hardware sales Archives

AppWizard

June 24, 2025

PC gaming figures fall again in Germany, down to just 13.1 million — marking a 20% decline since 2019

PC gaming in Germany has declined by 20% since 2019, with 13.1 million active PC gamers by the end of 2024, a decrease of 400,000 from the previous year. In 2019, there were 16.3 million PC gamers compared to 15.9 million console gamers, but the gap has now widened to over 7 million in favor of consoles, which currently have 20.5 million users. Game sales have decreased by 17% and hardware sales by 10%, while online gaming services have grown by 12%. Factors contributing to the decline in PC gaming may include shortages of new components, particularly GPUs.

AppWizard

June 24, 2025

Steam games come to the Xbox app in latest beta

Microsoft is integrating PC games into the Xbox PC app, starting with access to the Steam library. The updated Xbox app, available through the “Insider Hub” program, allows users to see games from supported PC storefronts in their library. However, some users have reported issues with the app not recognizing their Steam games. Microsoft plans to integrate additional PC storefronts in the future. This development coincides with the upcoming launch of the ROG Xbox Ally, a handheld gaming device running Windows 11, which aims to compete with the Steam Deck. This move reflects Microsoft's strategy to focus on software and services over hardware sales.

AppWizard

May 1, 2025

PC gaming can’t stop getting Ws, as Microsoft shares it’s being weighed down by console and hardware revenue woes

Gaming revenue increased by 5% (6% when adjusted for currency), while Xbox content and services revenue grew by 8%. However, Xbox hardware revenue declined by 6% (5% CC) and experienced a 30% drop between early 2024 and early 2023. Microsoft has acquired game studios, including Blizzard and Bethesda, but faces challenges such as layoffs and a lack of compelling console exclusives. Current standout titles on Xbox Game Pass do not require an Xbox purchase, reflecting a trend where console exclusivity is becoming less relevant, except for Nintendo.

Winsage

April 9, 2025

Windows 10: Computer recycling at the end of support

Microsoft has issued guidance advising users to consider disposing of computers that cannot upgrade to Windows 11, as support for Windows 10 will end on October 14, 2025. The document suggests recycling old devices responsibly and mentions that Microsoft Surface devices can be sent in for recycling in certain states. The trade-in program is limited to specific countries and applies only when purchasing certain new Surface PCs. The document does not explicitly instruct customers to discard outdated devices but promotes new hardware sales. It also notes that alternatives like installing a Linux distribution on older hardware exist. The lack of security updates for unsupported systems will increase vulnerability to cyber threats.

Winsage

April 3, 2025

Microsoft Warns 240 Million Windows Users—Stop Using Your PC

Microsoft's support for Windows 10 will end on October 14, prompting the company to advise users with ineligible PCs—estimated to be as high as 240 million—to recycle their devices and upgrade to Windows 11. Microsoft warns that unsupported devices will be vulnerable to data breaches and cyber threats without security updates. There has been an increase in upgrades to Windows 11 as the deadline approaches, but options for those unable to upgrade are limited. Microsoft encourages responsible recycling and offers trade-in programs, though these may not provide significant financial returns. Users can also consider paid extended support for an additional 12 months.

Winsage

March 19, 2025

Windows 11 has a hidden FAQ page in testing that tells you why your PC is slow

Windows 11 will introduce a new FAQ page in its Settings app to help users identify potential limitations of their PCs. This feature, currently hidden in Dev Channel builds, will answer questions about the OS version and evaluate GPU adequacy for gaming and video tasks. It will also analyze the impact of having 4-8GB of RAM on performance. The feature can be activated using the third-party utility ViVeTool with ID “5530588,” but its effectiveness may vary across systems. Microsoft has faced criticism for Windows 11's strict minimum hardware requirements, which may prevent many PCs from upgrading from Windows 10. This situation may force users to upgrade hardware or consider alternatives like ChromeOS. Microsoft aims to enhance user experience with Windows 11, which may lead to increased hardware sales and user satisfaction.

AppWizard

February 22, 2025

Peripheral maker Corsair says Grand Theft Auto 6 is coming to PC in ‘early 2026,’ then immediately yoinks it back

Grand Theft Auto 6 is expected to debut on consoles in fall 2025, with a potential PC release in early 2026. Ronald van Ween from Corsair Gaming suggested this timeline during a financial call but later clarified that he was speculating and no official PC release date had been confirmed by Take-Two or Rockstar. Historically, the gap between console and PC releases for the series has been around seven months.

AppWizard

November 26, 2024

CHARTS: Stalker 2, er, stalks its way to No.1 on Steam

Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl became the highest-grossing title on Steam, selling over one million copies since its release on November 20th. Counter-Strike 2 dropped to second place, while the Steam Deck climbed to third due to the release of a limited white version. PUBG: Battlegrounds and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 fell to fourth and fifth place, respectively. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 debuted in sixth place. Path of Exile 2 ranked seventh, Throne and Liberty rose to eighth, EA Sports FC 25 dropped to ninth, and Dota 2 remained in tenth place. The Steam Top Ten for the week ending November 26th is as follows: 1. Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl, GSC Game World 2. Counter-Strike 2, Valve 3. Steam Deck, Valve 4. PUBG: Battlegrounds, Krafton 5. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Activision 6. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, Microsoft 7. Path of Exile 2, Grinding Gears (P) 8. Throne and Liberty, Amazon 9. EA Sports FC 25, EA 10. Dota 2, Valve

AppWizard

October 31, 2024

PCs Rule And Consoles Drool As Capcom Confirms A Shocking Game Sales Stat

Capcom's latest financial report indicates that sales from PC games accounted for approximately 54% of their total revenue, while console game sales made up about 40%. Mobile gaming sales surpass both PC and console markets. Sony has released several exclusive titles from its PlayStation catalog onto PC, including Ghost of Tsushima and God of War. Microsoft's Game Pass service has gained popularity, bridging the gap between PC and console gaming. Projections suggest the gaming player base could exceed 3.3 billion individuals. The trend of cross-platform game availability is increasing, benefiting the overall gaming ecosystem.

AppWizard

October 31, 2024

COD Black Ops 6 brought in more Game Pass players than any other launch

The launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has set a record for the franchise, achieving the highest launch figures in its history and driving more Game Pass subscriptions than any previous launch. The game had the biggest Day One player count and Game Pass subscriber adds. Unit sales on PlayStation and Steam increased by over 60 percent year-over-year. For the quarter ending September 30th, Microsoft's gaming division reported revenue of .7 billion, a 43 percent increase, with Xbox content and services growing by 61 percent year-on-year, partly due to the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Hardware sales declined by 29 percent, but Game Pass achieved record revenues and the highest average revenue per subscriber to date.