PC players rank low in gaming status
PC players rank low in gaming status
About a year after its release, I noticed some lingering issues with screen tearing and stuttering despite the 30 fps fix. JC3 experienced crashes after roughly 45 minutes due to memory leaks, costing me around two hours of early gameplay. I took a break for a few months but returned, and the game performed much better—even allowing me to complete the game. GTA was released later than its original console launch, leading some to believe they invested heavily in porting it to PC, though it still didn’t run as smoothly as expected given the time available. While it wasn’t as problematic as other titles, improvements would have been welcome.
I understand your perspective on AAA titles. They clearly possess the funds and capabilities to develop quality PC versions. The main factor seems to be their investment priorities. For instance, EA consistently delivers strong ports, as seen with Battlefield where it performed well despite limited hardware. I believe most PC-exclusive games remain off consoles primarily because they aren't optimized for controller use—such as MMOs or RTS titles. There are exceptions like Arma and Star Citizen that realistically wouldn’t translate well to consoles. I also see PC gaming as the future, especially since consoles often try to replicate long-standing PC features like mod support, 4K playback, early access exclusives, and more.
Experiences included frequent crashes, screen tearing and frame rate drops in specific areas, and overall graphics quality that fell short given the system's performance. Despite these issues, the PC version didn't fully match expectations considering the time gap between its release and the PS3/Xbox360. A simultaneous PC launch would have improved the experience significantly. I also share your thoughts on the map.
We concur then. AAA developers aren't great. I no longer play any EA titles. I enjoyed BF2 but the frequent changes to balance it made me lose interest. I own every game from Battlefield 1 up to ARMA 3. I get more playtime than most games I own. My top five favorites are ARMA 3, Crusader Kings 2, Space Engineers (broken), ROME 2, and Stellaris. None of these are available on consoles or seem likely to be.
Battlefield 1 beta offered a lot of excitement, but once you mastered it it became monotonous. In Battle for Supremacy I thoroughly enjoyed the vehicles and the thrill of using C4 to ram opponents. The most frustrating part in Battlefield 1 was relying solely on the horse’s sword while landing planes on the blimp. I switched to Arma 3 but found it unengaging. I spent around ten hours in Altis Life, yet it felt hollow compared to Gmod Dark RP. My favorite games include Gmod, CS:GO, Supreme Commander 2, Payday 2, and Shogun 2. Three of these are on consoles, though most were played on PC.
I prefer a working game that experiences delays rather than a poor port. (Turning into a bad port is another matter entirely) To be honest, I don’t know anyone who values split-screen on PC. And you’ll see, the only ones using split-screen on consoles are Nintendo. Sure, it’d be nice to include it as a feature, but why invest developer resources in something only 10% of players will use?
Right now it seems the landscape has shifted significantly. Game developers are generating substantial income, which is something even those with a clear mind can recognize. However, we shouldn't overlook the wide variety of game categories available. If you work with a big publisher focused on consoles, you're likely to face disappointment since their main goal is targeting gaming consoles. On the other hand, as a developer, you have the freedom to release your titles across any platform you wish. Many companies partner with hardware makers like Nvidia or AMD to include their games, though quality can still vary. The console market today is even more fragmented due to saturation and numerous releases, making it less appealing to repeatedly buy the same game on different systems. Mobile devices offer a better alternative—once purchased, they can be used repeatedly across various models. The concept of consoles now feels outdated, as most machines already perform similar functions, and new consoles often blend features from previous generations (like PS4 to PS4 Pro or Xbox One to Xbox One X).