Forget the other guys, gaming PCs could be sitting pretty at around 90 million units by the end of 2007. According to IDC, an analyst group, Windows Vista is expected to obtain this mad install-base; the bulk of the installations are expected to be in home computers.
IDC expects out of those 90 million units that 67% will be Vista Basic and 30% will be Vista Premium (both private consumer versions). Vista requires the PC to have a semi-competent graphics processor, able to push DX9, just to function properly. This could mean the PC gaming market will enjoy more potential customers, especially among more graphically intense programs.
Since each Vista PC will have a DX9 capable card sitting in it, we can now understand the logic behind Microsoft's Games for Windows push. This could easily cut into the console market; people buy PCs for functions that consoles cannot perform (word processing, etc). If the PC can play games right out of the box, why buy the console -- where games now cost upwards of $20 more on average -- when the PC they buy at Best Buy does the job?
[Via FiringSquad]
