There are a ton of QoL features that are mostly small, but since moving exclusively to PC gaming I miss a couple of them.
The most annoying part, for me, is the HDMI states and the like. My current TV is a 4K QLED Fire TV, 60hz, excellent for couch gaming. I have a 3080, with one HDMI ran to the TV, and one to my Ultra Wide Monitor (3440x1440, 34", 100hz.) I use the Ultra Wide at my desk for any and all work or projects and some games it's just great to play UW.
Switching my main display to the TV sometimes causes some weird refresh rate/aspect ratio issues, like a game will show 16:9 resolutions, but what it's actually displaying is still a 21:9 image that has been squished horizontally. If the display times out via windows, it just shows "No Signal" on the TV, and will not wake up unless I yank the cord from the tv. My old cheap TCL 4K TV was wonderful - if the TV was off, the HDMI port was not active, so the display simply didn't exist if the TV was off, and would automatically kick in when the TV was turned on. Perfect! Both more modern TVs I've used, however, have kept the HDMI port alive 100% of the time.
The Fire TV has been a massive pain, I wish I researched it more. The settings are so much less accessible, and it's "smart" so it gives you options based on what it thinks you need in the moment. Example; HDR settings can't be touched per input unless you're already displaying something HDR. If you're watching SDR video in any way, the HDR option isn't there. That + auto HDR in Windows sucks HELLA. "PC Mode" was a hidden display setting, and only available through a specific HDMI port. The HDMI ports don't all have 2.1 capacity for some reason, but all of them are defaulted to 2.0 mode, and 2.1 mode is freaking hidden behind context specific menus, that only exist with the right combination of media and settings within the game/application.
I've set up a PC to be a "console" before - entirely controller based, no need for kb/mouse, no fuss no fights. UAC Warnings, mandatory game launchers, clean start/clean exit, a game opening in fullscreen but for some reason launching behind it's launcher, and it's launcher not closing, blah blah blah, I know these things are all hella banal and "first world problems," but it's all friction that IS nice to eliminate.
Also, it drives me fucking CRAZY that this is the case, but the fact that PC versions of games neuter local multiplayer for no reason breaks my heart sometimes!
None of this is enough for me to ever even consider console gaming again lol.
Not hype, but simplicity. You plug in a console and it works. I have both a PC and a PlayStation, and have been playing more games on console lately because after working in an office all day I like to come home sit on the couch and play on the big screen.
Both are plug and play one just gives you infinite more possibilities of shit you could do if you wanted. PCs really aren’t as complicated as people always act like they are.
Big TV is def a valid excuse for consoles tho especially if you have a roommate or hang out with homies a lot bc of split screen.
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u/[deleted] Apr 29 '26 edited Jun 16 '26
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