A Decade of Gaming on PCs: The Journey from Traditional to Digital.
Ten years ago, if you thought of gaming you likely thought of consoles like the Sony PlayStation or Xbox, or even more traditional arcade-style games like Pac-Man or Donkey Kong. The idea of gaming on a personal computer (PC) was just beginning to catch on, and with it came a whole new world of possibilities. Fast forward to the present day and the mobile marketplace is rife with PC games, the PC gaming market is growing steadily and the technology in PCs has changed immensely over the last decade.
To mark this decade of PC gaming, let’s take a look at the various ways it has changed, what brought it to today’s level of popularity, and what we can expect from the future of PC gaming.
First, let’s examine how technology advances have made PC gaming much more accessible. Ten years ago, to enjoy a PC game you either had to build a powerful computer or purchase a gaming-specific desktop. This is still the case for modern enthusiast-level gaming PCs, but the cost of entry for casual gaming has dropped significantly due to advancements in graphics technology. This is largely thanks to graphics process unit (GPU) innovations from both AMD and Nvidia, and each year the two companies compete with one another to create more powerful GPUs at more budget-friendly prices.
GPUs aren’t the only component that has changed to make PC gaming more accessible. Computer components such as Random Access Memory (RAM) and solid state drives (SSDs) have also become faster, more efficient, and more reliable, thereby allowing for smoother gaming experiences. On top of that, faster internet connections have allowed for better online gaming experiences and larger game downloads.
Before we move on, let’s take a look at some of the biggest changes to PC gaming over the past decade. One of the biggest changes has been the move to digital distribution. In the past, PC gamers would have to find and purchase physical copies of their games, or wait a few days for online orders to arrive. Nowadays, there are a multitude of digital distribution platforms such as Steam, Origin, Epic Games Store, and GOG, where gamers can purchase or download games and access patches, bonus content, and game updates. Additionally, the growing popularity of subscription-based services like Xbox Game Pass for PC and EA Access are allowing gamers to save money by subscribing.
Another key advancement has been the growing importance of account and economy systems. These systems make buying games easier and more secure since purchases are associated with your account, plus they allow for features such as microtransactions. These microtransactions and economy systems are also allowing game developers to generate revenue from events and limited-time items. They also make it easy to cross-platform purchases, as games bought on one platform can be easily accessed on other devices with the same account.
Like any technology, PC gaming has also been heavily influenced by advancements in software. Most significantly, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has allowed for smarter and more varied gaming experiences. AI development has been on an upward trajectory over the past decade and this has allowed for experiences that range from smart NPCs to personalised gaming recommendations based on your past play styles.
The influence of cloud computing is also being increasingly felt in the PC gaming space. With cloud computing, games can fully take advantage of the hardware resources of a remote server to deliver better performance, reduced lag, and a smoother experience. This reduces the need for players to spend a large amount of money on a gaming PC and allows for more complex and visually stunning experiences.
Finally, the last big advancement for PC gaming has been the ability for indie developers to create amazing games without the need for a large budget. The last decade has seen a huge spike in the number of independent developers creating games for PC, thanks to their newfound access to powerful engines such as Unity and Unreal Engine 4. Additionally, platforms such as Steam and itch.io have made releasing and selling indie games much easier, and gamers now have access to more unique, experimental, and narrative-driven experiences than they ever have before.
The last decade has seen a huge growth in the PC gaming industry, and 2019 is set to be another big year for PC gamers. We’re likely to see more graphical advances with the release of new GPUs from AMD and Nvidia, more subscription-based services, and continued growth in the availability of indie titles. Additionally, thanks to advances in cloud computing gaming PCs could potentially become even more powerful, allowing for near-console-level gaming experiences.
No matter what direction the industry takes, one thing is certain: PC gaming is here to stay, and it is continuing to redefine the way we interact with our digital worlds.
The Journey from Traditional to Digital: A Decade of PC Gaming.