PC & Console Games: Predictions for 2023

The PC and console gaming landscape in 2023 is characterized by a shift toward deeper, more complex gameplay and a strategic preference for PC-first release cycles. Analysis of market trends indicates that successful PC titles are increasingly favoring intricate genres such as factory automation, colony sims, and management games over graphical fidelity. Furthermore, the rise of online co-op has become a critical factor for organic reach and player discovery.

The competitive environment for Games-as-a-Service (GaaS) remains challenging, as established titans like Fortnite and GTA V continue to dominate player attention. Data suggests that only about 60 games across the entire PlayStation catalog maintain more than 100,000 daily active users, making it difficult for new entrants to dislodge incumbents with years of content updates. Consequently, non-AAA developers are increasingly adopting a "PC first, console later" strategy, utilizing Steam Early Access to refine titles before committing to console ports.

Market dynamics also reveal a squeeze on "middle-market" games with budgets between $1.5 million and $7 million, which often struggle to achieve a return on investment without secured subscription deals. In contrast, specific niche tags like City Builder and Political Sim show significant growth potential on Steam. Regarding hardware, internal Steam data indicates that the Steam Deck is becoming a measurable factor in playtime, accounting for approximately 0.37% to 1.45% of total player hours for various indie publishers, with an estimated installed base of 1 to 2 million units.

Broader industry shifts include Epic Games’ aggressive expansion of the Fortnite creator economy and Microsoft’s focus on platform exclusivity for acquired studios. While the global PC and console market saw a slight 2.2% dip to $92.3 billion in 2022 due to fewer major releases, the sector is poised for evolution through new creator tools and the anticipated entry of Apple into the AR/VR space.