range of indie games, the free online, and the generally cheaper games.
Nintendo used to be the cheap option, as well as having the draw of their exclusives, but they haven’t got that anymore, with their games and hardware are now also very expensive, and possibly seeing an increase soon.
And that’s on top of gaming PCs becoming prohibitively expensive too, because all of these machines use basically the same components.
Everything about the industry is wrong at the moment and while a PC-only future wouldn’t be completely awful its effect on Sony and Nintendo is not going to be good. All of this could’ve been avoided if execs were a bit more sensible and forward planning was a thing that existed at these companies, but unfortunately the age of incompetence seems to have everyone in its grip.
By reader Ashton Marley
The reader’s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.
You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot.
Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you won’t need to send an email.
