Gaming
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PC gaming vs console gaming: Which one is right for you?
The pros, the cons, costs, accessibility, drawbacks and going head-to-head.
“I have seven brothers and four sisters. It made my fighting spirit growing up, because you always had to compete. Mostly we would compete over games, and then we had one or two PCs max, so we’d compete for who gets to play. Always, you had to fight for things you wanted,” says pro-gamer and Twitch streamer Topson.
10 min
Topias 'Topson' Taavitsainen
He's a renowned ability to carry games with unconventional heroes: meet Dota 2 legend Topson.
Now a two-time International winner, Topson excelled playing Dota, a title that helped PC games surpass console games in popularity back in the day.
If you’re wondering whether PC gaming or console gaming is for you, it's crucial to consider factors such as cost, performance, and game selection. Does building a gaming PC to get the most out of the practice hours sound up your alley? In that case, maybe you lean towards PC gaming. Are you willing to add hand exercises for gamers to your routine to warm up and strengthen your hands? Maybe console games are the way to go.
Here we’ll explore PC gaming vs. console gaming—the pros and cons, and how you can decide which one is right for you based on your preferences and needs.
01
PC Gaming
PC gaming, which has been widely available since the 70s, offers several advantages over console gaming.
Keeoh at Red Bull Campus Clutch 2022 at Esports Stadium in Arlington, TX
© Karlo Ramos / Red Bull Content Pool
- Better graphics and performance: Modern games on high-end PCs can run at higher resolutions and frame rates (which provide a clearer picture and faster load times) due to better hardware in the computer. Games that have been designed for computers also tend to be built with optimization in mind. This often provides a more immersive and visually stunning gaming experience.
- Ability to customize your hardware: Gamers can choose from a wide range of customizable components, including graphics cards, computer processors, and storage. This allows PC gamers to build a system tailored to their specific needs. It also means PCs can be upgraded over time.
- Access to a wider range of games: Many games are released exclusively for PC, meaning PC gamers can enjoy classic computer games through backwards compatibility that aren’t available on consoles.
Disadvantages of PC gaming may include:
Participants during Red Bull Campus Clutch in Kaunas, Lithuania in 2022
© Vytautas Dranginis / Red Bull Content Pool
- Higher cost: Building a high-end gaming PC is significantly more expensive (up to $1,200) as compared to buying a console (Xbox Series X retails for $499). Upgrading PC components adds additional costs over time.
- Need for technical knowledge: PC gaming requires some technical knowledge to optimize your gaming experience. This includes knowing how to adjust graphics settings and troubleshoot technical issues. While educational resources are available online, it can still be a steep learning curve for gamers who aren’t tech-savvy.
02
Console Gaming
Nintendo Switch in the lounge at Red Bull Study Club 2020 in Belgium
© Jelle Lapere / Red Bull Content Pool
Console gaming, which has also been around since the '70s, offers several benefits over PC gaming. Advantages include:
- Lower cost: Consoles are generally less expensive than high-end gaming PCs ($500 or less), making them a more affordable option than gaming computers ($800 to $1,200+) for many gamers, especially beginners.
- Ease of use: Console games are designed to be plug-and-play, meaning gamers can simply connect the console to their TV and start playing.
- Access to exclusive titles that aren’t available on PC: Console games have many beloved titles that are only available as console exclusives, such as God of War Ragnarok. Overall, PlayStation series games have more exclusive titles than any other system and can be a major draw for gamers seeking a unique and memorable gaming experience.
Potential drawbacks of console gaming may include:
Participants at Red Bull Roda Bota Fora National Final in Lisbon, Portugal
© Hugo Silva / Red Bull Content Pool
- Limited hardware customization: Console gamers are limited to the hardware the device comes with (system with established graphic capabilities, specific controllers that work with the system, and an HDMI cable). Upgrades are generally not possible.
- Inferior graphics and performance: Consoles are designed to be affordable and accessible to the masses, which means they may not be able to run games at the highest resolutions or frame rates like a high-end gaming PC.
03
Comparing PC Gaming and Console Gaming
While both PC gaming and console gaming offer unique advantages and disadvantages, each platform appeals to different types of gamers based on their personality, interests, and preferences.
Here’s a head-to-head breakdown of the two options in terms of graphics, performance, cost, and gaming experience:
- Graphics: High-end gaming PCs offer the best graphics available. However, console graphics are still impressive and improve with each new generation.
- Performance: PCs generally offer more powerful hardware and are able to run games with higher frame rates and shorter load times. Consoles, on the other hand, offer a more standardized gaming experience, with games designed for the console's mass-produced hardware.
- Cost: Due to setup and ongoing costs, PC gaming can be significantly more expensive than console gaming, especially if you want to build a high-end gaming PC. Console games designed by industry titans like Sony and Microsoft are generally more affordable and offer a more straightforward, all-in-one gaming experience. Even popular franchises like Assassin's Creed are available for a more affordable one-time or monthly fee.
- Gaming experience: PC gaming offers a wider range of games, with access to classic titles (many Nintendo games, the Zelda series) and PC exclusives. PS5 and Xbox series games, on the other hand, offer a more streamlined and accessible gaming experience, with exclusive titles that aren’t on PC, such as Forza Horizon 4 and Red Dead Redemption 2.
- Specific games or genres: Some games or genres may be better suited for one platform over the other. For example, first-person shooters like Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 and strategy games tend to perform better on PC due to the precision of the mouse and keyboard controls. Meanwhile, console-exclusive games like Super Smash Bros offer a unique player experience that cannot be replicated on PC.
"Mario Kart" at the Red Bull Gaming Ground at the ESL Studios in 2014
© Chris Stock / Red Bull Content Pool
04
Conclusion
Each type of gaming has its benefits and drawbacks. Our advice is to determine your gaming goals, and figure out which titles you enjoy the most or think you’d be competitive with. Then you’ll know which gaming experience is best for you.
Whichever side you choose, these brain hacks for being a better gamer will help boost performance. And this PC gaming gift guide will walk you through all the gear you need to get rolling, like the best graphics card, mouse and keyboard.
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