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State of Play: PC

We take a closer look at the current state of the PC platform.

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Part re-evaluation, part updated buyer's guide, we take a look at each platform in turn, framing it through the most recent announcements and what they mean for its future, as well as considering what the system offers as of right now and whether it's worth picking up, and giving our own personal recommendations for must-play games.

Now & Tomorrow

PC actually falls into three categories; Windows PC, Mac and Linux (though soon we reckon we'll be referring to Linux as SteamOS when it comes to gaming). Windows PC (Windows 7 or Windows 8) are the standard, Mac has a decent-ish library of games, but it's not really a gaming platform first and foremost, and Linux/SteamOS is growing thanks to Valve's incoming OS and Steam Machines.

The future for the platform is complex. We daresay Mac will remain largely the same, with a few triple-A titles making the jump to the platform a many months later than they're available everywhere else. SteamOS is the great unknown, with Steam Machines coming early next year; it's the success of Valve's new hardware that'll largely determine the success of their operating system. We all know Steam is still king when it comes to PC, and that it will remain so for the foreseeable future, but rival platforms Origin and Uplay continue to make inroads into the hearts and minds of PC gamers, even though they're still a long way off from competing on an even keel.

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It's SteamOS and Steam Machines that are the most interesting developments of recent years. If Valve can transition themselves into the living room space more traditionally associated with consoles, then revolution could be in the air. We suspect we're a long way off from that, and a victory in our eyes would consist of making Steam Machines a viable fourth mainstream option behind the platforms released by Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo. There's also the small matter of in-home streaming, allowing gamers to stream their games from their main rig via a laptop or smaller system in the living room. At the very least we're expecting Valve's new Steam Controller to be a resounding success, and we can't wait to get our hands on the device for an extended playtest, to see if it works as well as Valve are claiming it will across a broad range of titles.

State of Play: PC
Valve are currently trying to transition into the living room.

Another interesting development that's heading to the PC platform is the Oculus Rift. It's much further in development than it's only major rival, Sony's Project Morpheus. The VR headset could, if released at an affordable price point, end up being an essential piece of kit for PC owning gamers the world over. We've tested it at several events already, and with demos appearing for titles such as Alien: Isolation, our excitement for the headset continues to grow (alas, it's just a demo and according to Sega, Isolation won't become an Oculus game).

We mentioned Uplay and Origin earlier, and you can add to that list sites such as GOG.com, GreenManGaming and Humble. There's a growing selection of digital stores to rival Steam, and as such the digital landscape is looking as healthy as ever, at least on the surface. However, bubbling away behind the scenes there's a change going on, one that involves dropping prices, a potentially toxic sales culture, and a constant stream of bundles.

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The danger is that the PC market will see prices spiralling out of control, plummeting downwards until we have a platform that more closely resembles the App Store than the current setup. To be fair, other platforms have started to follow suit, with increasingly large sales hitting Xbox Live and PSN, but there's still a worrying trend emerging where games are being undervalued. Part of the reason behind this is the changes being brought to Steam by Valve, with more games landing on the platform than ever before and therefore developers and publishers trying to gain traction and attention via lower price points. It's a trend that doesn't look like going away. However, don't underestimate the power of the constant sales that are popping up on digital distribution sites all over the web, and the never-ending procession of bundles - collections of games where several titles can be bought for mere pennies. If devs don't start valuing their games more highly, why should the paying public do so on their behalf?

But this evolution - for better or worse - won't happen over night, it never does when it comes to PC, and therein lies its major strength; consistency. The PC platform is currently in good health, and we don't envisage that changing anytime soon, even if there are worrying signs on the horizon.

State of Play: PC
At the time of writing, Deus Ex: Human Revolution is in the latest Humble Bundle

Exclusives

So life will continue on PC much as it has done for many, many years now. The lack of a life cycle for the PC platform means an ever-growing, constantly-swelling roster of games is accumulating, one that puts the offerings of even PS3 and Xbox 360 to shame.

When it comes to games, PC can't be beat, and even if you were to cite the many console exclusives published by the big three, any self-respecting PC owner would be able to throw back a lengthy list of PC-exclusive titles that will never appear on console. While you might not be able to play Mario Kart 8, Halo 4 or Killzone: Shadow Fall on your gaming rig, you'll also never be able to play Civilization: Beyond Earth on PS4 or Wii U. The complexity of these kinds of PC games means they just wouldn't work well on console, and there'd likely be a lack of interest in them even if they did make it over. These more thought-provoking experiences have always found their natural home in the PC space, and this won't change in the short-term.

