The average gamer has never had an easier time finding ways to play the latest video games, along with classic titles they might have enjoyed during their younger days.
Between consoles, computers, streaming services, handheld consoles, and smartphones, the options are endless when it comes to gaming.
Whether you want to try cross platform gaming or are curious about which setup is the best value for money, you may be curious about the one machine that can rule all as far as gaming is concerned.
The ultimate show-down from a gaming perspective always comes down to the latest generation of consoles, such as the PlayStation and Xbox, and computers.
Below is a guide that explains whether you should invest in a gaming PC or buy a console in 2022.
PC Wins On Versatility and Sheer Power
Gamers who are searching for versatility in a machine cannot do better than investing in a gaming computer. When you have a PC, you can play titles that came out a few weeks ago as easily as those that were released 20 years ago.
Computer gamers also find that accessing titles at lower prices is a lot easier, as they can buy games from various online stores such as Steam or GOG. PC titles also seem to go on sale more often than console versions, which means people spend less on games in the long run if they own a gaming computer.
Another area where the PC is champion is sheer power. If you have a nearly unlimited budget, you can invest in a powerful PC that can blow away anything consoles can throw at it. Not only are such computers capable of running the latest games at 1440p120fps or 2160p120fps, but they can also handle productivity tasks with ease.
Console Games Are Coming to Computers
One of the issues that PC players had in the past was that console titles were inaccessible to them. Over the past few years, Xbox has changed how players can enjoy their favorite console-exclusive titles through its relationship with Windows. Given both brands are owned by Microsoft, the unification was inevitable.
Gamers can now access Xbox titles from their computer, allowing them to buy a title on the Xbox store or access it through the Xbox subscription services and then play the game on their PC. They can even resume playing the same title on a console, should they wish to do so.
Accessing PlayStation exclusives on computers is a lot trickier. Still, there are game streaming services that allow people who own a PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 to play those games via their computer, smartphone, or tablet.
Another boost for PC gamers is the advent of streaming services, where you can sign up for a service, choose the games you want to play, and then stream them onto your desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone through a powerful server. Services such as Nvidia GeForce Now and Google Stadia are allowing gamers to experience the latest releases on older computers that may not otherwise have the hardware necessary to run the game at high settings.
Consoles Win on Price
Price is the one area where computers cannot catch up to consoles. If anything, matters have trended in the opposite direction in the past year or two.
A shortage of graphics cards, along with the advent of cryptocurrency mining, means that buying a high-end card is a lot more expensive than it was in 2018 or 2019.
The best consoles from Microsoft and Sony cost roughly $500 and are often available for a lower price through sales. Building a comparable PC in 2022 could easily cost double the money.
Consoles typically come down even further in price during the holidays, while companies also regularly sell bundles of consoles and games. If you have a television and want to start gaming, buying a console is frequently the cheapest entry into this market.
Do You Need a Computer Regardless?
When comparing a gaming computer to a console, players must ask themselves if they need a laptop or desktop regardless of where they play games. Perhaps you are in college, working in a field where you require a computer or require one for a hobby such as photography and video editing.
Buying a console and a computer is often more expensive than buying a gaming PC. Whether you are looking at laptops or pre-built desktops, you can find some fantastic deals on computers with top-tier graphics cards throughout the year.
If you are set on buying a desktop computer for work, school, or hobbies, you can easily upgrade it to gaming PC status by investing in a graphics card. The best graphics cards are more expensive in 2022, but you can still buy one at a lower price than the top tier Xbox or PlayStation consoles.
Is There Another Alternative?
Everyone gets wrapped up in the war between the latest generation of consoles and high-end gaming computers, which leads them to ignore other options.
The Nintendo Switch is an outstanding console that you can play on the go or connected to a television. While it lacks in sheer power, it makes up for any shortcomings with an outstanding collection of exclusive games.
Even smartphone gaming has come on in leaps and bounds in the past few years. Many of the best mobile games are now a match for console titles.
Understand Your Circumstances
Everyone’s situation is unique when it comes to building the ultimate gaming setup. If you have a great job, do not have many other hobbies that require heavy spending, and want to have the best experience, a PC is still the way to go.
When you have a high-end computer, you can play nearly every game in the world. The vast majority of top-tier games are available on PC, while you can even play Xbox titles natively on your setup.
However, those who are on a budget are better off investing in the latest generation of PlayStation or Xbox consoles. The console you choose would likely depend on what exclusive games you care about the most.
