PC Games Will Outsell Consoles by 2014

[Greg Tito]

PC Games Will Outsell Consoles by 2014

With a clear horse in the race, nVidia think current trends will place PC games software sales atop consoles.

In my heart, I am a PC gamer. My hands and arse are much more comfortable sitting in an office chair and tickling a mouse and keyboard versus a sweaty game controller. Watching the decline of the PC as the chief gaming platform among the young has been disappointing. Recent analysis of sales data by PC graphics processor manufacturer nVidia, however, seems to point to a heartening trend. If current growth continues, PC games are set to outsell their console brethren by fiscal year 2014 and nVidia cites ever-expanding GPU capability and the further growth of downloadable markets like Steam, Impulse and GOG.

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In 2008, despite huge hits like WoW dominating the PC market, the picture was quite bleak. Console games earned nearly 50 percent more revenue than PC game titles did and PC software sales only made a modest climb in 2009. In 2010 though, PC games sales skyrocketed by almost $4 billion and independent research group DFC Intelligence predicts that growth will continue.

nVidia think that its GPUs are big reason why PCs are the platform of choice for so many of us. Granted, I like the idea of beefing up my system incrementally instead of waiting for the next console cycle, but I don't think that's the major strength that's driving growth.

Freedom is what PC gamers love. On your PC, you can purchase a game from anywhere you like, whether from a downloadable source or from the brick-and-mortar store. You are also free to communicate however you like with your gaming partners, whether by running Skype or Ventrilo in the background or using your chosen peripheral. On the console, you have to use their system and pay a premium price for their proprietary stuff.

But the real freedom comes from the open platform of the PC, allowing the customer to freely mod and adapt software or hardware to their liking. That kind of freedom drives innovation - how many times have you heard a game designer say that they learned their craft from modding? When you try to mod your console though, you end up getting sued [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/108693-UPDATE-PS3-Hacker-GeoHot-Claims-Hes-on-Vacation].

I don't necessarily believe that the growth of PC game sales will continue rising quite so high, but I welcome the emergence of the so-called middle class of PC game publishers out there. Publishers like Paradox who know how to leverage the benefits of the platform into making games that utilize it best will hopefully drive the industry into a new Golden Age of PC Gaming.

Source: Techgage

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[Woodsey]

Is there any particular reason two platforms are always pitted against one?

Because when its estimated that the majority of sales on the PC are now through digital downloads, which aren't specifically tracked, and you then pit two platforms against another solely on retail sales, its all a bit... retarded.

 

[CezarIgnat]

Interesting! While I don't think predicting that far in the future is very accurate, it's nice to see that the PC is not dying. I'm happy my favorite platform is still in the game (pun intended) and might even be winning in the future.

 

[Reaper195]

Is there any particular reason two platforms are always pitted against one?

So people with the one they're pitting against the other feel special and can try and justify it. In the end, it doesn't matter whether console beats PC or vise versa. Decent video games these days are far and few between.

 

[ZippyDSMlee]

I can see it for all games sold via digital distribution (minus whats sold on the consoles via DLC) but B-AAA games will sell the most on the consoles...

 

[Ickorus]

The 00's were merely a setback!

On a serious note I hope this means less shitty console ports.

 

[vrbtny]

This is all fair and well, but I get the feeling that the figures are somewhat screwed up by the fact there hasn't been a new console generation in..... ages.

There hasn't been any really compelling reasons for people to buy consoles for quite a few years now(kinect and Move hoi-hoi), and with everyone saying "OMG consoles are so outdated!" people are generally recommending not to get consoles now, because in a few years they will be surpassed.

 

[Rawne1980]

I think most of us that game on PC's know it's no where near dying the horrible death people keep saying it is (and have been saying for the past 20 years ... change the record people).

What is slowly fading into obscurity are well made games on the PC.

Think about how many games a year come out and how many of those you actually buy and enjoy.

Then think about how many of those games have been shitty ports and more or less unplayable until the patches start rolling out to fix the fuck ups that should have been dealt with before releasing it (Rockstar, i'm looking at you. Your GTA games and Bully were the pinnacle of shit ports). If LA Noire doesn't run like a dream on my machine after it's taken them this long to move it over to PC then i'm going to throw very angry looks in Rockstars direction.

Sorry, trailed off a bit there.

PC games have always sold well regardless of the over dramatic "PC is dying" shit that some people throw around. However we do get an awful lot, far too many to be fair, absolute shite ports.

 

[emeraldrafael]

Cool story bro?

But, does it really matter? I mean, really does it? I dont see why there has to be the constant debate about which is better PC or Console. Eventually, we'll get to the point where both are won and it will pretty much be a monopoly on the new system.

Then the "master race" will have to associate with us Serfs and Dregs of the world and realize that they're no longer the superior, and that those who do think that way will only be hipster.

EDIT:

...

