PC Gaming Nearly Outsold All Console Games Combined in 2017

PC Game Sales!

PC gaming is definitely on the rise, which is funny when you consider that consoles are far more accessible, but I promise, it’s true. The PC, however, has 3 major factors going for it at the moment. Firstly, the sales. Oh, the sales!

With Christmas coming and over the year in general, Gabe Newell at Steam treats us to big discounts on at least 4 occasions in the year. The second major factor, and it’s a trump card PC has had for some time, is that put simply the PC is better suited for many types of games.

Yes, I know you can play FPS and RTS on consoles. Come on, though. A keyboard and mouse is just simply better for those types of games. Admittedly, not always, but certainly more often than not.

Thirdly, indie gaming. Over the last 10 years, we have been treated to some of the best games ever made and via independent developers. Developing for the PC and actually getting your game to market is just so much easier.

Well, it turns out that in a GamesIndustry report, PC game sales are better than ever. So good in fact that they nearly outsold every consoles game sales combined!

Sales figures

In 2017, it is estimated that we spent $116b on games. Of that, 28% was accounted for as PC sales.

If you add up every console, so that’s PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii-U and Switch, they all, together, combined only managed 29% of the market share. The margin of ‘victory’, if it so can be called, was only 1%.

At this point, some of you will likely be checking my maths saying ‘hang on, 29% + 28% equals 57. Where is the other 43%?’. Well, the rest is accounted for, but on mobile or tablet platforms.

It is difficult to know what to make of these figures in the long run. While there will always be a market for PC’s and consoles, it seems that PC gaming is very much in the ascendancy at the moment. Perhaps a bit like how consoles took over in the 90’s and early 00’s.

With PC gamers able to get their hands on some pretty sweet games, peripherals and discounts though, it might be time for console gamers to consider the swap.

What do you think? Do you PC or console game? Did the figures surprise you? What did you buy the most games for this year? – Let us know in the comments!