Refusing to release titles to the PC isn't going to make me run out and purchase a console. There are tons of games on PC. My backlog is long enough that I can live happily without whatever kind of bullshit Nintendo, Sony, and Xbox are trying to peddle. Assuming I did care about a specific title, and it's being gate locked by console exclusivity, I'll fucking pirate it. Sony, Microslop, and Nintendo can all get fucked.
this post was submitted on 26 Feb 2026
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I also kind of think that the strongest argument for console gaming is competitive multiplayer, not single player.
The fact that the consoles are closed and locked down inherently provides resistance to cheating and such, where the open PC world tries to (poorly) replicate a closed environment via kernel anti-cheat stuff. The console world having (well, more-or-less) one option when it comes to hardware means that everyone playing against each other has a fairly-level playing field
same input hardware, and people don't get an edge from having fancier rendering hardware.
For single-player gaming, those console strengths become weaknesses
for single-player games, it's preferable for the player to be able to do things like freely mod games, upgrade hardware to get fancier graphics, provide a lot of options as to what input stuff to use, etc. It doesn't hurt anyone else for me to have the game running however I want, so I should be able to do so. On the PC, a player gets to enjoy all that.
If I were a console vendor and I were worried about the PC as a competing platform, I'd think that I'd try to emphasize my competitive multiplayer games, not single-player games.
If I were a console vendor and I were worried about the PC as a competing platform, I'd think that I'd try to emphasize my competitive multiplayer games, not single-player games.
Step one: Don't charge extra for online play.
They're going to learn that the days when publishers could strongarm gamers are over. There are too many games on too many alternatives, so it's too easy for gamers, faced with unnecessary hoops through which they're required to jump, to just say, "Well fuck that then - I'll play something else."
I'm already at the point I don't really need to buy anymore games, and my library isn't even that old or impressive. Add emulation and it's even harder to justify purchases.
Welp, looks like I'll need to get myself a PS5 then.
Said no cunt ever
GTA6 is likely going to be the only reason I’d get one, because the rest of the exclusives have been pretty lacklustre.
GTA6 is just a timed exclusive, but also remember that Rockstar are union busting assholes.
I wonder how much of this is related to the posturing from the new lead of Xbox about returning to exclusivity over there.
We were so close to one of the dumbest things in gaming for decades finally going away.
(Also, nothing Sony does from here on out will surprise me in its stupidity after they shuttered Bluepoint.)
Sony turned so anti-consumer due to their PS4 dominance that even with a fairly modest digital library of games I still bailed to PC when the PS5 came around.
Sony has always been pretty anti consumer. I'm addition to the root kit thing, they have a history of pushing their own propietary crap as open standards. Sometimes successfully (blu ray) and sometimes not (memory stick). They also removed the "other OS" (Linux) option from the PS3 midway through the console's life cycle.
I'm sure there's more examples, but they've been a bottom tier brand for a long time due to this for me.
Sony turned so anti-consumer due to their PS4 dominance...
no, that's just Sony.
anyone remember that time Sony installed rootkits on PCs that played their music CDs?
I've owned exactly 0 playstations. The last new(ish) system I had was an N64. Could afford a laptop that could play games but also do schoolwork or have a console, so stuck with computers ever since.
The only time I've played Sony based games is when they're on PC. So... guess Sony is losing my money. I know it's not much, but interesting to get rid of the small revenue stream in hopes to get people back on console but I guess I don't understand how fishing for whales is the winning task.
Their loss. Stupid move.
I like playing Sony games on PC from time to time but it they don't release anything more on PC that is OK too, I have plenty of other stuff to play anyway.
Sony: "Exclusivity will increase sales!"
Customers: "I can't afford your exclusivity"
I can afford it, and I'll bet I'm far from alone, but I'd essentially be buying a dedicated computer that can only play a handful of games, and it would play them worse than my PC could if they'd only make the game available there. There's no shortage of stuff to play, so it ends up just being a bad value even when you've got the money.
This makes a lot of sense if the next Xbox is just a glorified PC. Right now Sony releases some of their games to PC, but never to Xbox. Multiplayer titles really are the ones that make no sense being exclusive because you need that extended network effect
I don't think keeping the single player games exclusive makes much sense either. Sony's bread is buttered by taking the same 30% Valve makes on each game sale. If they're only converting you for single player games, you're buying...what...5 games on the platform, lifetime? And they're all Sony published? Realistically, on PC, you're probably already playing everything else on PC with no subscription fee that they would want to get a cut from. I think Sony has reached everyone they're going to reach, and you're just leaving money on the table by not bringing those games to PC, even if they come late.
The exclusive games lead to more sales of other games. If they get rid of exclusives they might as well just give it up and end the PlayStation brand.
PC may be fine for you, but it's still a shit show IMO. Maybe Valve will fix it. Gaming on Linux has gotten way better since the SteamDeck came out, but still not good enough to get me to switch. Maybe the Steam Machine will eventually turn the tides. But hell, they take 30% too, so really no different than Sony from a developer's perspective
It's ok to like something else, but the world has already chosen their king.
Steam vs. PlayStation vs. Xbox vs. Switch 2 (Early 2026 Comparison)
| Metric | Steam (PC) | PlayStation (PS5) | Xbox (Series X/S) | Switch 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Titles | ~120,000+ | ~6,500+ | ~5,500+ | ~1,200+ (incl. BC) |
| AAA Titles | ~800+ | ~450+ | ~400+ | ~110+ |
| Monthly Active Users (MAU) | 147 Million | 123 Million | ~100 Million* | 60+ Million (Early) |
| Peak Concurrent Users | 42.04 Million | ~18-20 Million | ~12 Million | ~8 Million |
| Average Game Price | $15 - $25 | $45 - $55 | $40 - $50 | $50 - $60 |
| Metacritic Score (Avg) | 72% | 78% | 76% | 82% (Exclusives) |
| Available Countries | Global (Digital) | 70+ (Hardware) | 40+ (Hardware) | 45+ (Hardware) |
*Note: Xbox MAU often includes PC/Mobile Game Pass users, making direct console-only comparisons difficult.
Sources & Context
- Steam Statistics: SQ Magazine (Jan 2026) and SteamDB confirmed a record-breaking 42.04 million concurrent users in January 2026. Steam's library surpassed 120,000 titles in late 2025.
- PlayStation Performance: Sony reported 123 million MAU in mid-2025 (via Push Square), with the PS5 reaching 90.2 million lifetime units sold by January 2026 (Outlook Respawn).
- Switch 2 Launch: The Switch 2 has reached 17.37 million units sold globally as of February 2026, leading hardware sales in major regions like Asia (Game Developer).
- Xbox Ecosystem: Xbox Game Pass reached 40 million subscribers in early 2026. While official hardware-only MAU is rarely split, ecosystem-wide engagement remains high due to cloud expansions in 29+ countries including India and Brazil (Xbox Wire).
- Pricing Trends: AAA games have stabilized at a $70 psychological floor, with "Deluxe" and "Ultimate" editions frequently pushing the $80-$100 range in 2026 (GamesIndustry.biz).