Consoles or PC: Which is the best choice for gaming?

The debate between PC enthusiasts and hardcore console fans about which platform is better for gaming has been raging on for generations, but there is no "one size fits all" solution for the dilemma. 

Despite being a downright disaster on almost all aspects, 2020 has been a pretty sweet year for gamers. PC gamers will soon be able to get their hands on next generation graphics cards such as Nvidia RTX3000 and Radeon Big Navi RX6000 series. 

 Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 consoles are also gearing up for a November release, ready to rock the socks off gamers with their cutting edge tech. But the question remains, which platform is the best for you?

With so many preparing to spend their hard earned cash on only one system this year, we dipped our toes on both sides of the river to help you make the big decision. To do that you need to consider a few things. 

Customisation vs plug and play

Consoles are perfect for casual gamers. A couch and a TV, and you are all set for your play session. Load up a disk and the game will install and update itself automatically. Depending on your internet connection, you will be ready to play it almost immediately.  Having an online payment option set up can help you downloading games from online stores. 
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All modern controllers are wireless, giving you the freedom to sit back and enjoy the experience. Most households already own a flat TV, so you can just hook your console up in the living room and have some fun without any additional hardware. 

Console games pass through a rigorous optimisation process to maximize the games' ability to utilise the limited hardware of consoles [compared to PCs], and provide the best possible user experience.

But wait, if the consoles are so good, why are PCs still dominating the gaming hardware market? Because they offer full customization of hardware and software which is not likely to be available in the consoles anytime soon.  

PCs can be built and customised as per personal specifications. Like to game casually? Get  a mid-range processor and graphics card, and build your PC for the price of a modern console.

Want to be a competitive professional? Then build a high-end machine with a beefy processor, graphics card, mechanical keyboards, mouse with programmable buttons and a 144hertz monitor. 

Aspire to push the limits of gaming tech? PCs also got you covered there. With bleeding edge PC hardware currently available in the market, you can get multiple monitors, 8K graphics and super high frame rates. 

Versatility and upgradability is the core of PC gaming. You can get a moderately powerful PC for a cheaper price, and then gradually upgrade it to create your ultimate rig.

Consoles offer zero possibility of customising its hardware, besides letting you expand its storage capacity. 

Price vs performance

Building a gaming rig capable of running the latest titles with graphical settings on ultra is nowhere as cheap as console gaming.
Getting 60fps on 4K in a lot of graphically demanding titles such as the Red Dead Redemption 2 or Call of Duty: Modern Warfare can cost you anywhere between Tk100,000 to Tk150,000. 

On the other hand, a last gen PS4 Pro console costing around Tk40,000 [approximate price at the time of writing] will be able to run those titles smoothly with HDR and 4K support, albeit with slightly toned down graphics. .

The upcoming next gen consoles have also promised to provide up to 4k resolution with 60fps support for games released for them, but even then,  these consoles will be far behind the high-end gaming rigs in terms of raw power.

If you do not care about superior graphical performance , consoles are the way to go. However, if you live and breathe on 120fps 4K gaming, go for a purpose-built high-end rig. The only thing limiting your choice will be your wallet.

It should also be noted that console games are quite expensive, costing around Tk5,000 for latest titles, and Tk1,500 to Tk2,500 for older ones, whereas PC games are significantly cheaper. 

This year, Epic gave away Grand Theft Auto 5  for free during a limited period, but only for the PC platform. PCs also have a significantly larger catalogue of games for all genres, compared to consoles.

The consoles, in a bid to counter their lack of diverse catalogue, regularly release cool exclusives. 

Critically acclaimed series such as the God of War, Halo, Legend of Zelda and Super Mario are all console exclusives,  meaning you have to buy a Playstation, Xbox or Nintendo to play them.

PCs open up doors to  thousands of exclusive and non-exclusive titles for gamers, but if you are looking for a specific title, such as Horizon Zero Dawn, first find a platform they are released on.

Just go for an option you and your wallet feel most comfortable with. Remember, in terms of video games, you are winning as long as you are having fun, regardless of the platform you are on.