Console gamers and PC gamers have been at odds since the dawn of time (at least it seems that way). Consoles of the past were unable to match PCs in their processing power and astounding graphics, much less make themselves into such gaming powerhouses as they are in more recent years.
Finally, more modern consoles are making more robust systems that are so much more like computers in their own right. However, making the systems more like computers comes with its own slew of issues.
10 Good Thing: Quality Gameplay Is More Accessible
A good gaming rig can cost thousands, though the price tends to be a bit cheaper if it's built to the user's specifications instead of a mass marketing scheme. A good console can cost only a few hundred. Add that to a television that is likely already in a house, and it's a clear win for the consoles in terms of price.
That means that more players are able to get their hands on quality gameplay. Not everyone can afford a quality computer or has the time, skills, and energy necessary to build their own in order to keep up with the needed power.
9 Bad Thing: Exclusivity Is On The Rise
Exclusive games have been a thing for a long time. Now that games are getting to the point of having nearly the same quality between platforms, their exclusivity is going up.
More games are starting to release strictly to one console, which negates the positive fact that they are cheaper. All this does is alienate people who don't have a given system as they try to force gamers to buy yet another new system so they can actually play all the games they want.
8 Good Thing: Preferred Playstyle Is More Important
Now that consoles are starting to become computers in and of themselves, it matters more about how someone likes to play rather than how they have to play. This also allows players with disabilities the ability to enjoy a game on a system that is better for them and not have to worry about a loss of quality.
Even handhelds like the Nintendo Switch are becoming powerhouses in their own right. So now the systems aren't needing to be restricted to a big setup in order to get pretty games, as even the smaller consoles are gaining the ability to handle quality games.
7 Bad Thing: They Are Getting Bigger
There is one major problem of a console getting beefier capabilities and that is that they have to get bigger to accommodate that. Gone are the times where consumers desired smaller electronics, and now it is becoming necessary again to have large systems. This can cause some issues finding safe locations to put them.
They're starting to take up way too much space comparatively. Even handheld consoles are starting to get gigantic and hard to handle in order to make room for all of the hardware. The good news is after the systems have had some time to get out there and collect data, most companies release a slim edition to help with this issue.
6 Good Thing: Better Customer Support
Now that modern systems are becoming more like computers, it's easier to diagnose when something goes wrong and how to fix it. Since most modern systems can connect to the internet, it allows for the system to be connected remotely with a support team that has been specifically trained for that brand.
Often times a dedicated support team can send out pings and potential fixes without the owners needing to do anything but pick up a phone or get into a chatbox on the manufacturer's website. It is convenient and helps free up retail establishments for their intended use of selling things, not diagnosing them.
5 Bad Thing: Costs Are Going Up
Due to the fact they are getting more powerful and capable of doing more things, it makes sense that the prices are going up to accommodate the fact that everything, the consoles themselves, the games, and the accessories, are all increasing in price. This has the negative effect of making them less accessible to more people as time goes on.
Not to mention all of the subscription fees out there to keep them running, microtransactions, and how incomplete games and DLCs are starting to become more and more mainstream even on the beloved consoles. There's also the issue of the television itself which has to be able to keep up with higher quality images being sent through it.
4 Good Thing: More Community Engagement
More games are able to put out special events and engage their player base in a way that they couldn't before now that consoles are getting better. They can send out patches to missed bugs, and implement features, fixes, and new content based on player feedback.
Some consoles are even getting the ability to record, and therefore streamers can also have an easier time engaging their own fanbases. It's a win/win for everyone involved, as more and more people can be connected and free advertising gets out there for the developers.
3 Bad Thing: They Are More Hackable
The more internet and computerizing a system gets, with more microtransactions on their games, the more likely it is that someone out there is going to get into it when they aren't supposed to.
That starts causing a lot of legal trouble, including who is at fault should a gaming console get hacked and damage the owner. Consoles don't yet include the capability to install firewalls, which just increases the likelihood of hackers finding backdoors wide open as systems progress.
2 Good Thing: Upgrades No Longer Come With Losing Everything
A major issue that consoles have had in the past is so few of them actually have any sort of backward compatibility at all. If they do it might be for one generation, but that is all. PCs have almost always been able to run games up to a decade behind it, while still being able to run future games fine for years.
Now that consoles are starting to become more like computers, the developers are realizing that they can't get away with making their userbase get rid of absolutely everything they have every few years or so to get the newest system. So they are getting more backward compatibility, keeping access to digital libraries, and keeping support for accessories that already exist.
1 Bad Thing: They Are Becoming Too Internet-Reliant
Modern consoles are getting to the point that due to their internal computers, they need a stable internet connection in order to update and run properly, update their software, and store save files. That means that gamers without these, such as those who live out in rural areas, are unable to play.
It also means that even console games are coming out with more and more bugs, pushing in microtransactions, and all of the other downsides of formerly PC exclusive gaming since they all can just be patched later with an internet connection.