What percentage of gamers play on PC vs console?
As a passionate gamer and industry analyst, the rivalry between PC and console gaming remains one of the most fascinating ongoing battles in the gaming world. In 2023, these platforms remain neck-and-neck in market share and popularity, each with their own strengths catering to different gamer psychographics.
Based on the latest research, here is the current market share breakdown across PC, console, and mobile gaming worldwide:
Gaming Platform Market Share Worldwide
| Platform | 2023 Market Share % | 2022 – 2023 Growth % |
|---|---|---|
| PC Gaming | 35% | +3% |
| Console Gaming | 32% | +5% |
| Mobile Gaming | 33% | +7% |
As we can see, console gaming revenue grew slightly faster than PC over the past year. This aligns with the release of latest-gen hardware like the PS5 and Xbox Series X driving console software and accessory sales. However, PC gaming growth remains strong thanks to exciting new GPUs like the Nvidia RTX 40 series.
Let‘s analyze the demographics, gamer psychographics, and platform advantages to better understand the PC vs console split.
PC Gamer vs Console Gamer Demographics
PC and console gamers have quite different demographic and psychographic profiles. This leads them to value different platform strengths and game libraries.
Average Gamer Age on PC vs Console Platforms
| Platform | Average Gamer Age |
|---|---|
| PC | 30 years old |
| Console | 25 years old |
The data shows the average PC gamer skews older than the typical console gamer. This could be attributed to PC gaming requiring greater investments in hardware and accessories. Consoles appeal more to a mainstream, youth audience thanks to their simpler and more affordable nature.
Additionally, whileCONSOLE gamers fall close to a 50/50 gender split, PC gaming remains MALE-DOMINATED according to surveys:
PC gaming: 31% female vs 69% male
Console gaming: 45% female 55% male
Besides age and gender, psychographic profiler data also paints a profile of KEY DIFFERENCES in PC vs console gamers:
Gamer Psychographics: PC vs Console Differences
PC Gamers
- More hardcore & competitive
- Enjoy complex game mechanics/customization
- Like pushing high frame rates/graphics settings
- Are early adopters of new technology
Console Gamers
- Prefer simpler, pick-up-and-play experiences
- Enjoy multiplayer & cooperative play
- Appreciate console exclusives focused on story/adventure
- Like gaming from the couch on the big screen
Understanding these demographic and psychographic profiles helps explain why certain platform strengths resonate with PC vs console gamers.
PC Gaming vs Console Gaming Platform Advantages
Gamers choose between PC and console based on performance, game libraries, customization, and overall experiences. Let‘s analyze the KEY STRENGTHS of PC compared to today‘s major consoles like PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
PC Gaming Platform Strengths
Ultimate Performance & Visual Fidelity
- Cutting edge components like RTX 4090 can run games at 8K 144FPS
- Fully customize graphics settings, textures, ray tracing
- Upgrade GPUs every 2-3 years without replacing full system
Extensive Back Catalog & Mod Support
- Steam alone offers over 50,000 games, from classics re-releases to hot new indie titles
- Mods allow enhancing favorite titles with user-generated content
More Choices of Gaming Peripherals
- Select exactly the mouse, keyboard, headset fit for your play
- Endless accessories for performance or aesthetics
Based on these advantages, it is clear why hardcore gamers invested in cutting-edge experiences are drawn towards PC gaming. Console platforms offer their own compelling strengths as well however.
Console Gaming Key Advantages
While PC gaming remains the pinnacle for customization and performance, consoles like PS5 and Xbox Series X make gaming more ACCESSIBLE through:
- Fixed, familiar hardware configurations across each platform generation
- Simple plug-and-play with included controllers and no complexity
- Intuitive couch gaming UI perfect for big screen televisions
- Exclusive first-party mega-franchises that push narrative experiences (The Last of Us, God of War)
Additionally, the TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP for getting started in console gaming can be CHEAPER than building a capable gaming PC when factoring accessories and peripherals. This makes consoles the mainstream gateway for casual gamers.
Based on these console strengths and simplicity, it is no surprise they remain competitive still versus the overall capabilities of gaming PCs. Different platform advantages cater to particular gamer budgets and preferences.
Regional Differences: Asia Mobile Gaming Surge
While PC vs console gaming splits North America and Europe, mobile gaming growth is surging most in Asia and developing countries thanks to adoption of smartphones.
Research shows that the Asia-Pacific region will represent 57% TOTAL GLOBAL GAMING REVENUE by 2025, heavily skewed towards mobile. Lower average wages and hardware costs are accelerating this market shift. Gamers from developing economic backgrounds are far more likely to own a smartphone than gaming PC or console.
However, dedicated PC and console gaming culture should remain strong in mature Western markets. Gamers value the big-screen living room console experience or advanced capabilities of gaming desktops and laptops. The allure of platforms like PlayStation, Xbox, and PC gaming won‘t disappear despite mobile‘s progress.
At the end of the day, all forms of gaming continue advancing new titles, technology, and experiences that capture our imagination. The friendly rivalry between players, platforms, and ecosystems means everyone wins through further innovation!
Which game platforms do you primarily play on as a gamer? Does our data on market share, demographics, and platform advantages resonate with your own experiences? Let me know in the comments!
