The PC gaming market has seen rapid growth in recent years, with PCs consolidating their position as the dominant gaming platform. According to data from analyst firm Newzoo, the number of PC gamers increased from 873.5 million in 2023 to 907.5 million in 2024, surpassing the number of console users, estimated at 653.1 million in 2024. 

Preference for older titles 

An interesting phenomenon is that the vast majority of PC gamers devote their time to older productions. In 2024, as much as 67% of player hours were spent on titles that are at least six years old, 25% on games released two to five years ago, and only 8% of player hours were spent on titles released in the last two years. 

Among older titles, the most popular were: 

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive / Counter-Strike 2 – 7.1% of game hours 

League of Legends – 6.4% 

Roblox – 6.2% 

Dota 2 – 5.8% 

Fortnite – 5.4% 

Reasons for the dominance of older games 

There are several factors influencing players’ preference for older titles: 

Hardware requirements: Modern games often require advanced hardware that not all players can afford. Older productions are more accessible to users with less powerful computers. 

Free-to-play and Game as a Service model: Many popular older games are based on a free-to-play model with micropayments, which attracts a wide audience and ensures continued support and updates. 

Stability and refinement: Older titles that have stood the test of time often offer stable and satisfying gameplay, prompting players to stick with them instead of investing in new, unreliable productions. 

Sources: ITHardware, GRYOnline.pl, CD-Action / Fot. activefence.com