3 years ago, I was a hardcore Xbox gamer. I used to play games like Call of Duty, Forza 7, and Red Dead Redemption. I was using the Xbox One X, and going even further back, I started gaming with the Xbox 360.
There comes a point when you find yourself considering buying a PC instead of a console. For me, it was sim racing and all the benefits that PC gaming offers compared to a console.
The benefits speak for themselves - a better GPU, far more possibilities for overlays and mods, and the list goes on. However, there's an issue.
If you have a console gaming history, you'll run into the problem that on consoles, everything is optimized and there are fewer buggy events. When issues do arise, there's more support in place, and everything is well set up for its respective console.
For me, it was a simple decision. When I wanted to upgrade to the Xbox Series X, there was a massive issue with the supply of these consoles. So, I made the decision to buy an HP Omen with a 3080 and an i7 10700K for about 2300 euros at the time.
I installed everything, and when I installed Steam and Assetto Corsa for the first time, I ran into Content Manager. I had a lot of help from friends, and without them, I probably would never have gotten it running. Even a simple audio exit is a problem on PC. "Hello? Can you hear me?" On a console, you don't have this problem. You plug in the mic, and you're good to go. On PC, you have seven options and settings to consider. Then, nobody can hear you, or the game is way too loud. And don't get me started on cheaters with some games.
Now, the bright side is mods, the power of the GPU on PC, the endless possibilities to adjust your graphics settings for all your games - tweaking field of view, shadows, anti-aliasing, DLSS settings - absolutely great. But, it's also a downfall because you need to learn all these skills.
If you're a lazy person and just want to game a bit, a console is for you. If you find yourself wanting to use overlays, record clips, get into third-party software, and want full adjustability for your graphics, or plugging in different gear for sim racing or flight simulation, then a PC is the way to go.
If you want to make the switch, here's what you need to consider:
How many friends do you have on your console platform, and can you live without them? I know crossplay is becoming more available, but it's still somewhat of a barrier.
How much are you willing to spend on a desktop and the essentials that come with it? Can you use your headset, steering wheel, etc., when you're sim racing, for instance?
Are you willing to learn a lot about in-game settings, audio, and general system settings?
Can you deal with occasional cheaters?
Your game library may no longer be available on PC, so you might need to rebuy all your games.
Can you deal with Windows updates sometimes screwing up settings for some games?
There's probably more trouble that I didn't mention, but these were the things I ran into. Now, I'm a very happy PC gamer (sim racer), and I will never go back to console. But, take note - there's a transition that a lot of people don't really mention when going from console to PC.
Man, exactly like reading my story. At the end of 2023 I switched from Xbox to PC for simracing and I was exactly the same as you describe. Xbox - plug and play, PC - set everything yourself and maybe it will work. I've been away from PC gaming for almost 20 years, but now in my 40s I'm back again, even though I have less time around the kids. I like your youtube channel because you give us the perspective of a regular gamer and not a pro/alien. Keep up the good work!