One offshoot of the strategy genre is the Moba. It's a sub-category of gaming that has more recently spilled onto consoles, but the big-hitters nearly all reside exclusively on PC, with League of Legends currently duelling with Dota 2 and a host of other titles that pull characters from a multitude of different sources as they look to find a place in the marker. And there's also the small matter of Blizzard's Heroes of the Storm looming on the horizon. These games are spawned from Defense of the Ancients, a mod for Warcraft 3 (which is a real-time strategy game, but with an emphasis on powerful hero characters) whereby individual characters/heroes must work together to take down enemy turrets and bases. It's RPG meets RTS; a simple formula that has endured, largely untouched, for several years now.

State of Play: PC
Huge crowds are drawn in for eSports, a scene dominated by PC games.

Another type of game that can almost be considered PC-exclusive is the simulator genre. Games occasionally pop up on other platforms, but if you're serious about driving trains and buses, piloting aircraft, or anything in-between, then PC is definitely the best place to do it.

Then there's the indies. While Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo are all embracing the indie scene at the moment (and the same should be said of iOS and Android, where smaller studios thrive), PC will always be the home of the indie dev. The open nature of the platform means it's simple to develop for, and releasing a game is relatively straight forward. The close attention being paid by the big three means that some of the best experiences will end up on PS4, Xbox One and Wii U one way or another, but there's no way that any of them can keep track of the huge number of interesting and diverse games coming through the ranks. Most will end up on PC first.

Apps & Interface

We've already covered the different platforms on PC, and the list of apps also puts the offerings on consoles to shame. When it comes to Mac it's more tightly controlled through the App Store, but even that's crammed full of programs of all shapes and sizes.

SteamOS is built using Linux, which is a completely open-source operating system, meaning anyone has permission to tinker with the code. This is simultaneouly Linux's biggest strength and weakness; you can do what you want with it, but multiple builds of the OS means compatibility can be a nightmare. Valve are hoping to get around this issue with SteamOS. It remains to be seen whether people are happy to stray away from the Windows interface that we've all grown up with over the years.

When it comes to Windows there's still two viable operating systems, Windows 7 and Windows 8. The latter is aiming at offering a service more akin to what Apple are doing with their OS, with a unified interface and an app store of sorts. Windows 7, its predecessor, remains a popular alternative for the simple reason that some people prefer the old openness of the platform, and this is easier to maintain on 7.

Within Windows PC there's several different platforms. Steam is the most popular, but EA's Origin and Ubisoft's Uplay continue to offer competition to Valve's long-standing platform. There's also sites like GOG.com and Gamersgate, but these tend to rely on Steam and feed into that system by selling codes to players that can then be tied to an existing Steam account. There's also smaller platforms such as Desura, which until swarms of indies ended up finding themselves on Steam without too much fuss, was the go-to place to check out the latest indie titles.

State of Play: PC
Microsoft might have Xbox, but they also have Windows, the dominant PC operating system.

Peripherals

We've talked about Oculus before, so we'll not repeat ourselves again. Obviously VR isn't PC exclusive, but the Oculus system is the clear forerunner on this platform, and Facebook's acquisition of the headset maker has only solidified that position.

Beyond that the PC has the widest range of all the platforms when it comes to peripherals. That's part of the attraction; you can tinker and improve when and as you see fit. There's huge numbers of gaming mice, mechanical keyboards, controllers (though the Xbox 360 pad remains the clear favourite at the moment) and more. In fact, there's too many to single out any one manufacturer, and there's so much choice that if you're thinking of making a purchase then research is essential.

But the PC platform goes further than just simple peripherals. You can upgrade absolutely everything, from the monitor on your desk to the graphics cards that power the visuals displayed thereon. That is ultimately the biggest selling point of the PC - choice. You can do what you want, when you want, and you can potentially make the system absolutely incredible, able to easily better the very best that any console could even dream of producing. If you can afford it. It's also the most expensive way to game.

State of Play: PC
The Roccat Kone XTD. Just one of the many peripheral options available to PC gamers.

Recommended Games

Civilization V

State of Play: PC

Civilization V is perhaps the pinnacle of the turn-based strategy genre and a personal favourite of ours. That said, we probably played Civilization IV more back in the day. Both games are exceptional and we can't wait to get our hands on Civilization: Beyond Earth, which mixes Civ sensibilities with a setting more akin to the classic Alpha Centauri. Recent expansions to Civ V (Gods & Kings and Brave New World) have turned the latest series entry into the definitive strategy game, and Beyond Earth has a lot of work to do if it's to better it.

Starcraft II

State of Play: PC

Blizzard has always made great RTS games, and while we still fondly remember the original Warcraft games, it's StarCraft II's real-time skirmishes that are the genre king since the Command & Conquer series started to fade into the background. This sci-fi sequel has seen two instalments to date (Heart of the Swarm and Wings of Liberty), and the online multiplayer remains one of the most popular eSports on the planet. It's insanely deep, but with that complexity comes a rewarding experience that stands above its peers.

