The 9th Generation struggled from the get-go. Both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S were both released at the backend of 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic was still raging and the majority of people found themselves locked down at home. It caused all kinds of supply chain problems, leading to the famous ‘scalping era’, where gamers were desperately trying to get their hands on new consoles that had been bought by scalpers and listed at highly inflated costs on eBay and other sites. But today, they’re ditching them. Why?
Arguably, neither Sony nor Microsoft recovered from this, with the 9th Generation failing to get back on track after its disastrous start. Since then, there’s been a shortage of console-exclusive games (and new games in general), publishers have focused too much on microtransactions, and costs for pretty much anything console-related have skyrocketed. Ultimately, this has led to the 9th Generation going down as a “flop”, with the overriding feeling from players being that it never truly got started.
All of this has been capped off recently by media reports that console sales have tanked. 2024 was the worst year on record for Xbox sales, while Sony announced the same year that the PS5 had failed to meet sales expectations and was now in “the latter stage of its lifecycle”. And aside from the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto 6 — which looks set to break all records and become the highest-selling video game of all time — there isn’t much to be excited about as a console fan, hence why so many players are ditching Microsoft and Sony’s long-standing console brands.
What Are the Most Popular Gaming Platforms Today?
Even though the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S are experiencing a major drop-off in sales, gaming itself is still as popular as ever. In fact, the latest research shows that there are 3.32 billion and counting gamers around the world, the biggest number ever on record. But if console sales are no longer growing, which platforms are the new-generation gamers using? Here’s what you need to know.
Mobile (iOS, Android)
Of all the available gaming platforms today, mobile is officially the most popular. Statista recently found that 61% of gamers now use either iOS or Android devices to play games, leading to the market making almost $100 billion — yep, billion — in 2024. There is no doubt that the world is hooked on mobile games. It was inevitable that this would happen, too, as almost the entire population now has a smartphone, which is effectively a miniature console in itself. You can download free games, play them on the go, and still experience great gameplay and storylines. Best of all, there are so many popular games to choose from, including the likes of PUBG Mobile (1 billion downloads) and Call of Duty: Mobile (700 million downloads).
PC
In a struggling gaming industry, the PC is the shining light right now. Over the past several years, PC games have been outselling console games by a substantial amount. At the same time, there are more people gaming on PCs than on consoles, so it’s fair to say that PCs have officially taken the crown. There are many reasons why this has happened, but the overriding one is that it comes down to performance and customization. You get better graphics, higher frame rates, and the opportunity to customize your PC however you like, whether it’s upgrading the RAM or changing the build design. When you compare it to console, there’s simply a lot more to do, which is why a huge chunk of today’s gamers have migrated over to PC.
Social Gaming Sites
Another big trend since the start of the new decade has been the rise of social gaming sites. The most popular type of social gaming site is the social casino — also known as a ‘sweepstakes casino’ — a place where people can go to play casino games for free, compete in tournaments, and (potentially) win prizes. The review site sweepstake-casinos.com currently ranks Stake.us and WOW Vegas as two of the best social casinos, with both sites offering a huge range of games and prizes. Interestingly, these new types of gaming sites are especially popular with Gen Z and Millennial players, indicating that they’re likely going to become even bigger over the next few years.
Nintendo Switch
If you exclude mobile from the conversation, the Nintendo Switch is the only good handheld device on the market for gaming. Since launching back in 2017, the Switch has sold over 150 million units and is widely regarded as one of Nintendo’s best-ever consoles. Its unique hybrid design, incredible range of games, and booming online community of players have essentially turned the Switch into a must-have platform. The fact that it’s the only place you can play the new Mario and Pokémon games is also a major perk, as these are two of the biggest video game franchises ever made.
Retro Gaming Consoles
An interesting development in the post-pandemic world has been the explosion of nostalgia gaming. What we’re continuing to see is thousands of people going back in time to play on retro consoles from the ‘80s, ‘90s, and 2000s. It’s easy to understand why they’re doing this, too, as games back then had a certain simplicity and charm that you just don’t get today. Not to mention, if you hop on the used market, most retro games are extremely cheap, so you don’t have to splash tons of cash either. Really, it’s a sign of the times: people aren’t satisfied with modern games or consoles, so they’re happier revisiting the past instead.
Is It Truly the End for Consoles?
Based on current trends, consoles do appear to be in trouble. The dominance of PC and mobile, as well as the emergence of new gaming sites like social casinos, are posing a huge threat to the long-term stability of console sales, which have already taken a huge hit over the past few years. Hideaki Nishino, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, has recently confirmed that consoles will still be a big part of Sony’s outlet in the future, but it’s clear to see that both Sony and Microsoft have a lot of work to do. And with Xbox fresh off its worst year for sales ever, too much damage might already have been done.
The future of gaming will almost certainly be driven by mobile (iOS, Android). PCs will also continue to be a driving market force, while VR/AR and the Metaverse will likely also start to crack the mainstream over the next few years. As for whether consoles can bounce back to their prime of the early to mid-2010s, it’s not looking probable. The upcoming release of GTA 6 — the most anticipated video game of all time — will give consoles a major short-term resurgence, that’s for sure. However, once the dust is settled, all signs point to the majority of today’s gamers opting to go with either mobile, PC, or the Metaverse for their future gaming needs.
