Gaming on PCs is now unaffordable for gamers on a tight budget and worry
Do you recall those days when PC gaming was relatively accessible? The times have certainly changed.
PC gaming has become increasingly costly, particularly when buying new hardware and keeping up-to-date with the evolving video gaming scene. Even though upgrading your gaming system isn’t cheap, there was a time when purchasing video games on the PC was lower than the console versions. Nowadays, both console and PC games cost about the exact cost.
Then there’s the issue of inflation. In comparison, games in the 90s were more costly to buy, and nowadays, they are costly to create. But, in contrast to the past today, games have a plethora of microtransactions and expansions that are more common in the present.
Reddit users used the forum to discuss how much PC prices had increased. “Me, as well as my sibling, thought of a 1440p build, and we were researching the components and costs online over the weekend. We live in India. The R7800xt and the Ryzen 5800x3D cost $1100 (We currently pay approximately 20% duty on customs). Our final price was the equivalent of about $1900,” said Shadowblaze25mc, a Redditor.
Then they continued: “Then we looked at the Xbox Series X price, and we were shocked to find that it cost $580 there (after the customs). We speculated that we could purchase an Xbox Series X, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for one year, and or an RTX 3060 laptop for $900 (or an older 3070ti laptop) and a $200 1440p display, and be able for a couple of games.”
The evidence is growing that console gaming could be the most cost-effective option. “Always was. The price has definitely changed through the years, but generally, PC gaming is much more costly,” replied Khamelean. “PC hardware prices have undergone a huge inflation this past decade, making building a gaming PC capable of playing the same games as current-gen consoles at comparable visuals and performance is vastly more expensive,” declared DarkLThemsby.
However, some users on the discussion noted that the price of building a gaming laptop can be cut down many times if you’re willing to play at 1080p, not 1440p. Also, if constructed correctly, it is possible to build a PC that can be used in various games.
“I consider it becoming more cost-effective, but only if you can handle 1080p/60fps gaming. My friend has recently constructed his PC, which cost him $700. The computer can handle almost all games at 1080p/60fps.” Zombienerd300 explained. Zombienerd300. “Gaming isn’t becoming unaffordable. The information you’re looking for suggests that you require more than you need at 1440p,” advised All-Cesco.
In the end, after the day, the truth is that each PC and console gaming offer their advantages/detriments over each other. The construction of a gaming computer is indeed expensive if not done with investigation, but it gives you more freedom. In the end, there are alternatives for every person.
