Game news may seem dominated by a fascination with new console generations this year, but their emergence can also have a positive effect on new PC releases as developers try to push the bar further than ever. Of course, there are plenty of reasons many gamers choose to forgo the 'console wars' completely and put their efforts into building gaming computers instead. Here are five things to consider if you're interested in getting into PC gaming this Christmas:
1. Better overall performance
Not only is a good gaming PC naturally more powerful than a console out of the box, but the ability to upgrade it with better graphics cards and other components as time goes on is invaluable. Whereas with a console you have to take what you get, gaming computers are a long term investment that will have consistently strong performance for as long as you keep upgrading. We saw PS4 and Xbox provide stronger consoles midway through this generation; a sign of them desperately trying to keep up with PC capabilities. They always seem to be playing catch up.
2. Exclusive 2020 titles
Did you know PC has a bigger roster of exclusives than any other platform? Perhaps not, as console exclusives tend to be what get all the headlines. But as well as a massive indie roster that can be easily accessed through Steam (more on that later), some of 2020's most critically acclaimed PC exclusives include Half-Life: Alyx, Disco Elysium and Crusader Kings 3. The classic Age of Empires 2 also recently got a PC exclusive definition edition; if you enjoy RTS titles, PC continues to be the number one choice.
3. Customisation
Arguably the best thing about building your own gaming PC is precisely that: it can be uniquely your PC, customised to your specific preferences. Unlike consoles, gaming computers aren't clones of each other. Some people may not need the most powerful graphics card for what they're playing, and that's fine. The PC community tends to celebrate and learn from each other's unique hardware specifications.
4. Steam Ecosystem
Even those who've never played a PC game have likely heard of Steam, which has grown to become the largest digital gaming distribution platform over the past decade. A simple user interface and features such as Steam Direct have helped create an ecosystem that benefits both players and developers; it has proven especially helpful in providing a spotlight for indie games that may otherwise have gone unnoticed. You never know what gems you might find browsing the Steam store.
5. It's not just for gaming...
Gaming computers can still do all the things a regular PC could do; they're just more powerful. This means people can still use it for work (though using the same space for work and leisure probably isn't recommended) and browsing the Internet. Moreover, that extra power is useful for watching movies in 4K/HD, or more technical things like video editing. There's not a lot you can't do with a gaming PC.
There are few better choices you could make than getting a gaming PC this Christmas. UK Gaming Computers are a great choice for getting started and will also keep you updated with the latest news surrounding gaming computers. Get in touch and start your journey towards a new gaming odyssey today.