Now is the best time in more than 12 months to get into PC gaming.
Aspiring PC gamers will be happy to hear that now is the most affordable time in over a year to get set up for desktop gaming, according to our most recent data. Our findings show that overall setup costs are down -9.14% year over year.
Methodology: Pattern’s data science team analyzed pricing data for the most commonly purchased products in the PC gaming category on Amazon during every day of 2022 and 2023 so far to understand what new gamers can expect to pay, on average, for everything from graphics cards to computer desks.
Smaller investment, bigger fun: When we compared the average cost in Q3 2023 versus Q3 2022 for all gaming products that one would need to get set up, we found the total to be $1,967.29 — down -9.14% year over year. For those interested in building their own machines, here’s how much some of the most commonly purchased PC gaming products shifted in price, on average, from 2022 – 2023:
- The cost of Solid State Hard Drives dropped 35.90% from 2022 – 2023
- CPUs -25.45%
- RAM -20.51%
- Graphics Cards -15.48%
- Monitors -9.85%
- Computer Chairs -7.81%
- Speakers -4.69%
- Cable Management -4.48%
- Motherboards -4.48%
- Computer Cases -4.31%
Pre-built systems also affordable: The downward trend in price holds true even for those who want to skip building their own machines. Prices for pre-built gaming laptops and desktops are both down year over year:
- The cost of Gaming Laptops dropped 6.12% from 2022 – 2023
- Gaming PCs dropped -5.60%
Yes, but: Despite decreased costs for gaming equipment and accessories, PC gamers will still need to pay a premium price for the games they wish to play. Starting in fall 2022, companies like Sony and Nintendo started increasing game prices from $60 to $70. Depending on how many games consumers purchase, these increased prices could end up taking more of a chunk out of their gaming budget than they originally anticipated.
The takeaway: Whether you’re a new gamer looking to modify existing equipment or are a novice just getting started, now is the best time to break into the PC gaming world without busting your wallet. Even when taking the rising costs of games into account, consumers can still expect to either save or break even on their gaming investments thanks to decreased setup costs.
Our data science team evaluates pricing data and demand data across a multitude of Amazon shopping categories to better understand what drives consumer demand and what shoppers can expect for their bottom line. If you’re interested in using powerful insights like these to drive your ecommerce strategy forward, reach out to our team to learn more.
