Is computer gaming becoming obsolete ( I don't think so )

There are many reasons that PC gaming is increasingly popular.

The ease with which one can build a PC, compared to years past means there is a lower barrier to entry than there used to be.

Additionally building a PC offers the ability to make incremental upgrades, often at a lower individual cost than purchasing a whole new console, albeit probably not cheaper overall.

The ability to upgrade components allows PC users to take advantage of newer hardware as opposed to consoles which are typically running the same hardware for 5-10 years. This means PC gaming can often have improved performance when compared to consoles.

Even with console makers now offering “half-step" revisions like the XBOX One X and PS4 Pro, developers are still required to ensure that the games are able to be played on base model platforms. This means that the improved performance of these higher end models will still (typically) pale in comparison to the performance on higher end computers.

On the other end of the PC hardware spectrum, gaming on cheaper computers has been more relevant than ever. Games like Minecraft and Fortnite have been optimized to run on pretty much anything, meaning that even a cheap laptop is capable of playing popular games.

Digital distribution platforms like Steam have made it easier than ever to purchase and install games on the PC.

Potential savings on games is another major appeal to people looking to switch to PC, with sales frequently offering unbelievable discounts. I have purchased a lot of games for literal pennies on the dollar.

This isn't even a complete list, but I would say there are already a lot of compelling reasons to get into PC gaming, so I can see why you would think everyone would be eager to make the switch.

However as I said I don't think consoles are going anywhere anytime soon. So why not?

Let's begin with simplicity. While building your own PC has gotten easier over the years it still much easier to go to the store and pick up a console that is ready to power on and go. Not everyone has the capacity to assemble their own PC, and even people who do may just not want to. For the casual gamer that only plays a few games a year, the idea of building a PC may be more hassle than it's worth. True you can still just go buy a PC as well, but then the cost becomes a factor.

While the incremental upgrades offered to PC gamers can definitely be a cost effective way to continue playing the latest games, the operative word here is “upgrade”. Replacing one component here and another there is often cheaper than buying a console. But if you are looking at a complete PC build from scratch, the price to performance ratio is generally in favor of consoles.

Going back to the simplicity aspect of console gaming for a moment, we can discuss what is arguably the biggest reason console gaming is still very much relevant: kids. Children are a key demographic in the video game market. Granted setting up a console is a little more complex than it use to be, but it is nothing compared to the process of setting up a PC for gaming. Not to mention it is much easier to accidentally screw something up on a PC, you're far less likely to get a virus on your console for example.

So when your shopping for kids, it's easy to see how a gaming console makes more sense. Speaking of shopping, let's talk about the power of branding.

Outside of the enthusiast community, how many people do you think are familiar with AsRock, MSI, or G. Skill. Meanwhile Nintendo has been a household name for over 30 years. The point being it is much easier for the average, let's say grandparent, to identify Nintendo as the video game company.

Really this is what it all boils down to. While looking at it from the perspective of an enthusiast, it's easy to see why so many people are inclined to make the switch to PC. But the thing to bear in mind is that, they only represent a portion of people buying and playing games, and for the rest the market, console gaming is still very much a viable option.

Furthermore I don't think consoles are going anywhere for one simple reason. Money. Video games are a multi million dollar industry and Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo have a vested interest continuing to sell consoles. As long as there is money to be made, they are going to continue working on ways to make money off of video games.

This is where things get interesting as I believe these companies are going to start looking at more creative ways to sell you products. For example, all three companies now offer subscription services to provide content. Nintendo had a ton of success with their classic consoles, putting new products in homes with a (presumably) low development cost on their end. Microsoft began a new financing program to purchase an Xbox on monthly payments as opposed to a high up front cost. In addition to making it easier for more people to get on their platform, it has been speculated that if this program is successful, it would pave the way for Microsoft to operate on an entirely new business model more in line with cell phone manufacturers, financing products to consumers and offering more frequent iterations on their platform.

This is not to say that these ideas will prevent the death of the console. But here's one last thing to consider. Sony and Microsoft are huge corporations and video games make up just one aspect of their revenue stream, meaning if video games did take a down turn, they would likely be able to offset their losses, at least for a time. Nintendo has less diverse interests but I have heard that they supposedly have enough capital that, even if they were to suddenly stop turning any profit they can continue to operate for something like ten years. I can't confirm this, but Nintendo has been around for over 100 years, so it really wouldn't surprise me.

At the end of the day, there is room enough for both the high end PC enthusiasts, the casual fans of console games, and everyone in between