Analysts predict sizable PC gamer migration to consoles

[Percy1983]

On the controller front, I am a PC gamer who doesn't use keyboard and mouse (past to launch games)...

As it is I don't play anything online so it doesn't bother me.

[DemonHighwayman]

My steam library is too big for me to consider migrating to console, if I had a TV i'd certainly think about a dabble in the console life again.

[aidanjt]

I'll pass on the peasantry, thanks all the same.

[Rubarb]

I think this is the only reason people may give up pc's for consoles is the price and the way its going with GPU's it could be true.

Websites like this are also to blame in some way also, take the gtx1650 review (6 out of 10 stars... work that one out?), no mention of say a ....gtx970 having the same power and you can get these 2nd hand atm for about 80 quid, hel for the same money you could even manage to get a 2nd 980.

I just wish they where honest and say actually if you this or better don't upgrade.

[kalniel]

Websites like this are also to blame in some way also, take the gtx1650 review (6 out of 10 stars... work that one out?)

I'm trying to, but I didn't know Hexus gave star ratings. All I see is 'Hexus approved' which if you know Hexus ratings isn't much of a recommendation.

no mention of say a ....gtx970 having the same power and you can get these 2nd hand atm for about 80 quid, hel for the same money you could even manage to get a 2nd 980.

I just wish they where honest and say actually if you this or better don't upgrade.

Hexus do often add a note whether a card is worth replacing or not, but the point of new card reviews isn't to compare them to second hand cards most of the time since supply, pricing and quality are all factors outside of the scope of the review.

[markzero]

Lolno. The only reason why I'd buy a console right now is if I suddenly decided I needed a BR player and got a better deal than... you know what, I can't even make that argument either. I'm disappointed at missing out on some console exclusives like the Persona series, but I'll live. Maybe pick them up on clearance eventually, but I still don't have anything newer than a PS2 and a 360 so probably not soon. Even then I wouldn't be moving to them.

[tparmenter]

Analysts predicted Hillary as president...

[TooNice]

As others have stated, you would need to own 2-3 of them to be able to get all the exclusives.

I am not sure how that argument work.. it's not like the PC has those exclusives, so you would effectively give up those exclusives unless/until they decide to make a PC port (which vary from great to terrible). Of course, likewise, there are some PC exclusives too.

---------------------

Despite what I said above, I will remain primarily a PC (more specifically, a notebook) gamer. I am still moving too often (3 continents per year) to justify having anything I can't take with me on a plane, or anything that is only used for gaming. A laptop though has other use than gaming, and I can take it around. Might not be as good as when I had a gaming desktop, or when I was playing single player console games on a large projector screen.. but sometime you just have to make adjustments for the life you've chosen.

If it was practical (financially, logistically, and sensible time wise), I would have a console and a gaming PC so that I have access to any exclusives. And those I do lean toward mouse and keyboard -overall-, there are definitely genres (etc. fighting games), where a joypad/stick trumps M&K in my book.

[Spud1]

Personally I don't think well see a "Migration" as such until consoles fix their control issues and provide a viable input method for FPS/MMO type games.

I own a high end gaming PC and an Xbox One X (plus a switch for on the go gaming), and I use them for different games.

FPS, MMO and "competitive" games are all played on my PC...predominately because playing an FPS game with a controller is a horrible experience, and whilst you can deal with that for single player games, it's pretty janky trying to play PUBG or Doom on a controller.

3rd person action/adventue/story games though, I play almost exclusively on my Xbox. Allows me to play in 4k on the big screen and just relax into the game - and most of those games just work better on a controller. Examples are Tomb Raider, GTAV, Red Dead Redepmtion 2 (which is a console only atm, but principle is the same).

Console controllers have not really evolved for 18 years - whether you use a switch, xbox, playstation, steamlink..they all have the same basic controller concept which is fundamentally flawed for FPS/fast action games, but works well enough as a compromise. The hope is that this compromise will finally be removed at some point and we'll have a controller that allows you to play FPS games etc with a similar level of accuracy and fluidity to a keyboard/mouse (without nasty concepts like auto aim/aim assist...which exist purely as a result of this compromise!).

Believe me that I would be very happy to not have a gaming PC and just have a console - but at the moment there are too many compromises for my favourite gaming genre for me to stick to it as my only way of gaming.

[cheesemp]

Its a tough one. I've always been a PC gamer who buys the odd console (usually towards the end of generation to play a few exclusives) however since becoming a dad money and time (even more so) has been in short supply. The time it takes just to kick off a few updates every few weeks I get to turn my PC eats into the limited time I have. When you add in the fact that something like xbox game pass lets me download hundreds of games straight to my console when I'm at work which will then just work I am beginning to see myself as more a console gamer. Whether this will change permanently or not who can say but its pretty convenient and cheap with something like game pass. I'm sure we had similar arguments at the advent of Netflix whether Bluray/DVD was dead...

[rich835]

As so many have already said, the main thing for me is the controller. I just can't get on with them.

It also probably depends on the type of games you play. If you need to research while playing, alt-tab to the browser is another good reason, chat features, discord etc, are all things where the PC wins hands down.

[Spreadie]

"Analysts predict" is what is wrong with that article. Analysts predicted thunderstorms in my town yesterday, and they have weather-mapping super computers but they were wrong too.

A bunch of no-marks making a clickbait guess is not worth publishing.

[fsxfan]

I used to have a combination of both - PC in an upstairs office for sim racing and a PS4/Xbox downstairs for gaming on the sofa. I got rid of the consoles and replaced them with another PC, although my gaming is exclusively single player and the titles I play work perfectly with a controller. Part of the fun of owning a PC is building it and upgrading it, consoles just don't do it for me.

[DanceswithUnix]

Its a tough one. I've always been a PC gamer who buys the odd console (usually towards the end of generation to play a few exclusives) however since becoming a dad money and time (even more so) has been in short supply. The time it takes just to kick off a few updates every few weeks I get to turn my PC eats into the limited time I have. When you add in the fact that something like xbox game pass lets me download hundreds of games straight to my console when I'm at work which will then just work I am beginning to see myself as more a console gamer. Whether this will change permanently or not who can say but its pretty convenient and cheap with something like game pass. I'm sure we had similar arguments at the advent of Netflix whether Bluray/DVD was dead...

I get the same with my PS3, it seems every time I switch it on it requires an update. I don't think any of these platforms are ideal for casual gamers.

OTOH as a dad I now get two more PCs to maintain as the kids require a PC to do some of their homework. Which means they have PCs, so they game on them.

As long as kids who want to play games are basically forced to have a PC for school I can't see any big decline in PC gaming.

[nattydread69]

I don't see why you have to be one or the other, why not own both?
The benefits of consoles are:
* near 4k graphics at a fraction of the price
* exclusive games
* A huge second hand market of cheap physical disks
The benefits of PC are
* keyboard and mouse control
* RPG, strategy games etc.
I love my linux gaming PC and my PS4 pro, I wouldn't live without either of them.

[Ttaskmaster]

Console controllers have not really evolved for 18 years - whether you use a switch, xbox, playstation, steamlink..they all have the same basic controller concept which is fundamentally flawed for FPS/fast action games, but works well enough as a compromise.

And yet controllers are often far superior for driving and flying games, beat-'em-ups, and many arcade type games, without having to buy joysticks and steering wheels and so on.
This is why The Good Lord invented the PC-compatible Xbox controller!

I don't see why you have to be one or the other, why not own both?

Some of us have limited space... which, as I understand it, is one reason why consoles were invented. Something about living space being at a premium in Japan?

The benefits of PC are

Don't forget all the non-gaming functions of a PC...