By Sagar V. Mankar 
According to a report from investment research firm Epyllion, PC gaming now commands 53% of non-mobile gaming sales, marking a remarkable evolution from its 29% share two decades ago.
While console gaming has shown signs of stagnation since 2021, PC gaming has experienced an impressive 20% growth.
Several factors have contributed to this surge, including the release of major titles like Baldur’s Gate 3, Helldivers 2, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, Palworld, and Diablo 4, which have either exclusively targeted PC players or found particular success on the platform.
Why PC Gaming Is Winning
Matthew Ball, Epyllion’s CEO, points to several key advantages that PC gaming holds over traditional consoles:
- Extensive game library with better backward compatibility
- Superior multitasking capabilities
- Higher performance potential
- Access to formerly console-exclusive titles like The Last of Us
- Exclusive premium content for games like Roblox
- Growth of portable PC gaming through devices like the Steam Deck
Console Gaming’s Current State
The traditional console market has faced challenges in recent years. The current generation of consoles, including the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, has seen slower adoption rates compared to their predecessors. In fact, after 49 months on the market, these consoles have sold nearly 7 million fewer units than the previous generation.
Differing Market Perspectives
While Epyllion’s data shows PC gaming in the lead, there’s some debate within the industry about exact market shares. Newzoo, another market research firm, reported different figures in 2023, showing console gaming ahead by $16 billion. Ball addresses this discrepancy, explaining that it likely stems from different methodologies in tracking Chinese market sales, where PC gaming dominates the AA/AAA segment.
Future Outlook
The future appears bright for PC gaming, with Ball expressing strong confidence in continued growth. The potential expansion of Steam into living room and handheld gaming could further strengthen PC gaming’s position.
Additionally, the growing influence of platforms like Roblox is reshaping young gamers’ preferences, with many children less likely to request expensive consoles for AAA gaming experiences.
Industry Context
This shift comes during a challenging period for the gaming industry overall. Following significant growth between 2011 and 2021, the industry has experienced a plateau in revenue growth. However, both PC and console gaming have shown remarkable expansion since 2011, with consumers spending approximately $50 billion more on games across both platforms compared to that period.
The gaming industry continues to evolve, and while console gaming maintains a significant presence with upcoming releases like the Nintendo Switch 2 and the PS5 Pro, PC gaming’s versatility and growing advantages suggest its leadership position may continue to strengthen in the coming years.
Source: Epyllion’s State of Video Gaming in 2025 report