The PC Gaming Revolution: A Comprehensive Overview.
For gamers around the world, the concept of a PC gaming revolution isn’t wild speculation anymore. It’s a reality. Over the past decade, the PC gaming industry has been experiencing an unprecedented level of renewal, particularly with the advent of subscription-based PC gaming services such as Steam and Origin. With these services, gamers can more conveniently access a wide array of titles that they usually wouldn’t be able to purchase at brick and mortar stores. What’s more, subscription-based gaming services such as Steam and Origin have long offered deals that make purchasing games much more affordable. In this post, we’ll discuss the current state of the PC gaming industry and its implications for gamers everywhere.
Before delving into what’s currently driving the PC gaming revolution, it’s important to first understand its history. For most of the 1990s and 2000s, the PC gaming industry was largely defined by retail availability. Dedicated gaming stores like EB Games (now GameStop) offered a wide assortment of titles for the PC, ranging from classic strategy games like Command & Conquer to shooter titles like Unreal Tournament. Such games usually retailed at steep prices, however, to the point where many gamers were put off from making the purchase. As a result, the PC gaming industry slumped as gamers had no choice but to resort to renting games instead.
The next major development in the PC gaming revolution can be traced back to the mid-2000s and the launch of digital distribution services. These services changed the game in a myriad of ways and helped unite gamers across the world. With services such as Steam and Origin, gamers no longer faced the restrictive costs associated with traditional retail outlets. What’s more, these services often offered bundles of titles for low prices, allowing gamers to purchase multiple games for a fraction of what they would have paid in a store. Within hours, these services could even update existing titles with patches and bug fixes, ensuring that gamers experienced the best possible version of a game without the need for an expansion pack. As a result, the PC gaming industry experienced a long-overdue revival.
Fast-forward to the present day and it’s clear the digital distribution services have allowed for a massive shift in the PC gaming industry. Subscription-based services are now all the rage, with gamers around the world signing up to access game bundles that feature hundreds of titles. Services such as Ubisoft’s Uplay also allow gamers to access exclusive content, as well as receive discounts on certain titles. With such deals and a vast selection of games to choose from, subscription-based services are undoubtedly driving the PC gaming revolution.
In addition to subscription-based services, the PC gaming revolution has also been driven by an increase in hardware sales. 2017 saw the release of Intel’s 8th generation ‘Coffee Lake’ processors, allowing for higher graphical fidelity and a smoother gaming experience. AMD’s Ryzen processors, released earlier this year, are also breaking ground by offering excellent performance at a significantly lower cost than their Intel counterparts. Graphics cards too have been undergoing remarkable changes, with more efficient and powerful models featuring larger and more sophisticated cooling systems. With such advances, PC gamers can expect to experience games with a level of graphics quality that was unimaginable several years ago.
There are other noteworthy trends happening in the PC gaming space as well. Online gaming, for instance, has seen a significant rise in recent years. While such gaming requires an Internet connection, the increased power and capabilities of PCs now make it possible for online gamers to experience the same level of performance as console players. This is particularly noticeable of the MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) genre, with games like League of Legends and Dota 2 giving PC gamers the ability to compete against console players on a level playing field.
Finally, virtual reality is driving the PC gaming revolution as well. Featuring glasses and infra-red sensors, VR headsets such as the HTC Vive and the Oculus Rift allow gamers to enter a variety of immersive worlds. While the cost of such headsets is still relatively high, their increasing popularity among gamers (particularly among the younger crowd) is sure to drive their price down in the near future.
The PC gaming revolution is an undeniable reality. With more gamers around the world accessing digital distribution services, enjoying discounts on game bundles, and experiencing the effects of improved hardware, it’s no wonder why PC gaming is no longer an alternative to console gaming. With the right hardware, subscription package and game selection, PC gamers now have the same level of access as console gamers – but with the added benefits of convenience, comfort and cost-effectiveness. It’s safe to say that the PC gaming industry is stronger than ever, and we can’t wait to continue experiencing this revolution for years to come.