Do Consoles Still Matter in an Era of PC and Mobile Gaming?

Since the debut of the first gaming console, the Magnavox Odyssey, over 50 years ago, the console has been the pulse of the gaming market. Remember when Super Nintendo and Sega’s Genesis set up shop in our homes. 

Or perhaps you’re more familiar with the debut of the PlayStation 2 in 2000 or the latest releases, such as the Xbox Series S, PS5, and the Nintendo Switch 2. Whatever the case, consoles are popular for bringing availability, exclusivity, and community to gaming.

However, as advances in technological innovation increase, a pressing question arises: Are gaming consoles being phased out by mobile and PC gaming?

A Gaming Era Where Software Triumphs Hardware

When buying consoles, gamers often base their decisions on the hardware specs. From processing power, controller types, cooling solutions to storage space, every gamer has a list of hardware features they look for when buying a console. But in the era of mobile and PC gaming, things have changed.

With the rise of customizable gaming options such as PC builds, players are now more interested in the services available. That includes subscription models like the Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus, cloud gaming platforms, backward compatibility, cross-platform support, and expansive digital libraries, to list a few.

Gamers are prioritizing access, focusing on games and devices with flexibility over raw specs alone. Today’s console wars aren’t just about teraflops, resolution, or storage; they’re about ecosystems, convenience, and more value.

The Rise of Mobile Gaming

Gaming consoles have always been considered a major purchase. When the Nintendo Switch 2 was announced at $450—excluding the Liberation Day tariffs that pushed the price even higher—the $150 jump from the Switch 1 price tag was eye-popping for many. As a result, many gamers and, consequently developers, have been moving away from the console.

Instead, mobile gaming has quickly won the hearts of many, ranking as the number one platform for gaming. Despite the common perception that mobile gaming is inferior to traditional platforms like consoles, over 60% of global gamers prefer playing on mobile devices. 

In fact, it is particularly huge in the UK market, which can be attributed to several factors. These include the increasing use of smartphones and the widespread access to high-speed internet. The growing variety of engaging and accessible games, ranging from casual video gaming options to standard casino titles, also plays a part. Whether you want to spin the reels at a UK casino or download the latest competitive shooter game, mobile gaming makes it possible with more convenience and an attractive price point. 

The Arrival of Cloud Gaming Platforms

Cloud gaming platforms like NVIDIA GeForce Now, XBOX Cloud Gaming, PlayStation Plus Premium, and Amazon Luna have become legitimate forces in the gaming ecosystem. Modern-day gamers don’t need to own traditional gaming hardware. Rather, cloud gaming lets them stream high-quality games directly on their device. Be it laptops, SmartTVs, smartphones, or even tablets, you only need a stable internet connection, and you’re good to go.

Although these platforms are more suitable for single-player RPGs, they are rapidly evolving to support more demanding multiplayer and competitive titles, such as Fortnite and Call of Duty. Latency, server load, and internet speed remain significant hurdles, particularly in fast-paced genres such as battle royales and first-person shooters. But continual advancements in internet infrastructure and server locations are narrowing that gap.

The Reality of Gaming Consoles vs. Mobile and PC Gaming

The video game industry has long been defined through gaming consoles. Getting rid of these machines would mean discarding a big chunk of the industry’s identity. More importantly, consoles still play a vital role in the gaming ecosystem — most notably as an accessible and relatively cost-efficient way to enjoy a wide range of high-quality video games. 

But the thing is that many console manufacturers are not focusing on releasing more tech-heavy consoles. Rather, as player demand dictates, they are prioritizing more games, services, and other cost-effective/user-friendly solutions. That’s one of the reasons why we’ll see a change in hierarchy when it comes to platform dominance within the gaming industry over the next few years.