PC Gaming

So I'm a millennial (35 years old), and I have the following devices that I play games on (in order of most gaming prestige to least):

• Xbox Series X
• Steam Deck
• Lenovo Thinkpad T480
• Macbook Pro M1

I can tell you right now I am struggling to find a reason to play games on my XSX. On my Steam Deck/Thinkpad? I have a massive library of games, from old and new.

One of the biggest mistakes that this generation of gaming has done is do lots of remasters of old games - now I have my Steam Deck with all these old titles, I wonder in most cases why I'm paying so much money for such little return (my personal feeling is that the Resident Evil franchise is the only exception to this - the PS1/PS2 games, if they were ported onto PC, had horrible controls and lacklustre saving mechanisms. The remasters solve this as well as enhanced graphics).

Furthermore, the biggest selling point for me with the XSX was the backwards compatibility of old games like GTA IV and RDR. RDR aside, most of these games have made their way onto PC with a controller scheme that is fully compatible with any modern controller, let alone the Steam Deck.

It's quite funny how my XSX in recent times has been used more as a TV streaming device until I upgraded my TV, which has the smart apps on the TV, so I don't need the XSX any more.

I have strongly considered selling my XSX, but honestly GTA VI is the only thing that's keeping the XSX in my living room. I am awfully tempted to pack it up and put it in the loft until GTA VI comes out - that is how little I care about the console. Over the weekend I went to my brother's and played on his PS5 - apart from the triggers, I couldn't immediately find the selling point, nor could I convince myself to shell out up to £500 on a console where the only game I would be interested in playing is God of War Ragnarok and/or Uncharted franchise.

This console generation by both companies has been exceptionally weak. It's kind of funny that I sold my Nintendo Switch for the Steam Deck, but I've found owning a Switch to be far more compelling and memorable than owning any of the modern games consoles; Super Mario Oddysey was great, even if it was a little too hard for me, and BOTW was actually a little fun, but I really had to tap out after a few hours in. Donky Kong Tropical Freeze was just absolutely incredible and stellar. I can't tell you any first party game I've enjoyed on XSX outside of Forza Horizon 5, but even then, FH5 was effectively a reskin of FH4).

Oh, and I don't think it needs to be said, but the Macbook is not very good as a gaming machine. It's OK for small indie titles, but unless Apple gets its finger out (it never will unless gaming makes them gangbusters for very little money - not very likely in long term), the Macbook/iPhone/iPad/Apple TV will always be a second class citizen to even the crappiest PC.