Desktop gaming is back with a vengeance

It’s been a long way back for the desktop PC since tablets and MacBooks appeared to take over the technological world. Even the rise of mobile gaming almost rendered the PC obsolete, with that industry worth an incredible $152 billion at the end of 2019.

That number continues to increase for mobile gaming as 60% of those Americans who said they game, use a smartphone to do so.

This trend is worldwide as, in the gambling industry for example, online casino and bingo game sites generated a revenue of £2.2 billion in the UK in 2019. This is largely down to the abundance of new games that give users an eclectic array of entertainment on a portable device.

But, that hasn’t killed off the PC; in fact, there has been a recent recovery of Windows devices. Here’s why.

A portable Windows 10

Whilst mobile gaming enables game-playing or gambling wherever you are, the impressive Windows 10 is able to run on both desktops and tablets. 2-in-1 machines are a realistic possibility, as are detachable screened-laptops.

So, whilst the iPad and other tablets remain rigid, a Windows 10 machine will enable users to run whatever desktop programs they need, enhancing the flexibility of both your desktop PC and yourself.

Improved hardware, graphics and speed

Windows 10 is an exciting proposition for hardware manufacturers and consumers; a plethora of extra options are available with plug-in keyboards just one example.

Graphics card capabilities have also got people talking about the PC as a gaming outlet once more. An enhancement of graphics cards has led to the development of more interesting and immersive games, in turn, appealing to a much broader spectrum of consumers.

For those console gamers, the main criticism is nearly always the speed at which it takes to download games. Whilst Xbox One and PS4 gamers sit staring at download speeds that are less-than-impressive, delivery services like Steam and Origin ensure that PC games can be ordered, installed and even played in minutes rather than hours or even days.

Cortana better than Siri?

The smart assistant; it’s the way forward right? Well, not only has Microsoft been developing an operating system that can work on a touchscreen as good as it does with a mouse and keyboard, but it has also been fashioning new initiatives such as Cortana.

Of course, Siri is Apple’s counterpart, but Cortana can be downloaded on iOS as well as Android. Plus, Cortana is able to comprehend typed and spoken text, whilst Siri can do just the latter. Cortana’s versatility across all platforms undoubtedly improves its ability as a virtual PA.

If there was a box, Microsoft would be thinking outside of it

Microsoft has almost everything nailed. Its creativity, power supply, graphics and innovation is laudable. But, the company continues to think outside the box. The stylus, for example, may not be a modern creation, yet the virtual pen that goes hand-in-hand with the Surface Pro, a sight to behold.

Even then though Microsoft refuses to stop. Microsoft’s Surface Dial gives users a different option with which to interact with their Windows PC instead of the usual, boring mouse and keyboard combination.

Virtual Reality the next phenomenon

If Windows PCs don’t already have an advantage over their rivals, then Virtual Reality (VR) confirms it. A top quality Windows PC is both good enough and powerful enough to support the VR gamechanger, the Oculus Rift, whereas a Mac just simply couldn’t. It’s this importance of graphics cards that trumps the processor, and, possessing greater graphics and power, the PC is more than capable of holding its own against its rivals.

VR is becoming increasingly popular and prevalent in the gaming world, despite it currently being a niche industry. Windows has always been highly-rated amongst gamers and this is unlikely to change with the desktop PC enjoying a resurgence as technology improves and the importance of a sophisticated machine to support it increases.