Is PC gaming better than console gaming?

[TheGuyWhoKnowsStuff]

In gaming you can create and play out as any number of characters but what is the best platform?

Which is the better experience for immersion, quality of game play and entertainment value? PC or console?

PC is the best for gaming

Console is the best for gaming

Both are equally good

Y'all need to grow up and get a job

[sawno]

There is no question about it other than these days unfortunately price because of the insane GPU prices.

But PC gaming is ultimate freedom especially with games that have community servers and mods. I don't pay for multiplayer, I can change things I don't like about the games if those mods are available, add new content, etc. Then you have the largest library for anything. How many titles does the best console have? Looked it up for the PS4 and its 3346 which is actually very impressive.

PC on the other hand? More than I can count. Steam alone has 50.000 but thats just steam. I can also emulate the catalogue of other platforms and my retro collection alone spans around 10.000 titles.

But alright, lets say the hardware is getting to old for the latest games. Time to upgrade, in the console world you buy a new console. Is everything compatible with it? Probably not. You may need to rebuy some of your games just to play it on the new one, or they never release on it to begin with. Your new PC though? Existing game library just works.

Then there is input variety, keyboard and mouse guy? Go for it. Prefer your console controller? Xbox controllers work great, Playstation controllers work, I believe the switch controller works to. So now all your friends can bring their own controller for multiplayer. Want a flight stick? You can get a flight stick. Want an arcade stick? You can get an arcade stick. Want a racing wheel? I mean those exist on consoles to but its possible.

VR fanatic? Won't get better fidelity than on the PC. You can also use them for tasks beyond gaming, I enjoy running an AI on mine, I could video edit on it, do my work on it, browse the internet on it, etc.

But alright you want to play on the couch, I get that. So you hook up a streaming box that can remotely stream the games from your PC like I did with my raspberry pi. Now I have both experiences.

Prefer a handheld? The steam deck is a fantastic handheld, affordable and way more powerful than the switch. It can even emulate some switch games.

The only thing left for the console are the exclusives, except PC has more exclusives we even have entire exclusive genre's. When was the last time you played a real time strategy or mmorpg on a console?

I think I wrote way to much to drive the point home, but the point is made haha.

[HighValue]

I like console gaming much more. i like using a controller more, and I like how the games often run well more consistently.

PC gaming always costs more than console gaming. Consoles are geared to gaming so they can use more of the available power for gaming instead of so many other things. And console game companies are often willing to take a loss on the hardware in order to get people playing and buying their games. Show me a PC that is as capable as the XBSX for $350 new. None exist. Not even close.

And my consoles last MUCH longer than a PC. I can still play games on my Nintendo, Genesis, SNES, etc. from so long ago and it works well, while a PC half that age isn't likely to even be able to turn on, let alone function properly.

And I don't like always online requirements like Steam. Plus I like to keep the physical games so i will always have them. When servers get shut down, always online games that people bought just disappear.

[NamerOfStars]

In general, yes. No paying extra for multiplayer, far superior mod support, a functionally infinite variety of titles to choose from with no real manufacturer ability to restrict them, and almost absolutely ability to play older titles, too. I can run games from 1997 as well as games from yesterday.

In the long run, it's even cheaper; yes, buying new-to-new is totally in favor of consoles, but piecemeal upgrades of component parts as you need them is MUCH less expensive. Though I will note that a console is more price-controlled, and less vulnerable to spikes in costs.

And let's not forget input options: when was the last time you played a real-time strategy game on a console? There are a few, but they're generally ports of PC titles, and don't work as well without a mouse (you could design one for a controller, providing a better experience for those who use one, but I don't think anyone has). When I first played Saints Row 3, I was VERY annoyed when at one point, I ran into a fan who wanted to take a picture with me, but the context-sensitive input button changed when I got too close, and went from "take picture with fan" to "take human shield". I tried to release them, but the only way you can do that is by throwing them, so I accidentally tossed them into the path of an oncoming semi. Oops. On a keyboard- in a game designed for a keyboard- these would be different buttons, because you HAVE enough different buttons to do everything that needs doing. The only console game that dared to try something similar was Steel Battalion, which, well...

it looks awesome, but the game sold only 50,000 copies.

And if you have a PC, but prefer a console controller? We've got those, too- you can just plug one in. Possibly the very controller your console uses. And if you want to use mouse and keyboard for a different game, you can just switch over. Plus, we have the Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog:

an exact copy of the actual flight controls of the A-10, which is the result of someone saying "You know, I like that minigun, but I want one that fires bullets that can cut tanks in half", and then building a plane around it. Well, I don't have one myself, because they cost like $600, but the option's there.

[smne35]

That's funny having the photo of China, s fearless leader on there, he needs to get out on China more often see the world go to Disneyland or Vegas seriously, but I prefer console , PlayStation is my fav console, now PC gaming is more involved and offer better graphics and more detailed intense versions of games over consoles, but it's easier to buy a game pop it in and bam your playing, PC you most likely have to set it up do some programming and a week later your finally playing maybe if you programmed it correctly, but hey it's worth it, the experience is more intense than console and you have a wider audience on line to hook up with, but consoles are catching up far as graphics, and once they stop being stingy on the hard drive storage then you can really have almost same experience as PC gaming, x box tries to give you that PC gaming feel and do a good job of it, play station is just more easier to play and well you get what they give you, but over all I prefer PlayStation, I think China, s fearless leader is a PlayStation dude also

[MysticDevice]

It is far better. PC's are always more capable than console. And way easier to mod the games.

[TheGuyWhoKnowsStuff]

What about low-end PCs or outdated ones or ones that have a basic graphics card?

[MysticDevice]

I mean of course those aren't going to work very well for gaming.

Its like the difference between a playstation 5 and a nintendo switch. The playstation is without a doubt the superior console, technologywise, but the switch still works perfectly for what it was designed for.

[clampfan101]

I enjoy playing with a controller.

[sawno]

Whatever controller it is you will probably be able to plug it in a PC.

[clampfan101]

@sawno True. It’s been a long time since I’ve done that. I need a new computer. Can you also hook it up to the TV to basically make it a console?

[sawno]

Absolutely, every GPU has HDMI and there are streaming solutions to. For Android TV's for example there is the Steam Link app. You install the app and you can stream from your PC to the TV. If the TV lacks it the same can be built with a raspberry pi. But if you genuinely want to have the entire PC hooked up to the TV its as simple as plugging in the HDMI cable.

[clampfan101]

@sawno Wow. I guess the only difference for me would be which games are available? (For example Nintendo always wants to keep their games strictly on their consoles.)

[sawno]

Modded Zelda looks pretty appealing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8d6JzdKk9g4

[clampfan101]

@sawno Absolutely. Is that legal, though?

[sawno]

Debatable, bur morally acceptablen if you paid for the game.