Weekly poll: what device do you use for gaming? A smartphone, tablet, PC or console?
Is the Golden Age of Affordable Gaming Over?
It’s no secret that the gaming industry has hit a few speed bumps lately. From the supply chain chaos during the pandemic that turned the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X into modern-day relics, to the crypto mining craze that snatched up every available GPU, it’s been a rough ride. To top it all off, the current surge in AI development has turned RAM chips into the industry’s new ‘gold,’ further tightening the supply chain.
The ripple effect is clear: prices are climbing across the board. We’ve seen notable price hikes for the PS5, Xbox, Steam Deck, and even the upcoming Nintendo Switch successor. Even digital services aren’t immune—though Microsoft did retreat on some of their Game Pass price hikes after a massive outcry from the gaming community. When hardware giants like Nvidia and AMD start re-releasing older tech like the RTX 3060 and Ryzen 7 5800X3D just to keep budget-conscious gamers in the fold, you know the market is in a weird spot.
Even the smartphone world, which usually prides itself on constant innovation, is feeling the heat. High-end gaming phones are creeping up in price, and the mid-range sector is starting to follow suit. With cutting-edge silicon becoming increasingly expensive to manufacture, we’re left wondering: how is this changing your gaming habits?
We want to get a pulse on where everyone is landing these days. Are you sticking to your battle station PC, jumping on the x86 handheld trend, or is your trusty smartphone or tablet getting all your playtime? Let us know in our latest poll.
What is your go-to gaming device?
Note: Feel free to select more than one option.
