Until a decade ago, the debate between the console and the PC was focused not only on performance or price but on the number of games. Major developers don't even bother to launch some of their titles on PC, as there is an extensive user base with PS3 and Xbox 360. Also, consoles use architectures. Different from PC's x86-64, this makes it a very difficult game port controller for PC.
Changing the console architecture has changed the debate
That changed with the arrival of PS4 and Xbox One, in which both consoles use AMD x86-64 processors, like PS5 or Xbox Series X. Since then, the transfer of games on the console to PC became a lot easier and development costs were reduced by not having to understand from the beginning a console with a completely different architecture, in addition to possible performance degradation.Playing on PC was very expensive at the time of PS3 and Xbox 360. Although computers were offering much better performance, it was difficult to compete with the attractive price of consoles. With PS4 and Xbox One changed, since a year after the launch of consoles, you can build comparable PCs with a performance for the same price. With the PS5 and Xbox Series X, both companies partially rectified that, delivering performance comparable to the current high-end graphics range rather than opting to launch mid-range comparable consoles as it happened. out with PS4 and Xbox One.
With the PS5 and Xbox Series X we relive a time, from the very beginning, it would be more beneficial to buy a console directly instead of a PC. Sony and Microsoft typically sell consoles at a first loss or at a cost to compensate for other later services, such as online or the commission they receive for each game sold. Hence, depending on whether we are looking to save money in the long term or depending on the games, we will choose one or the other. We will list the advantages of each platform and draw final conclusions for each.
Advantages of playing on PC
Always up to date
PC is today's reference platform. Improvements in graphics performance or quality always come to PCs first because they are where NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel take their components first. Hence, you can test out the graphical enhancements before they finish than to the console.Free online
On the console, paid online play. Depending on the method we choose and if we find any offers, it usually costs around 45 to 60 euros a year. In 5 years we have an additional cost of 225 to 300 euros which has to be charged to the price of the console which with PC we won't have to pay since playing online is free.Cheaper games
PC games are cheaper for many reasons. One of the most important is that Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo take a percentage for every game that is sold, unpaid on PC. This is why a new cross-platform game launched on PC costs less than a console (for example, 70 euros on consoles and 55 or 60 euros on PC).Also, the price of PC games drops faster over time, with continuous offers from platforms like Epic Games, Steam. GOG or Origin left them at a ridiculous price. And we also have high competition in key stores, where any game that is several years old can be easily found for 10 or 5 euros. And even if you can't find it in any of the stores, you can always download it using a torrent.
Ingredients that you can improve whenever you want
With PS4 Pro and Xbox One X, the ban has been opened for consoles between generations, giving models with improved performance. Although with the PS5 and Xbox Series X, it doesn't seem like the same thing will happen given the immense power they'll have as standard, with PCs you can always be ready to update whenever you want.For example, you can assemble a collection of PCs with good processors and high-end graphics cards. As four years pass, if you find that there are better graphics cards on the market, you can sell what you have and buy a new one for the same price that Sony and Microsoft will try to sell you a theme. Other new consoles, similar to the way you can also sell the previous console.
Also, on PC you can improve it as you can. For example, you can mount it with 8 GB of RAM, and if you have some extra money you can buy 8 GB more, a better SSD drive, a larger capacity hard drive, etc.
Long-term savings
All previous points lead us to that, when you want to buy one or another platform, you have to analyze costs in the long term. In the first year, perhaps console with online games and games will be cheaper, but after five years, you have to pay extra cost for the games when you pay commission per game or online. With the 10 games you buy during that time and the price online, you're probably paying 350 or 400 euros extra during which time you won't pay on PC.Choose graphics quality and performance
When you place a game in the console, it adjusts to the performance it can achieve. However, we had to settle for what the company forced us to play, such as 4K at 30 FPS, when we wanted to play in Full HD at 60 FPS with better texture quality.On your PC, you can change the graphics settings to your liking depending on the resolution of the monitor or TV, as well as the frame rate it is capable of displaying. For competitive games, it's better to be able to play at 144 or 240 Hz versus 60, and consoles won't go beyond 120 Hz since they're made to sync at that frequency, which is the dark 4K TVs display today.
Also, on PCs, load times are a thing of the past, although luckily the Xbox Series X and PS5 have changed that and offer serial SSDs.
