PC vs Console Gaming

This cluster centers on debates comparing PC gaming and console gaming, discussing pros like hassle-free play and backward compatibility for consoles versus freedom, upgradability, and versatility for PCs.

➡️ Stable 0.5x Gaming
3,641
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#2204
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2007
3
2008
12
2009
42
2010
54
2011
90
2012
158
2013
266
2014
123
2015
124
2016
155
2017
151
2018
150
2019
153
2020
308
2021
395
2022
323
2023
457
2024
261
2025
400
2026
16

Keywords

OK FPS PC GPU AMD UX HN AND PS3 RDR2 pc games gaming consoles console xbox gamers play keyboard mouse gamer

Sample Comments

scarface74 Aug 14, 2020 View on HN

You mean like people buy game consoles instead of gaming PCs?

NeoBasilisk Apr 2, 2018 View on HN

Why game on a console if you can afford to do so on PC?

torginus Jun 17, 2022 View on HN

Consoles are very close to PCs, hardware-wise. The main draw imo is the hassle-free gaming experience. I think the use case of building a dedicated box just for gaming is becoming less valid with every console generation.

phito Nov 22, 2025 View on HN

Consoles are increasingly becoming PCs, so I don't see this happening

jrobn Mar 19, 2020 View on HN

Consoles are now branded PCs with DRM lock-in. Makes way more sense to buy a PC.

Abishek_Muthian Oct 29, 2018 View on HN

If your use case for a Windows machine is just for the Games; A Xbox is a decent alternative.

DannoHung Oct 25, 2012 View on HN

Is there any real reason to if I just use my Windows PC to play games?

endisneigh Oct 31, 2023 View on HN

Buy a gaming pc if you want freedom

Jeremy1026 Nov 22, 2023 View on HN

I buy consoles instead of gaming on PC because I know I can buy a console and it'll work with new games for the next 5+ years. When I started playing games a PC would need to be upgraded multiple times in the console lifespan to continue to play new games well.

Izikiel43 Dec 8, 2022 View on HN

This is why, even though I can afford it, I wouldn't get a gaming pc and I have a PS5. In console it's just turn on and play, otherwise the game won't be available.I would only use pc for some RTS games (like AoE, civ, and things along those lines) which don't need such huge compute requirements.