30th August, 2020 - Blog

Back in May, I purchased my first gaming PC, and as I noted at the time, it’s a beast. Over the last three months, it’s becoming my main gaming platform, over all of my consoles.

I came to the realisation that I was wrong about PC gaming. Here’s what I’ve learned over the last three months.

An Open Marketplace

While consoles offer their own storefronts, the PC platform offers multiple stores and launchers. With constant competition, I’ve never known a platform to offer such value.

Whether it’s picking up Payday 2 for 75p (SEVENTY-FIVE PENCE) or signing up to Ubisoft’s monthly membership to get access to a bunch of games, there’s something to suit every budget. Plus my existing Game Pass membership from my Xbox allows me to snag games like Gears Tactics or Microsoft Flight Simulator that would otherwise have set me back £50.

Then there are the free games, like those found on the Epic Store. I’ve picked up the likes of GTA 5, Total War Saga: Troy, Remnant From The Ashes, Ark: Survival Evolved and plenty more for absolutely nothing — that’s insane.

Really, Really Ridiculously Good Looking

One of the things I’ve often heard is how PC visuals are a step above what you find on a console, and I’ve always been doubtful that I’d even be able to spot the difference.

Now? I’m a believer. Playing Hitman 2 on the Xbox One X just doesn’t cut it anymore, nor does playing Destiny 2 at 30 frames-per-second. Then there are the load times, which have been cut in the latter game from literal minutes down to seconds.

I reviewed Ghost Recon: Breakpoint last year on PS4 Pro, and the game ran poorly. Multiple patches later made it a much smoother experience, but it’s nothing compared to the PC version. Breakpoint is gorgeous, and infinitely more enjoyable to explore with less slowdown and texture pop-in.

Combine all of that with my 34-inch Ultrawide monitor and the comfort of being sat at a desk, and it’s tough to make the case for taking over the lounge TV!

This cheaper ecosystem, combined with the increased visual fidelity and fluidity have meant that I’ve actually started getting games I already own on console on PC. So far, I’ve picked up the likes of Dishonored 2, Hitman 2, Overwatch, Rainbow Six: Siege and more — all at bargain prices.

The Spice of Life

It’s not just all familiar experiences, either. I’ve tried the likes of Valorant, something that would’ve passed me by, and I’ve begun testing the waters of League of Legends, too.

I’ve also been able to rediscover my love of tactics and strategy gaming, with the likes of Civilization, X-Com and Gears Tactics. Many are available on console (or even my MacBook), but they’re just a better fit on a PC.

Play To Work

Of course, the reason I picked up the gaming PC was to help with work, and there have been a few opportunities I’ve been able to take advantage of. With any luck over the next year or two, it’ll essentially pay for itself (or at least, partially!).

I still tend to use the MacBook (and iPad) for actually doing my work, but having the PC available for playing games and jumping into a draft here or there is handy.

So yeah, I’m kind of hooked on this PC gaming thing, and feel a little silly that it took me so long to get on board. Better visuals and performance, cheaper games, a broader selection of games, and new work opportunities make it tough to go back.