Microsoft: We Vow Continued PC Gaming Support

A Microsoft representative recently told EDGE that Microsoft will continue to invest in "... online gaming services including Games for Windows – Live, MSN Games and Messenger games, and through new games for Windows developed by Microsoft Games Studios."

EDGE's Kris Graft pointed out that Microsoft has closed five, FIVE game studios in the last two and a half years, and what studios MS has left have little to no recent PC game development. So was the Microsoft rep telling a little white lie? Absolutely.



While I lament the loss of game studios like Ensemble and Aces, whose stellar efforts with Age of Empires and FlightSim have provided me with hours, if not days of fun me-time, it's hard to argue with the numbers. Just a quick snapshot of sales data on VGChartz shows a disturbing trend for PC game developers and sadly, gamers.

As of today, the ten best-selling PC games in America were released as far back as 1994 (Doom II - 2.18 million units sold), and most recently 2004 (World of Warcraft - 2.43 million units sold).

Contrast that with American game sales for just the Xbox 360 and you'll see a more dire trend. Of the ten best-selling Xbox 360 games in America, the oldest was released in 2006 (Marvel Ultimate Alliance - 2.56 million units sold), and the latest came out just a few months ago, in November 2008 (Call of Duty: World at War - 3.14 million units sold).

The top ten sellers in PC gaming had an average of 8 years on the market to sell 34.74 million units total in America alone.

The top ten selling Xbox 360 games had an average of just over ONE YEAR to sell 36.95 million units in America.

I had always subscribed to the prevailing theories about PC gaming going the way of the Dodo, but hadn't looked into the statistics myself. Now I'm sad that I did. The truth hurts for this old PC gamer; hoisted on my own petard by purchasing an Xbox 360 and many hundreds of dollars in games and accessories instead of upgrading my PC.

But hey, that doesn't mean you all have to sell out, does it? Check out our Gaming Laptop reviews, or if you've already decided on the dark path, we have you covered with Video Game Console reviews.

Related posts:

Command & Conquer Red Alert 3: Uprising Cast

Counterpoint: Netbooks Not Going Down Without a Fight

Video Games Outsell Movies in 2008