The biggest debate in the gaming world is often focused around what machine people game on. People love to act like the machine they use is far superior to all others. But no faction in the gaming world is more superior than PC gamers. They make fantastical claims about PC gaming. Saying it is the only true way to game and that it offers a gaming experience like no other.

But just how valid are these claims? Is PC gaming truly the superior format? Or has console gaming finally caught up and dethroned the supposed kings of gaming?

One of the main claims PC gamers make is the versatility offered by both the freedom to create a customized machine and the huge library of games available to them. And there is a lot to be said for both of these claims.

The Hardware

Let’s start with the hardware debate. There is no denying that PC gamers do have the potential to create gaming machines that far outpace even the latest generation of consoles. This means that PC gamers have the potential to run games at their maximum graphical capacity with uninterrupted frame rates.

But there is a huge downside to this. The cost. Building a high-end gaming PC is costly. You are looking at investing $1000 minimum for a machine that will last a few years. And that is another issue. PC’s require upgrades over time to keep up with the latest games requirements. Whereas a console gamer can enjoy their console until the next generation is released.

Gaming Library

Now let us turn to the catalog of games. And this one is indisputable. The library of PC games dwarves all other consoles. One of the biggest drawbacks of a console is they often aren’t backwards compatible with games from two or three generations ago. Meaning a lot of console gamers are often locked out of playing their favorite classic games. Whereas PC gamers can easily play an older title with minimum effort.

PC gamers also have access to one of the most underrated forms of gaming. Browser games. The beauty of browser games is that the designers aren’t looking to make a profit or appease investors. They are simply making fun games for the sake of it. And it is within browser gaming websites that you will find some of the most unique and wacky titles.

No matter what machine you play on you will have to deal with the issue of exclusive titles.. Games that are tied to a single machine. Sony is notorious for making titles that are exclusive to their consoles. While Xbox has been shifting towards a joint PC/Xbox library of games. PC gamers also get a lot of exclusive titles as well. Far more than any console gamer. So that is a huge point in their favor.

The Social Aspect

In the past PC gaming was the premier format for social games. It had the best online systems and most PC games didn’t require a subscription service to be utilized. Modern consoles have caught up in the social aspect now. With their online services being far more accessible and streamlined.

But it is the subscription costs that console gamers have to pay to use online features that hands this point to the PC gamers. Let’s use Elden Ring as an example. A PC player only has to pay for their internet connection and the game. Once they’ve done that they can enjoy the online features to their heart’s content. Whereas a console gamer has to pay both these costs as well as the subscription cost for their consoles online services.

PC gamers also have access to so many more social games. Both in the form of browser games like Habbo Hotel and in virtual reality games like VRChat. PC gamers are also lucky to have better integration for social apps like Discord or Twitch. Making it far easier for them to feel like part of a gaming community than console gamers.

The Result?

While it might be annoying to see PC gamers sprouting their superior claims we can’t deny the validity of them. If you have the means to soak up the initial investment for creating a powerful gaming PC then PC gaming is the truly superior format.