🎮 COVID-19 & its Impact on Console and PC Hardware Market 🖥️
As we all know, COVID-19 has created a stir in every sector, be it the health industry, educational sector or economy. And it is no wonder that the gaming industry, which is one of the most popular and fastest-growing industries, has also been affected by the pandemic. The gaming industry includes hardware manufacturers, game developers, and publishers, all of whom have been impacted by COVID-19 in one way or another. In this blog, we’ll explore the influence of COVID-19 on the console and PC hardware market.
🚀 Increase in Demands of Consoles and PC Hardware
One of the significant impacts of COVID-19 on the gaming industry is the increased demand for both consoles and PC hardware. The pandemic brought a lot of restrictions on outdoor activities, and people worldwide started to spend more time indoors, looking for various forms of entertainment. As a result, console and PC gaming became quite popular than ever before.
People who previously barely paid attention to gaming suddenly discovered it was a great way to beat boredom. This increased demand naturally led to an uptick in sales of consoles and gaming computers.
🕹️ Disruption in the Production of Hardware
While the demand for gaming hardware saw a sudden surge, the production of hardware saw a significant disruption. The pandemic resulted in the shutdown of factories and offices, leading to a shortage of both raw materials and manpower.
Moreover, since the manufacturing of the components is mainly based in China, the initial outbreak of COVID-19 in China caused severe production delays. It led to a scarcity of PS5s and Xbox Series Xs, with retailers selling out the products within a few hours of their release.
🖥️ Increase in the Sales of PC Games
While the production of hardware was adversely affected, PC gaming saw a considerable increase in sales during the pandemic. As more people stayed home due to the restrictions imposed, PC gaming offered them a convenient and easily accessible form of entertainment.
Moreover, PC gaming is comparatively cheaper than consoles, and the games are often available at discounted rates on various online platforms. The combination of these factors made PC gaming a lot more attractive to people during the lockdown.
🌎 Imbalance between Supply and Demand
The disruption in the production of hardware resulted in a massive imbalance between supply and demand. As we mentioned earlier, the PS5 and Xbox Series X had supply issues, and that caused resellers to take advantage of the situation.
The high demand and low supply created an opportunity for resellers who started hoarding consoles and selling them at a high price. This overcharging of the customers caused a lot of frustration among gamers, and it turned into a social media trend ‘#PS5 #Xbox #Scalpers.
💻 Increase in Remote Gaming
Remote gaming or cloud gaming also saw a considerable increase, with the pandemic forcing people to work and study remotely. Remote gaming allows players to access games online, and they do not have to worry about buying expensive gaming hardware.
Moreover, remote gaming is comparatively cheaper since players pay only for the games they play. The convenience of remote gaming further attracted several new gamers during the pandemic.
🎉 Conclusion
COVID-19 has affected almost every aspect of our lives, and the gaming industry is no different. The global lockdown has resulted in a surge in demand for gaming hardware, and the sudden rise has led to the shortage of supply. Despite its negative effects, the pandemic also triggered the growth of remote gaming and made gaming more accessible to players worldwide.
So, what do you think about the impact of COVID-19 on the gaming industry? Please let us know in the comments below.
