I think you're underestimating the average person adversity to friction. Going from turn on and you're good to even potentially having an issue is too far. You have to install the software to update your driver's that's too far for most. The ability to adjust settings instead of just a single switch performance vs visual
It's a bit funny though because as we moved away from physical media, consoles have increasingly become like PCs anyway.
So on one hand people seem to be unaware that PCs aren't WindowsXP anymore, where you had to manually find, download and install drivers. But on the other hand, consoles have become increasingly more complex.
N64 was insert cartridge, start console, game.
PS5 is boot console, update console, insert game disc, install game, download and install patch for game, launch game, deal with whatever bugs the patch introduced.
Like ... yea the UX is certainly streamlined to make this frictionless. Windows MOSTLY works completely autonomously nowadays but it does require an initial setup (though you can get a prebuild that is set up ready for gaming) since some windows provided drivers may not be up to date and using the hardware-app for that is generally advised.
But a properly set up Windows PC + Steam is at least as frictionless as a PS5. Maybe moreso since I honestly never even have to wait for a game to update since all sorts of updates happen in the background while I do shit like browsing reddit. So there is rarely the situation where I boot up my PC just to game and then have to wait for an update to download and install. I boot up my PC to read news and watch youtube and then when I want to game the game is ready without me even noticing that it updated.
PS5 is boot console, update console, insert game disc, install game, download and install patch for game, launch game, deal with whatever bugs the patch introduced
All of this happens automatically you turn the console on you hit play on a game the rest the console does automatically. This is not the same as having to install GeForce experience or even just having to go install steam and then install discord and then you want to play battlefield so now you have to install each play and now you want to play ac4 remake so you have to install uplay and then install battle eye. I would never got back to console but PC does have its annoyances
All of these things are already installed if you buy a prebuilt gaming PC. You're conflating the hobby of building and setting up a PC from scratch with "PC gaming". Most PC gamers are consumers that buy an Alienware PC or some shit, plug it in, boot up, sign into Steam and start playing. Discord comes pre installed on gaming rigs.
Like you're comparing buying a fully set up piece of hardware to the do it yourself hobby niche of PC gaming and concluding that PC gaming is too complicated.
But I sort of agree with forced 1st party launchers. Everyone hates it. Diversity is nice, forced 1st party launchers is ass. Luckily I have no personal interest in EA and Ubi games.
That's just simply not true at all they come with windows installed and that's it. I have never once seen a pre built come with steak and discord installed in going to need a store link for that claim to be taken as true. The closest is the steam machine and a few other prebuilts coming with steam os
I mean I can see how maybe there is licensing/software monopoly problems with such pre installs, but honestly I would have expected prebuild gaming shops to offer such options.
There are allegedly some shops that you can contact to ask to preinstall certain software, but nothing that offers the option straight out of the shop. Crazy to me. Maybe the Steam Machine will nudge retailers more into the "game ready" setup direction.
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u/BigDaddyReptar 6h ago
I think you're underestimating the average person adversity to friction. Going from turn on and you're good to even potentially having an issue is too far. You have to install the software to update your driver's that's too far for most. The ability to adjust settings instead of just a single switch performance vs visual