Besides, as long as sales are sales and are on the surplus side and not a constant digging yourself into the hole side, then Im happy, cause it means finally attempting to right the financial wrong in the world.

 

[fix-the-spade]

Hooray! Long may the death of my gaming platform continue!

In 2008, despite huge hits like WoW dominating the PC market, the picture was quite bleak.

If I remember rightly, didn't the picture in 2008 fail to account (or even acknowledge) digital distribution and sales on platforms like Steam?

 

[RatRace123]

Can't we all just get along and accept our mutual love of games no matter what platform they're on?

No, shame.

It doesn't really matter to me which thing sells more, as long as there's always a variety of things to play games on, I'll be happy.

Though I think the sudden surge in PC sales is more due to the increasing prevalence of digital distribution. Not to mention facebook or any other sites like it.
The world is becoming increasing hooked up to the internet, and the PC is still the machine that has the greatest level of internet access. We're living in the digital age, I've still yet to decide if that's for the best or not.

 

[Ghengis John]

Is there any particular reason two platforms are always pitted against one?

Because when its estimated that the majority of sales on the PC are now through digital downloads, which aren't specifically tracked, and you then pit two platforms against another solely on retail sales, its all a bit... retarded.

This man, he constantly forces me to agree with him by saying what I was thinking without taking 1000 words to say it (as I do).

Tito, why must you be such a partisan, don't you see holding a distinction is well, silly?

 

[Mr. Omega]

I see two paragraphs of the news actual report, and 4 paragraphs of gushing over how amazing PC Gaming is and how it's sooooo much better than console gaming.

OT: Well that's all well and good. Here's me not giving a damn. Now when they make an actually decent, cheap and accessable gaming laptop, then I'll interested in PC Gaming.

 

[Woodsey]

I think most of us that game on PC's know it's no where near dying the horrible death people keep saying it is (and have been saying for the past 20 years ... change the record people).

What is slowly fading into obscurity are well made games on the PC.

Think about how many games a year come out and how many of those you actually buy and enjoy.

Then think about how many of those games have been shitty ports and more or less unplayable until the patches start rolling out to fix the fuck ups that should have been dealt with before releasing it (Rockstar, i'm looking at you. Your GTA games and Bully were the pinnacle of shit ports). If LA Noire doesn't run like a dream on my machine after it's taken them this long to move it over to PC then i'm going to throw very angry looks in Rockstars direction.

Sorry, trailed off a bit there.

PC games have always sold well regardless of the over dramatic "PC is dying" shit that some people throw around. However we do get an awful lot, far too many to be fair, absolute shite ports.

I think it ebbs and flows.

You go through some periods where everything feels like its been ported by a 5-year-old using his etch-a-sketch, and others where everything seems dandy. Right now its closer to the dandy side of things; a lot of developers are - at the very least - paying attention to the sheer amount of power PCs have compared to the consoles, if not making use of it as best they can on a multi-platform release.

OT: Well that's all well and good. Here's me not giving a damn. Now when they make an actually decent, cheap and accessable gaming laptop, then I'll interested in PC Gaming.

How often do you actually look for one?

 

[Fujor]

I see two paragraphs of the news actual report, and 4 paragraphs of gushing over how amazing PC Gaming is and how it's sooooo much better than console gaming.

OT: Well that's all well and good. Here's me not giving a damn. Now when they make an actually decent, cheap and accessable gaming laptop, then I'll interested in PC Gaming.

£400 got my a laptop capable of playing ARMA 2 on high at a great frame rate, no lagging and rapid load times.

PC gaming is quite accessible. but if you want something with serious power you'll want to spend big.

that being said a new console generation is needed pretty desperately. Because PC's really are streets ahead (and getting too big for their boots!)

 

[gabe12301]

The 00's were merely a setback!

On a serious note I hope this means less shitty console ports.

I just tried to smash your avatar lol

But i'm hoping publishers and devs will start seeing the value of the PC and start working harder to appease those who use it. like not releasing the glitchy development version of the game through steam.I'm looking at you dead island.

 

[Ironic Pirate]

Is there any particular reason two platforms are always pitted against one?

So people with the one they're pitting against the other feel special and can try and justify it. In the end, it doesn't matter whether console beats PC or vise versa. Decent video games these days are far and few between.

Decent video games have always been few and far between.

Anyway, cool? Fucking nVidia saying PCs are the shit and will outsell consoles isn't exactly the most newsworthy event. In other news, hipster likes Pitchfork and Valve says digital downloads are the way of the future.

Although I guess they have graphs and shit, which adds some legitimacy to the proceedings.

 

[GrizzlerBorno]

Woohoo! You show 'em nVidia!! I'm going to rabidly defend you cause I....paid you money. Wait what?

 

[CBanana]

I'm more of a PC gamer than anything else but even I believe that new consoles will be developed before 2014 which will nip any such trend in the bud.