There was a time when owning multiple gaming systems was commonplace. Many had a handheld like a Game Boy, a console like a PlayStation, and a desktop PC, all of which were affordable. Today, rising component costs, especially for RAM and SSDs, have driven up prices across the gaming market, making this approach less realistic than ever.
In many cases, prices of key parts have more than tripled. These costs have also been reflected beyond PCs, then reaching into console prices like the PlayStation 5, which are less affordable now than at launch. This has led many players to an unfortunate status quo: they now have to pick and choose. Rather than diversifying, most need to miss out, and it’s a situation gamers across the world aren’t happy with.
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Recent price hikes are largely due to a shortage of supply. The AI boom is seeing big tech companies buy up all the stock they can get their hands on for use in systems like data centres. Selling in these quantities provides more profit and fewer complications for manufacturers, so it’s a preferable way for them to operate.
Since supply is so sought after by ultra-rich companies, hardware manufacturers can boost their profits further by increasing their prices. The result is that, should gaming companies desire inclusion, they need to match what is already being paid. This increases their development cost, and these costs are then passed on to the consumer.
The Realities of Single Systems
Being forced into one system isn’t ideal, but fortunately for gamers, it’s not without its advantages. In the modern day, multiplatform gaming is more popular than ever, meaning it’s easier to access the great game market across different systems. A modern AAA title like Assassin’s Creed Shadows, for example, is available on Nintendo’s handheld Switch 2, Sony’s console PlayStation 5, and the PC. This isn’t true for all games, but it does at least alleviate some of the larger issues.
Choosing which one is right for each gamer ultimately comes down to which few exclusive series they like most and which platform fits best with their lifestyle. For gaming on the go, Nintendo’s Switch 2 is still the best choice. For console exclusives on static platforms, Sony still rules supreme.
The PC finds itself in a different position thanks to its use with far more diverse features than any pure console. Regular PCs can also access online platforms that offer thousands of different games all on one site, without the need for individual downloads. This is particularly seen in the iGaming industry, where slot game aggregation platforms provide iGaming sites access to thousands of games, all available on one seamless platform. This kind of functionality is unique to PCs, so despite possibly being less powerful, advances in technology solutions such as this mean regular PCs do offer positives.
Even if you collected a few gaming systems before the current price rise, thinking carefully about the next purchases is something all gamers now have to carefully consider. There’s no telling when prices will drop, or if they will at all. Should AI continue on this trend, the market might be in for a long gaming winter, so it’s best to be prepared for the dark nights ahead.
