The Key Differences Between Overwatch on Console and PC

Overwatch

Overwatch, Blizzard’s brand new, first-person shooter, is out and and receiving tons of praise. Even the most skepitcal of video game players, those who wait for a game to be out for a few days before diving in, are getting ready to pick it up. But, before they do so they have to ask themselves: PC or console?

While on the surface they are the same game, there are a few differences that may help you make your choice between which to buy now that you want to get in on the action too. We’ll break down the biggest points of contention current players have, and hopefully that clears up everything for you.

Let’s get started. 

Price

Price is easily the simplest of factors to examine when considering which platform to pick Overwatch up on. While most games are usually one price across the board, Blizzard actually priced the console versions %50 percent higher than their PC counterpart. The reason for doing so isn’t the clearest thing about the game, but if you’re trying to make every cent count, then this should help you make a rapid decision.

Overwatch on PC is only $40, while console players have the privilege of paying $60. The console version does come with a few vanity items and other small baubles, but they are the exact same game outside of that. If price is of no consequence to you, however, there are other factors to consider. 

Player Input

How you play the game may be even more of a deciding factor when choosing between PC and consoles. On the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One you have each platform’s respective gamepad. Do you prefer the DualShock 4 or the Xbox controller?

PC players have a lot more options in this department, though. Keyboard and mouse, the staple controls you have right out of the box, are often a favorite among FPS enthusiasts. But, if you prefer the comfort and simplicity of a gamepad, PC supports both the DualShock 4 and the Xbox Controller, as well as other third party peripherals so you can play as you like. 

Support

One thing that many players have been noticing, present company included, while jumping back and forth between Overwatch on PC and console is that there is much less support on console. We don’t mean that Blizzard is supporting the game any less, but rather that players don’t seem to pick the support class as often as offense and tanks.

For many this won’t be a big deal. You yourself may want to pick it up on console just so you can fill that role. But those who understand the dynamic of Overwatch and its myriad of modes may find this to be a deal breaker. It’s not all about getting the kill, helping your teammates is just as important as anything else out there.

Of course, this may just be a temporary difference. As time goes on, consoles, which are used to FPSs like Call of Duty, will get into the flow and embrace support. But as things stand right now, everyone’s just gunning. 

Play Style

This difference stems from the support issue, and may also just be a temporary thing. But, as things stand right now, the game experience is slightly different on console when compared to PC. This is mostly due to how players handle objectives.

Don’t get us wrong here, there is a ton of Overwatch players on console who know exactly how to play Overwatch for the best chance at victory. But then there are those who treat every match like Team Deathmatch – running around the map, trying to rack up a kill count, ignoring objectives, and other things of that nature. Again, this most likely stems from the types of shooters consoles normally receive. While there are major triple-A titles that are all about teamwork (bless you Battlefield and CS: GO), they just aren’t as popular across the board as the much simpler ones such as CoD and Halo.

Over time, this mindset will dissipate, leaving only those who really care about the deeper mechanics of Overwatch on the battlefield. But for now, so soon after its launch, it’s the wild west. 

Pace

The pace of games on PC and Console is different due to most of the previously stated factors. On both platforms, matches in Overwatch are surprisingly short (or maybe time just flies while you’re having fun). But they do tend to run a bit longer on consoles. This is largely due to less of a focus on objectives by some players (although you can find them on PC, they just aren’t as prevalent there). This leads the ebb and flow of matches to shift away from the mission at hand at times, drawing those battles out.

This isn’t a bad thing per se, some people like to take a break to just experience the action. Nobody can blame you with how great Blizzard has made Overwatch. But if you’re trying to just get into a place where everyone has the same focus, then PC may be what you want.