PC sales Archives

Winsage

June 28, 2026

Microsoft Shares Bounce From 52-Week Low as Italian Probe and Windows 10 Extension Create Crosscurre

The Italian antitrust authority, AGCM, has launched an investigation into Microsoft 365 for allegedly guiding users toward pricier subscription tiers by integrating AI tools like Copilot and Designer without explicit user consent. Microsoft has stated it will cooperate with the investigation. Last year, Australia’s consumer watchdog made a similar complaint regarding hidden costs related to Copilot during contract renewals. Despite this scrutiny, Microsoft shares rose to €327.90, a 5.71% increase, following a shift in investor sentiment towards AI-software firms. Microsoft also extended its Extended Security Updates (ESU) program for Windows 10 until October 2027, allowing users to delay transitioning to Windows 11, which could hinder hardware sales. The stock remains down nearly 19% year-to-date and is trading below key moving averages. The ongoing regulatory investigation and sluggish Windows upgrade cycle present challenges for Microsoft’s growth.

Winsage

June 26, 2026

Your Windows 10 PC just quietly got another year of free support

Microsoft has extended the security updates for Windows 10 users by an additional year, with the new end date for the Extended Security Updates (ESU) program set for October 12, 2027. This extension applies automatically to existing ESU enrollees, and new users can sign up until the deadline. The change was confirmed by a Microsoft spokesperson in an editor's note added to a blog post. The extension does not apply to corporate Windows deployments, which require costly ESU subscriptions that extend support until October 2028.

AppWizard

June 17, 2026

Capcom made twice as much money on Steam compared to PlayStation in the last year, boosted by Resident Evil, Monster Hunter, and Devil May Cry as PC gaming continues to grow

Capcom's revenue from Steam was 40.383 billion yen (approximately 2 million USD), accounting for 20.7% of its earnings between April 2025 and March 2026. In comparison, PlayStation contributed 20.741 billion yen (around 9 million USD), which was 10.6% of the company's revenue. Capcom indicated that PC sales represent about 50% of its overall game sales, with the rest divided among PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo consoles.

AppWizard

June 14, 2026

Sony pulling back from PC also means it’s pulling back from China

Sony has shifted away from porting singleplayer PlayStation titles to PC, raising concerns about competition with Valve. Alinea Insights reported that 42% of Death Stranding 2's PC sales came from China, its largest market on Steam. Approximately 39.48% of Steam users have their language set to English, while 21.85% prefer Simplified Chinese, representing over 30 million players. Shift Up, developer of Stellar Blade, announced they will not partner with Sony for the sequel, focusing on a global market strategy. Alinea's analysis shows that releasing games on PC does not harm PlayStation sales; Death Stranding 2 saw increased PS sales following its PC launch, and Stellar Blade also experienced a rise in PS5 sales despite not being discounted. Launching games on PC broadens the player base and enhances marketing opportunities.

AppWizard

May 22, 2026

Flashback: The 2016 Chrome and Android‑apps story that predicted today’s Googlebooks moment

Google announced that later this year, users will be able to run full Android applications on their Chromebooks through the integration of the Google Play Store, providing access to over a million Android apps. This development marks a significant advantage for Chrome OS, which previously lacked native applications. Despite the advancements, Google faces challenges in changing consumer perceptions, as Chromebooks do not support essential software like Photoshop or full versions of Microsoft Office. The competition between Google and Microsoft intensifies, with Google gaining momentum amid declining Windows PC sales, particularly in the educational sector.

AppWizard

May 17, 2026

Capcom Games Sell More on PC Than on Consoles, and Almost All Sales Are Digital

Capcom's PC sales surpassed console sales for the third consecutive year, with 32.17 million copies sold on PC compared to 22.76 million on consoles during the 2025 fiscal year, which ended on March 31. The company sold nearly 60 million games, exceeding expectations by five million copies. In 2022, PC sales accounted for 52% of Capcom's total game sales. Capcom's success is attributed to strategic pricing, including discounts and promotions for PC gamers. The company also incorporates generative AI for tasks like error checking and data analysis in game development.

AppWizard

May 14, 2026

93 Percent Of Capcom’s Game Sales Are Digital And The Company Expects That Number To Grow

Capcom reported that 93 percent of its total game sales were digital for the fiscal year from March 2025 to March 2026, a rise from 90 percent in the previous two years and 75 percent in 2022. The company has achieved nine consecutive years of record profits, driven by new titles and established franchises. Digital sales growth is largely attributed to an increase in PC gaming, with PC sales rising from 33 percent in 2022 to 54.5 percent in fiscal 2026. Capcom forecasts digital sales will reach 95.5 percent of total sales by next year. Despite the shift to digital, physical sales still accounted for seven percent of total sales, translating to over 4 million copies sold globally.

AppWizard

May 5, 2026

GTA 6 skipping PC at launch not due to PlayStation deal, but because Rockstar focuses on “the core consumer,” Take-Two CEO says

GTA 6 will launch exclusively on consoles, with a PC version expected later. Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick stated that this decision is to prioritize the core audience rather than due to a marketing deal with Sony. He emphasized that Rockstar traditionally releases on consoles first to serve its core consumers effectively. The significance of the PC market has increased, with PC sales for major titles now accounting for 45-50% of total revenue, compared to just 5% in the late 2000s. A leak suggests that the delay in the PC release may be influenced by the financial success of GTA Online, which generates 97% of its revenue from console players.

Tech Optimizer

April 18, 2026

Avast Antivirus: Free Protection Faces Premium Competition Pressure

Avast Antivirus offers a free version with features like real-time scanning, malware detection, a ransomware shield, and network security, appealing to budget-conscious users on multiple platforms. It has a lightweight design, regular updates, and community-driven threat intelligence. Gen Digital acquired Avast in 2022 and integrated it into its cybersecurity portfolio, focusing on transitioning users from free to premium services and emphasizing AI-driven threat detection. Avast faces competition from free alternatives like Windows Defender and premium solutions such as Bitdefender and Kaspersky, while regulatory scrutiny affects all providers. The demand for antivirus tools is driven by rising ransomware attacks and data breaches, with remote work increasing the need for endpoint protection. Risks for users include performance issues on older devices, false positives, data privacy concerns, and potential subscription traps. Future updates may incorporate more AI features, and partnerships with hardware manufacturers could expand Avast's market reach.

Winsage

April 1, 2026

US PC sales grow by 3% in late 2025 as companies and consumers scrambled to replace Windows 10 — 2026 forecast sees 13% drop as storage and memory prices expected to climb another 60%

In the fourth quarter of 2025, U.S. PC shipments increased by 3% year-on-year, totaling 18.2 million units. This growth was driven by seasonal holiday demand, the need to upgrade aging Windows 10 computers, and retailers securing inventory ahead of supply chain challenges due to a chip shortage. The overall PC market in 2025 also grew by 3%, reversing declines from the previous two quarters. Commercial sector shipments rose by 6% to 8.2 million units, supported by holiday spending and a shift to more affordable products, as enterprises migrated to Windows 11 before the end-of-support deadline for Windows 10. However, Omdia predicts a 13% contraction in PC shipments for 2026 due to rising RAM and storage costs, alongside CPU shortages from Intel and AMD. The entry-level PC market may face significant challenges, potentially diminishing by 2028. Despite declining shipment numbers, the market value is expected to rise due to price increases from supply constraints. Omdia forecasts a rebound in 2027, with shipments projected to grow by 7% to exceed 66 million units, still below the 71.5 million units recorded in 2025.