Spelunky

State of Play: PC

Before the upgraded and updated version of Spelunky found its way back on PC (via a console release), there was - and still is - a free version of Derek Yu's platformer that entertained PC gamers the world over. We've got the new version now, that comes complete with daily challenges, leaderboards, cutesy graphics and a fiendish rogue-like challenge that isn't bettered anywhere else.

Crusader Kings II

State of Play: PC

There's plenty of reasons why you could catagorise the grand strategy games coming out of Paradox Interactive - Crusader Kings II and Europa Universalis IV in particular - as simulators rather than as straight-up strategy games. While these sandboxes might be super complicated, once the systems therein have been mastered they both offer up incredibly immersive experiences. Crusader Kings II gets the nod because of the powerful player-driven storytelling found within.

Dota

State of Play: PCState of Play: PC

There's so many different brands of Moba that it felt mean picking a preference. The obvious heavyweights are League of Legends (which still attracts a crazy amount of players) and Dota 2 (the latest tournament for Valve's entry offered a $10 million prize pool). Add to that list a multitude of potential contenders, each pulling inspiration from different IPs and marrying that with the core principles of the genre. The Moba genre is in great shape at the moment, and if you're one of the millions of gamers who enjoy these types of games, you're currently spoilt for choice.

World of Warcraft

State of Play: PC

There's other MMOs out there that deserve a mention (Star Wars: The Old Republic, Wildstar, The Elder Scrolls Online, Guild Wars 2, RuneScape), but the undisputed genre king is Blizzard's World of Warcraft. It still pulls the biggest numbers, and has the most dedicated fanbase. Updates and expansions have been fairly regular over the years, and with plans to accelerate the amount of new content heading to WoW's servers, Blizzard's evergreen game looks like it'll remain the MMO to beat for some time to come.

The Orange Box

State of Play: PC

Rather than write up entries based on its component parts, it's easier to talk about the whole. Valve's collection includes Half-Life 2 (plus Episode One and Episode Two), Portal and Team Fortress 2 (the latter of which is now free-to-play, but still). All told that represents incredible value for money. A brain melting puzzler, an insanely popular multiplayer shooter, and one of the most important single-player games ever made. The Orange Box is a bonafide PC classic.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

State of Play: PC

Yes, you can play Skyrim on console, but Bethesda's RPG is at its most beautiful and spectacular when played on PC. Not only does it look fantastic, but it can look even better when played with the mods that have been added to the game via a proactive community. There's also a plethora of user-generated content that can't be access via console, bringing new worlds and new adventures to the PC version of the game.

Doom and Quake

State of Play: PC

There's not many more seminal games than this pair. The original Doom was created off the back of Wolfenstein 3D, but it was id's follow-up that took over the world. Distributed widely thanks to a shareware version of the title that put one of the game's acts into the hands of millions, Doom opened up a new genre to the masses. Then, id had the audacity to follow that up with Quake, another game that dragged the shooter space forward and on into the future. The fast-paced action of both means that they stand up to inspection even to this day, and if you haven't played them yet, then there's every reason to check them out.

Minecraft

State of Play: PC

Even if building things isn't your thing, it's hard not to admire the achievements of Minecraft. Mojang's take on the genre (because let's admit it, it wasn't the first game of its kind) has turned into a goliath of the PC space, and his since filtered down onto consoles and tablets. There's a story in there somewhere, but Minecraft's appeal rests in the act of creation and collaboration, and that's why it's one of the most popular games in the world.

Total War: Rome II

State of Play: PC

Total War: Rome II and Total War: Shogun 2 both offer a marriage of turn-based and real-time strategy, and these games are among our favourite PC exclusives. If we had to choose one we'd go with Rome II, as we prefer the setting, even if Shogun 2 was probably the tighter, more polished experience. The trademark of both (indeed, the whole series) is huge battles with thousands of units. It's gaming on an epic scale.

Monaco: What's Yours is Mine

State of Play: PC

Another favourite of ours is indie game Monaco, a top-down stealth-em up that throws together Thief-like scenarios with Pacman-esque gameplay sensibilities. As a single-player game it's entertaining enough, but when played with friends it turns into one of the most enjoyable multiplayer experiences ever conceived. Playing with strangers on the internet isn't quite the same, but if you've got three buddies who're up for the heist, it's well worth checking out.

DayZ

State of Play: PC

DayZ is leading the charge of the survival genre, a burgeoning collection of games that put players into impossible situations, either alone or on persistent servers with others, and asks them to do nothing other than survive. DayZ has been released as a standalone zombie survival sim, but it's still not feature complete, and so many fans are sticking to the original - a mod of Bohemia Interactive's Arma 2. If you want to avoid the undead, and witness both the best and the worst that humanity has to offer, DayZ is one of the best places to do it.



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