Play with any controller
If you don't manage with a mouse and keyboard, on a PC, you can use any controller to play, be it Xbox One, PS3, PS4, etc. In fact, if you use Xbox One, almost all games automatically detect it and you can automatically hang out with it spontaneously without complicating your life. In the console, you are forced to use yes or yes commands. Plus, on your PC, you can combine the controls for multiplayer play with whatever your friends bring.Play on TV or mobile remotely
The console is usually connected to the TV, while the computer is rarely next to it. On the PC, there are more and more solutions for remote play. In our private homes, we can use Steam Link, In-Home Streaming, or NVIDIA Shield, so we can play without lag in the local network on mobile devices, tablets, or even on our Smart TVs if we have Samsung app from Steam Link. With this, you have the added advantage of not hearing the console or PC noise on the TV, since we will have the PC in another room.Backward compatibility and more games and emulators
Although Microsoft has taken a huge step forward with the Xbox One X and Sony with the PS5, the kings with backward compatibility are still PCs. We can run decades of old games without using emulators. Once you have it in your Steam account, Epic Store, or any other store, you can play it forever without fear of whether the next generation of consoles will no longer be compatible.With the Xbox Series X and PS5, backward compatibility has naturally improved, as both consoles share the same architecture as their predecessors, a fact that has never happened so far in the Game console history of both companies. With new consoles, it is possible to order a game from the previous ones, and play it, also adapting graphics with the same power if the developers released a patch for it.
However, on PC, the number of games available is larger and more varied, in which we also have emulators for practically playing all the games and consoles of the 20th century and even Part of the 21st century with the PS2 emulators or advanced games that are the PS3 version. Besides, PC also has great exclusive games played by millions of people, like Dota 2, LoL, CS: GO, Arma III, Team Fortress 2, etc.
Forget about the physical format
On PC, the physical format is a thing of the past, as all games are purchased in digital format. As a result, the game is always updated and doesn't have to wait for the console to update. This is as a partner we cannot sell the games, but considering how cheap they are if we get a good offer it doesn't matter much.mods
Modifying the graphical aspect is what is done in most games. Titles like Skyrim or The Witcher 3 are among the best examples of how much a game can be improved on a graphic or game level. You cannot change the games on the console.You may need or already have a PC
Ultimately, it's important to note, if you're on a tight budget, you're probably interested in buying a computer to play with. If you're a college student and you're always on the go, a gaming laptop can come in handy since you combine the best of both worlds, and you'll always need a PC to function anyway. Also, it's always easier to buy a working computer and to get a little extra money is playable too, as it is easier for your loved ones to understand if you explain that you'll save money.
Advantages of playing on console
Exclusive games
Playing on console also has its advantages, and one of them is exclusive gaming. Microsoft has fully and fully opened for PC from Xbox One X, allowing cross-play and enjoyment of a PC or Xbox game regardless of which platform we buy it on whenever we do it in the store it's online.In Sony's case, the company was more discreet with its titles, being their first game to be one of the biggest offers to buy them, such as jewels created by Naughty Dog. . However, Sony is opening up more and more to PC, where they decided to launch Horizon Zero Dawn as the first test to see the advantages the platform can bring them. However, for now, many of their exclusive products are still only available on their consoles, and if you want to play them you'll be forced to buy them.
Easier to use
One obvious fact is that the console is designed to turn it on, configure it with a few parameters, insert a game, and start playing. A PC requires knowledge when configuring parts, as well as assembling, installing the operating system, and configuring. If you like to play around and set things to your liking, the PC is better, but the console's simplicity excels if you don't have a lot of time to configure your gaming platform.What do your friends have?
Despite progress in cross-gameplay in titles like Rocket League, Fortnite, or Call of Duty, there's still a need for the same console for many popular titles like FIFA.Your previous console games are worth it
Backward compatibility, as we said at the PC point, has improved significantly with the PS5 and Xbox Series X, to the point where you can order games from consoles first and play them. With this, you don't need to sell your existing collection, which you'll have to do if you're looking to make the leap from console to PC; Although if you are starting from scratch that is not a factor to consider.You can resell your game
The physical format has the advantage that it allows you to sell the game after you've finished or stopped playing with it, allowing you to offset a portion of the high initial cost. Even so, what you pull out of a game by reselling it is what you'll likely save if you buy the game in some offers on PC on the assumption that you buy it on a console.Unified community
Although most of your friends are usually on Steam, more and more gaming platforms like Epic Store, Origin, or Battle.net are available, so you have to control them all to see which friends are online to play with them. On the console, the friend's list is unique to all games.conclusion
The PC has been a better platform to play on than consoles for over a decade. There are many advantages provided by this platform, including a wider variety of games, better graphics, more flexibility to play where and with the controls you want, and also no looking to make money every month. when playing online. In turn, it's a more complex platform to set up from scratch, but then the lasting results pay off, plus you learn a lot in the process.The best thing is that you can have a pair of PCs and consoles; especially if this is PlayStation. After all, what matters is where your friends play and what game you will be playing. If you like Sony exclusives, you'll have to buy a PlayStation. However, buying an Xbox might not make up for it since all of its games are available on a PC, and aside from not missing anything on your computer, you'll have the added advantage of having a computer.