Why Younger Gamers are Snubbing $1,000+ Hardware

These days, more and more younger gamers are opting for handheld consoles instead of powerful PC rigs. And it's not even exclusively because of the rising prices of PC parts. Yes, that is an important part of the equation, but there are other factors at play here, including a massive cultural shift and the rise of an entire new generation of games... and gamers.

Let's talk about that!

Gen Z are Playing Different Kinds of Games

Perhaps the biggest part of the issue here is the fact that Gen Z gamers primarily use their mobile devices, not just for web browsing but for playing video games with their friends.

The setup is effortless.

1. Download Among Us
2. Download and log into Discord
3. Join the call and start the lobby

New types of games have started emerging left, right, and center, but Gen Z gamers are still managing to follow all the latest trends. What used to be genres reserved almost exclusively for desktop PCs (like MMORPGs, for example) are now readily available on mobile devices.

We've noticed the rise in popularity of mobile poker games, Uno, and similar titles, which combine well-known card game mechanics with modern gameplay twists.

From the looks of things, long gone are the days of AAA titles dominating the market. Now, it's all about finding simple games without a difficult initial setup, and getting your friends to play them with you.

The Prices are Skyrocketing

Another reason why so many younger gamers are choosing smartphones instead of desktop PCs is the prices. We're seeing mid-range rigs go well above $1,000, which was crazy 10-15 years ago.

"But smartphones can cost just as much as desktop PCs nowadays."

Yes, that's true. But, if you're a middle-class 16-year-old, you can either choose a low-end PC and a middle-of-the-pack smartphone, none of which can play good games... or you can choose a premium smartphone and use it for both gaming, web browsing, and all things digital.

The Cultural Shift is Real

Another factor worth mentioning is the cultural shift between millennials and Gen Zs. 10-15 years ago, when we were considered young adults, having a buffed-out desktop PC was considered a status symbol. Having a console was cool, no doubts there, but only the coolest kids had a proper gaming PC.

It wasn't just about gaming either; it was about bragging rights. There was a whole scene that took pride in PC mods, posting them to various Subreddits and up on 4Chan. Mechanical keyboards, glass side panels, and glorious RGB - that's what OG millennial flex was all about.

The golden days of Twitch only reinforced these PC master race status symbols. RGB was everywhere; every single streamer had a flashy setup that us regular mortals could only dream of.

Now, Gen Zs are playing just as much as we did back in our days, but they're not flexing with their setups. In fact, many of them don't even have desktop PCs - everything is handheld and mobile.

So, what are they flexing with? Modern phones aren't that customizable, so there's no point going down that route. Instead, they're flexing with Twitch subs, YouTube Premium, livestream donations, and stuff we'd simply be way too embarrassed to flex with.

What's Next?

It's hard to say. One thing is certain, though, I doubt we'll ever go back to desktop PCs and fully-fledged home consoles dominating the gaming market.

Gen Z are all about smartphone gaming and handheld consoles like the Nintendo Switch and the Steam Deck. At the end of the day, who are we to judge?