PC gaming growth is now outpacing consoles, and Newzoo analyst Emmanuel Rosier thinks the main reason is simple: “PC players have a bit more choice.”
It’s a short answer, but it explains a lot about where the games industry is heading and why more studios now treat PC as their main platform instead of a port. Newzoo is one of the most widely cited games market research firms, so its view carries weight with publishers and investors.
Why PC gaming growth is outpacing consoles
Rosier points to Steam as a key factor. For indie developers, it’s an easier first step than consoles. They can launch on PC, build an audience, and bring the game to PlayStation or Xbox later. That gives PC players a constant supply of new and unusual games, often months or years before console players get them.
Steam’s own events feed this cycle. Showcases like Next Fest give small studios a shot at a big audience, although developers are split on how well that works now. Palworld’s lead recently called Next Fest a gamble that is still worth taking, while other data shows wishlist conversion rates have dropped as more games compete for attention.
What PC offers that consoles don’t
- More variety across genres and price points, with thousands of new releases every year
- Mod support that keeps games alive for years after launch
- More control options, from mouse and keyboard to almost any controller
- A strong free-to-play market, led by games like Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2
That free-to-play strength shows up in the numbers. Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2 and PUBG: Battlegrounds sit near the top of the most played Steam games almost every day, and you can find more on our free Steam games page.
Mods are a big part of the story too. Popular PC games often get years of extra life from community content, from small quality-of-life fixes to full overhauls. Console players usually get a limited version of that, if they get it at all.
Asian studios are betting on PC
Rosier also says more developers, especially in Asia, are investing in PC. Meanwhile, PlayStation and Xbox are growing more slowly than both PC and mobile.
Phantom Blade Zero is a perfect recent example. The Chinese studio S-GAME launched it on PC and PS5, and on Steam alone it peaked at 723,876 concurrent players on launch day. You can follow its numbers on our Phantom Blade Zero Steam charts.
Results like that show how big the PC audience in Asia has become. For studios in the region, PC is often the main target from day one, with consoles treated as an extra market rather than the core one.
What PC gaming growth means for players
There is a hardware angle as well. A gaming PC can be upgraded piece by piece over the years, while a console generation usually means replacing the whole machine. Your PC game library also comes with you from one build to the next, which makes it easier to stay on the platform long term.
This fits Newzoo’s earlier forecast that PC gaming revenue could overtake consoles by 2028. Console makers have noticed. Both Sony and Microsoft now bring more of their first-party games to PC than ever before.
For players, continued PC gaming growth means more games, more choice and more reasons to build or upgrade a gaming PC. It also puts pressure on console makers to keep their platforms attractive, whether through exclusives, pricing or subscription services.
It’s another sign that the PC is where most new games now launch first. If you want to see what’s growing right now, check our trending Steam games and new releases charts.
