Current Events > Do video game companies make more from PC sales or console sales?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Both initially during the release window and over the long term

im guessing PC being near 100% digital means lower costs/higher profit margins, but console sales having more volume?

---

Varies. It's a total crapshoot sometimes. Orcs Must Die sold nothing on console so they only made PC version of 2.


---

Bump if anyone has any info and/or opinions

---

It really depends on the company I think. Steam takes the same digital cut as Xbox and Playstation and pretty much all of the major publishers make more money from digital and DLC at this point so I think potential userbase matters more these days.

Actually here's an example from EA who even own their own PC storefront.
https://ir.ea.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2020/Electronic-Arts-Reports-Q4-and-Full-Year-FY20-Financial-Results/

Consoles are their top earner.

---

Consoles for the most part sadly, so they prioritize consoles over PC which hold most games back from their true potential.

---

lets be real people pirate on pc so not pc

I know this argument is older than the hills but we're seeing a lot of integration into PC through gamepass, expanded AAA ports, etc. We have Horizon Zero Dawn, Madden, Death Stranding etc in the last 1-3 years alone and that's just off the top of my head.

Consoles sell more games by volume, sure, but PC integration is growing and not shrinking.

---

Darmik posted...

It really depends on the company I think. Steam takes the same digital cut as Xbox and Playstation and pretty much all of the major publishers make more money from digital and DLC at this point so I think potential userbase matters more these days.

Actually here's an example from EA who even own their own PC storefront.
https://ir.ea.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2020/Electronic-Arts-Reports-Q4-and-Full-Year-FY20-Financial-Results/

Consoles are their top earner.

EA's top franchises are FIFA and Madden so this isn't really a fair comparison. Those two games haven't been on PC in aeons.

---

Depends on the business model, but overall PC revenues have outdistanced console profits since 2012. Where are they making the money? PC gamers spend a lot more on microtransactions.

---

I play on PC exclusively and I have to say consoles.
---

leebul posted...

Consoles for the most part sadly, so they prioritize consoles over PC which hold most games back from their true potential.

the potential is zero if theres no money in it.