Having embarked on my gaming journey at the tender age of four with a Super Nintendo, I have predominantly embraced the world of PC gaming throughout my life. While I hold no animosity towards consoles—indeed, I possess a few myself—the allure of a gaming desktop is unparalleled. The versatility, potential for upgrades, and compatibility with a myriad of games make PC gaming a compelling choice. However, as we step into 2024, it’s clear that the landscape of PC gaming is not without its challenges.
Despite the growing community of PC gamers, persistent issues plague game releases. A significant portion of these challenges stems from the fragmentation of game graphics. Unlike consoles, which typically offer a plug-and-play experience, PC gamers often find themselves tinkering with settings to achieve optimal visuals. Below are some of the common frustrations that many PC gamers encounter, which I hope will be addressed in the near future.
Resolution woes
It’s astonishing how many AAA titles mismanage resolution and scaling. Ideally, when running a game at a monitor’s native resolution, it should automatically detect and adjust accordingly, much like consoles do. Unfortunately, this is not always the case for PC users. Even with high-resolution monitors, such as 1440p or 4K, gamers may find themselves booting up titles that default to 1080p, necessitating a dive into the settings to correct the issue. For those with ultrawide monitors, the situation can become even more complicated, as many games lack optimization for these expansive resolutions.
The situation worsens when one reduces their resolution in Windows. For instance, if you own a 4K monitor but scale down to 1080p to accommodate a demanding game, certain titles may react poorly. Instead of adapting to the new resolution, they can become unplayable, with visuals cropped and settings obscured. This issue has been noted in popular games like Cyberpunk 2077, and in an age where technology should seamlessly adapt, it’s disheartening to encounter such obstacles.
First impressions can also be misleading. In games such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Red Dead Redemption 2, the automatic resolution adjustment can misinterpret your setup, leading to frustrating experiences. For example, despite having an RTX 4080—a powerful 4K gaming card—I found myself staring at only a fraction of the game’s visuals due to incorrect resolution settings. Such minor inconveniences can turn into significant hurdles when navigating menus.
In some instances, gamers may not even see their desired resolution as an option without delving into the .ini files. Titles like Returnal cap resolution options at 1440p, leaving 4K monitor users to scour PCGamingWiki for adjustments.
The many different names for upscaling
Upscaling has become a widely recognized boon in gaming, with technologies like Nvidia DLSS, AMD FSR, and Intel XeSS enhancing performance and visuals. However, the multitude of terms associated with upscaling can create confusion. For instance, Cyberpunk 2077 refers to it as Resolution Scaling, while World of Warcraft calls it Resample Quality. Other titles, like Horizon Zero Dawn, opt for the straightforward Upscale Method.
Beyond merely selecting an upscaling option, players must navigate various versions and settings. Some games, such as Black Myth: Wukong, allow for precise adjustments between performance and quality, while others, like Diablo IV, restrict options based on the graphics card in use. For seasoned PC players, the graphics menu is familiar territory, but the dynamic resolution capabilities of consoles allow for immediate gameplay without the need for extensive tweaking.
Too much is never a good thing
While graphics settings are a hallmark of PC gaming, some titles take this concept to an overwhelming extreme. Games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III offer a plethora of settings that can bewilder even the most experienced gamers. The distinction between Mirror Quality and Reflection Quality in Red Dead Redemption 2 can leave players scratching their heads, while Modern Warfare III raises questions about the impact of Persistent Effects on performance.
A common workaround is to select from preset graphics options, which automatically adjust the finer details. However, the varying impacts of these settings on performance can be perplexing, leaving players uncertain about which adjustments will yield the best frame rates. Although recent advancements have improved clarity regarding the effects of settings, a harmonious balance remains elusive, particularly in franchises like Call of Duty, where the graphics menu continues to expand.
What’s the difference?
Another aspect I wish was more standardized in PC gaming is the availability of previews for graphics settings. Many gamers find it challenging to discern the subtle differences that certain settings make, which complicates the decision-making process. Some games, like Returnal, offer live previews during adjustments, a feature I would love to see more widely implemented. Others provide static images, which, while better than nothing, still fall short of the ideal.
Unfortunately, numerous titles provide no visual feedback at all, leaving players to guess the impact of their changes on performance. Moreover, crucial gameplay elements can suffer if graphics presets are lowered. For instance, in World of Warcraft, reducing the preset affects projected textures and particle density, potentially hindering gameplay without players realizing it.
To restart or not to restart
As a gamer, I appreciate a seamless user experience, especially when navigating menus and settings. Delays in getting into gameplay can be frustrating, and many PC games still require restarts after changing certain settings. While this is often necessary, the lack of clarity regarding which settings necessitate a restart can lead to further annoyance. Titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Black Myth: Wukong exemplify this issue, leaving players to decipher when a restart is required.
PC gaming could be more streamlined
My passion for PC gaming stems from the incredible versatility it offers. Unlike consoles, which limit access to specific titles, a PC allows for a vast library of games, including classics available only through emulators. While not every game makes its way to PC—Nintendo’s reluctance is well-known—many eventually do, satisfying my gaming appetite. The flexibility, superior performance, and upgradeability of PCs are compelling reasons to choose this platform over consoles.
Yet, I can’t help but wish for a more streamlined experience in PC gaming. The simplicity of downloading a game and diving straight into play on consoles stands in stark contrast to the complexities often associated with PC gaming. While I remain devoted to my PC, I understand why some might prefer the straightforward nature of console gaming, where everything simply works without the need for extensive user input.
