Study shows PC gaming is now more profitable than consoles

http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/pc-games-have-surpassed-console-games-globally/033849

"PC Master Race" comment appearing in 5...4...3...2...1...

 

I blame publishers. Its much cheaper to produce copies of games for PC, you can basically self publish if you want. not so with Consoles. You either publish for cheap on an indie section of PSN or XBLA, or you have to deal with publishers that want a huge chunk of profits (30-40%). Thats not counting MS or Sony's requirements either. there should be no reason why a game costs $80 dollars now as it did in the cartridge days. Its just insane markup.

 

Large chunk of PC gaming is f2p.

Ubisoft has over 9000 employees, literally.

 

Well, there are legitimate differences between games 20 years ago and now. AAA titles back then had maybe a couple dozen people involved, now it could be over 200. Obviously a large part of that is offset by cheaper manufacturing costs (discs are damn near free, cartridges could be a few dollars apiece if Nintendo wanted them to be), but the labor costs can't be denied.

 

Well PC gaming are pretty much crap. I used to have high end PC gaming but nothing special. So I stick to my PS3 instead and never look back the master race bullshit or whatever PC gamers says.

 

PC games are where it's at. The PS3 is a pile of shit compared to even a shitty PC that can run at least Doom. So I stick to my PC while people brag about how good the PS3 or 4 is, durrrr. Also, every console is better than any Sony console in everyones opinion.

 

Of course PC games are more profitable than Console games. But which has more appeal? A computer where you have to adjust settings and parts to fit your wants, or a video game console where it's basically plug and play? Add that to the fact that most big games area literally big budget requiring millions of hours of manpower to create from inception to physical production, you can see why games cost so much. A movie takes less work in comparison. All a PC game needs is to download from Steam, using up crappy American bandwidth taking from a whole day to a two hours.

You can't go and say console games suck while you play your GTAs, Assassin's Creed, Bioshocks, and Tomb Raiders on your PCs. You think the average consumer gives a shaqfu about how to build a computer and invest in it like they would with a throwaway console? Big budget games on PC can only exist with console sales, because without the latter no publisher is going to think about even producing the damned thing in the first place.

Now, online games are a different story. They do not need the same power requirements that the big budget games do, and profit off subscription fees and microtransactions and the like. You've already seen this a few years ago with Facebook's Farmville and whatnot, so MMORPGs being profitable as sh- is not a stretch of imagination by any means.

I personally don't have the time nor patience to stay up all hours of the day and night like this guy, I have a life no matter how insignificant it may be:

 

MOBA garbage and other "free" to "play" shit is profitable because of morons, big surprise.

 

CrAzY

I can't tell either you too arrogant to see or your mind stuck between 2006 or 2008 during PS3 bad times.

PS3 is a pretty damn good system, hell I don't even need a PC when I enjoying more time playing exclusive titles on PS3. I see alot of bullshit PC gamers out there brags about how proud they own the PC gaming machines while heavily bashing on console gamers.

For example I have played Far Cry 3 on PS3 and PC and yet not much different between them even I put ultra settings on . Talking about Master race is one big pile of shit which almost makes no difference to console to begin with.

what great about console is that is no bullshit hardware upgrade.
I guess console are specifically designed for non graphics whore gamers.

back on topic

More profitable than console?
Well no shit sherlock. We already see that coming few years before that.

 

(the more i interact with this place, the more....nvm!)...
computer games or consoles?!
whichever is EASIEST to set up and play...
NOT into that mouse and keyboard bullshit, nor do i consider the wii (NAZI goostepper) remote a peripheral.
the ps3 DILDO is offensive and in the same vein as wii...for it's IDIOTIC flailing requirements!
....
this side, i'm a console gamer first and foremost.
1, consoles = steam right in!
2, computer = educational/production tool.
...
the computer games are better for the modifications and extras, but a COMPLETE SLAG on the setup depending on hardware setup? (and i can't be f*cked with that anymore)
consoles are great for firing up and jamming in the hot iron...straight away!
limited on modifications and extras compared to computers! (all this shit i'm wasting is ACADEMIC)
.....
there's NO better or worse, just each own flavour and preference!
.......
i've met just as much console gamer WANKERS as i have computer gamers! (we ALL piss in the same pot! GROW UP!)
...
[edit]
typo....

 

LoL

 

More people already own a PC, than extra gaming hardware and a TV for that matter.

 

lmfao, came in to post that very photo

I've always been a console gamer myself, i understand the many advantages of PC gaming (its kinda like vinyl and mp3/cd). But just for ease of use and the fact i can buy a game and know for sure it will run without needing upgrades/driver updates etc i much prefer consoles

 

Yeah, I was turned off as a kid during the video card wars era "Game X won't run on Video Card Y (usually the Voodoo)".

With a console I plop the game in, and it's guaranteed to work.

 

Well labor cost are already payed, the way it works is a developer gets a project from the publisher (not always so, but +-90% of AAA) that publisher pays X amount or such thing which is often based around estimated sales. And when the game is done and sold all money goes to the publisher. Of course selfpublishing is different, but not that much with AAA self publishers.

 

You have to keep in mind that computer sales have been steadily declining and there's now a growing number of people that own a tablet or smartphone and no computer.

 

True, however the developers have to quote the publisher a higher cost (to keep all the employees paid) than they would back in the day, thus the publishers have to sell more to make any profit. Obviously with most AAA titles being multiplatform and PC games (other than first party titles), they're casting as wide of a net as they can. So the publisher is giving the dev more money to make a game than they would back in the day.

Of course back in the day not many games sold over 30 million units (GTA V has 32.5 mil atm), so there is that.

 

You win! Flawless victory!
You can buy some PC games on physical or digital media too.
P.S.: My 5 Mbps Brazilian internet can download a full game (8GB) in four hours by Steam or by BitTorrent.

 

PC can win just because of two things - MMOs and things like Steam sales, GOG, Humble Bundles etc. I can buy 4-10 PC games for the price of one Wii U game and it will be games equal in budget and quality.

Consoles are better in terms of bugs and optimization though (and things were even better in offline days, developers had to actually test games before release). And you don't have to mess with hardware, OS, drivers etc.

 

PC gaming is the best experience for gaming. I understand people don't follow tech or hardware news, and don't understand or want to build a machine themselves, but it's fun.

And I can't believe people are actually hating on an open platform with a colossal library of games, and I'm not even including emulators and the amazing people who devote their free time to them, which are extremely important for preservation.