Computer Gaming

Computer gaming is different yet similar to console gaming. For instance, computers are able to be custom built unlike consoles. They are also able to have different operating systems. Computers are often able to do a lot more than a console. Computer part prices have increased dramatically in recent years due to a global chip shortage facing the electronics industry.

Computers have game stores that aren't owned by the OS or part producers. These game stores aren't minor either. They attract millions of users and often have major sales to compete with each other. Console stores don't discount their products as much because the store owner is the same company as the console producer. This creates a monopoly on the console that allows for the company to influence third party developers who want to put a game on to a console.  

The biggest stores on computers are Steam, GOG, and Epic Games. Steam is much larger than the other two but still has to compete with them, other stores, and pirates. Piracy is much easier on computers than on consoles. Entire websites can be dedicated to passing around pirated games. This leads to massive sales as stores cut prices to compete with pirates and each other.

Computer gaming has been a smaller industry compared to consoles due to the costs of purchasing a computer to a console. Computer gaming stayed relatively small until the release of Wolfenstien and Doom. This caused a wave of new game releases called Doom clones. This caused the birth of the first person shooter. Computer gaming also has a large amount of exclusives as many independent developers can't afford to put their games on consoles and some games are either too demanding or would not control well on consoles. Since computers are able to run older games with few problems, computer game libraries can be supplemented by old classic games easier than consoles.