With new video game releases kicking into high gear between now and the end of the year, you might be wondering which platform is right for you. In this week’s episode of GameSpot’s PC-focused show, Steam Punks, Jess and Ed discuss PC versus console.
While some of the year’s big games are exclusive to a particular platform, like Spider-Man, many of the year’s biggest titles will be available on PC and console. That’s the case with this week’s Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the long-awaited third and final game in the reboot series.
Controllers cannot match the precision of keyboard and mouse, so that might encourage some people to play on PC. At the same time, many PC games support controllers, and Ed makes the case in the new episode of Steam Punks that there is no reason to be ashamed of using a controller for PC games. In fact, a controller may be a preferable option in some situations.
There is also the matter of playing where your friends are. Even if you prefer PC over console, if your friends are on console, that might be a big enough reason to push you to PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, or another console. Given that cross-play between PC and console is not widely implemented for major games, many are left with making a choice between the two. That may change in the future, but it is a reality right now.
One further benefit for PC is that games stand to look and perform better, provided your system is capable enough. What’s more, many games are released first on PC through Early Access and betas, which might encourage you to play on PC over console.
Jess and Ed discuss all of these topics and more, including how the launch of the more powerful PS4 Pro and Xbox One X impacts the choice between PC and console and why couch co-op for PC games doesn’t make a lot of sense. Jess and Ed also answer your questions about last week’s episode about pre-ordering games.
Steam Punks airs every Monday on GameSpot.