Triple-A video games have held an unsurprising hold on the video game community for decades. They are kind of like the blockbuster movies of the gaming industry, high-budget games produced and distributed by well-known publishers and studios. Despite their price, these games have promised consumers a higher quality experience, which has only risen as the years pass. That said, while triple-A games still have a necessary place within the industry, the next generation of home consoles has the potential to threaten their dominance with the help of digital storefronts and cloud gaming.
Digital gaming storefronts have unmistakably become a game changer within the industry. Not only do they provide an easier avenue for consumers to buy games, but they also uplift games from independent developers to mainstream audiences. Undertale and Stardew Valley were able to see the record sales they do for being hosted on online platforms like Steam, leading them to achieve or even exceed the success some triple-A titles have had.
So when rumors of a potential collaboration between Valve, the company behind Steam, and Microsoft on the next Xbox console arose, people were understandably excited. To have a digital platform with such magnitude as Steam on an Xbox console would likely end console-exclusive games and allow triple-a and independent games an equal playing field.
That said, the feasibility of such a console would undoubtedly make it pricier than any that came before it. At the same time, PC gaming computers are a worthwhile alternative that leaves out the reasons the general public sticks with console gaming. PC gaming is simply more technically demanding with consoles. PC gaming computers can be bought pre-built, but if a consumer wants to have a decent desktop themselves, they would need to build one, and each of those parts isn’t the cheapest.
