Revenue How to play How to play Traditionally there was a gulf the PC, whereas expensive rigs between PC and console gamers. can handle far more demanding However, with more hardware options titles. Gaming laptops which provide than ever, the lines between PC, portability are also available, but it’s console, and mobile gaming are difficult to upgrade and exchange becoming increasingly blurred as specific parts. more demanding games can be Console gaming instead has the played handheld and exclusivity advantage of a standardised setup, to one platform becomes rarer. with games specifically optimised In essence, gaming hardware to run on the console’s hardware includes all physical devices and without the need for additional set- components utilised in playing up steps. Later in the release cycle, games - from traditional PCs and different models can be released consoles to handheld devices and which may offer a slimmer look or cutting-edge virtual reality headsets. more extensive storage. Hardware - PCs, consoles, Sony PlayStation and Microsoft Xbox portability and VR are currently the dominant consoles in the market. Consoles with unique Traditionally, gamers have typically portability features have also been been drawn to PCs or consoles. PC increasingly popular, including the gaming often allows more flexibility dynamic Nintendo Switch which in terms of components, as individual offers both handheld and at-home parts including processors, graphics console gaming opportunities. cards, RAM and storage (SSD or HDD) Notably, Valve’s powerful Steamdeck can be combined and swapped out. enables a PC-like experience in Simple, affordable setups can be handheld form which provides access purchased to play a range of to an extensive library via platforms games which are less taxing on like Steam, with several competitors 81