Why Console First, PC Later: The Shifting Paradigm in Game Releases
This last decade has seen a dramatic change in the video game release environment, with many significant games debuting on consoles (PlayStation and Xbox series) before making their way to PCs (personal computers). In response to this rising trend, many distinct responses emerged in the gaming community, which had far-reaching effects on the industry as a whole. But why do game developers prioritize console releases, and how does this approach work?
Piracy and PC gamers’ buying patterns of games are two of the main reasons for delaying PC releases. According to a survey done by Ultra (a PC game distribution platform), 75 percent of PC gamers find AAA PC games (high-budget, high-profile games) expensive, so 64 percent of gamers try to obtain titles mainly during discounts and seasonal sales to get the game at a low price or prefer to pirate the game and enjoy it for free. This causes gaming companies to lose money and directly affects their sales. Therefore, gaming companies primarily favor console releases due to their resistance to piracy and ability to provide a smooth launch. While many companies are serious about getting as much profit as possible for their work, they release it on consoles to ensure they can get as many sales as possible from the hype created by the game during its debut. Console companies like Sony and Microsoft know this fact very well: console releases are important for game debuts. Therefore, gaming companies and console companies enter into various agreements to guarantee that game developers earn a substantial profit for their efforts. In exchange, they postpone the game’s release on other platforms, allowing console companies to profitably promote their consoles through exclusive games for their users.
The 2013 release of GTA 5 is one of the best examples of how console releases boost game sales. GTA 5, one of the most successful and hyped gaming franchises, caused long lines at stores for both the game and the console, which meant profit for both companies. Even after its early September release, GTA 5 emerged as the best selling game of 2013, selling 32.5 million units. The more hype surrounding a game, the higher its sales. It is likely that Rockstar Games will employ the same strategy for GTA 6, which is set to release a decade after the release of GTA 5. While PC gamers endured a three-year wait to play GTA 5, the release of the PC version immediately led to the widespread circulation of the pirated version on the internet. Several game developers devise various strategies to render the pirated version of a game unplayable, such as the DICE gaming company’s removal of the jumping feature in their parkour game Mirror’s Edge, or the creation of multiplayer games that are nearly impervious to piracy, thereby resolving the issue.
The gaming community’s reaction to “console first, PC later” is neutral. Many people appreciate the hard work of game developers and are willing to wait for the game’s PC release for as long as possible, allowing them to try it when it suits their devices best. While some individuals are deeply disheartened by the decision of gaming developers to give priority to console users over PC gamers, the “console first, PC later” strategy, developed by gaming and console companies, is an impressive approach. This strategy not only ensures that both gaming and console companies earn a substantial profit for their work, but also ensures that any third party involved in game piracy does not profit or negatively impact the game’s sales and profit. This tactic guarantees that the gaming companies receive payment for their creations prior to any piracy or free sale, a practice that many PC gamers readily embrace. Sometimes, they even attempt to gain early access to games by switching to consoles, which offers a unique gaming experience on a new device.
