The video game industry has leaped boundaries since the day of the arcade systems. What was once a play-per-cents weekend fun has now broken through the doors and has planted its feet inside all homes. Be it the mainstream consoles like thePlayStationandXbox, the handheld devices likeNintendo Switch, or the latest revolution with mobile gaming, games are made for every class worldwide.
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Long before the games were made for pocket-friendly devices, competition between console and PC gamers was at its peak, and several games made for the consoles quickly found their way into the PC realm. But it wasn’t as easy as it sounds.
Updated Jun 08, 2025, by Saad Tahir:The awful release state ofPC ports persists even in 2023, effectively ruining some of the most highly anticipated games for PC players, while console players get to enjoy the better versions. PC Gamers are now wondering if it is even at all worth it to buy a game directly upon release. Although the developers have continued to provide patches and fixes for the PC versions of their games after the uproar by the PC community, it still is not enough to justify the bad release state of the year’s best games on PCs.
Horizon Zero Dawn
Horizon Zero Dawnfollowed the journey of an outcast named Alloy, as she ventured across forbidden lands to fight machines and save her world. The Launch ofHorizon Zero Dawnon PC was supposed to mark a new milestone for PlayStation Studios and gamers alike, as it meant that more PlayStation exclusives would be coming to PC. Guerrilla Games' star IP was one of the best open-world games of the last console generation, boasting spectacular visuals and gameplay, which naturally meant that porting it onto PC was going to be no easy task.
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At launch, the game was terribly broken with constant optimization and frame rate issues. Something as simple as movement was problematic, while some skills did not even work at all. However,the game has received many patches since launchand is now reportedly running great on PC. That said, the sour after-taste of the initial launch has made many fans question the dedication of developers when it comes to porting games on PC.
Hogwarts Legacy
Harry Potterfans were truly ecstatic to witness the release of arguably the best Wizarding game ever in the form ofHogwarts Legacy. Being able to play as a student at Hogwarts meant players could live theirHarry Potterfantasies to the fullest. While the console version of the game met solid reception upon launch, the PC version left fans wondering what they had done wrong to be robbed of that perfect Wizarding World experience.
The PC port of the game was brimming with constant frame rate issues, stuttering amidst cut scenes, and glitches while roaming the Hogwarts castle which effectively ruined the immersion of the gameplay. ThoughAvalanche Software released some patches to improve the game, it is still far from being perfect given the capabilities of high-end PCs.
Star Wars Jedi Survivor (2023)
Star Wars Jedi Survivorwas a highly anticipated sequel that was meant to build upon its predecessor in every way. The game followed Jedi Knight Cal Kestis 5 years after the events of the first game, as he worked to stay one step ahead of the Empire. The console version of the game became an instant hit with many reviewers praising it for itsgameplay and scope, however, the PC version of the game was another story entirely.
PC gamers took to Steam and Metacritic to review bomb the game, following its disappointing performance on PCs. Developers at Respawn Entertainment issued an official apology following the backlash. While console players got to enjoy a trueStar Warsexperience, PC players were left to deal with multiple bugs, crashes, texture stutter, and frame rate issues. Beneath all the bugs, however, lies a truly wonderful Jedi adventure that needs to be played to be appreciated.
Batman: Arkham Knight (2015)
TheArkhamSerieshas been close to the hearts of everyBatman-loving gamerout there until the series decided to rip apart and self-destruct with the 2015’sArkham Knight. In comparison with its earlier installments,Arkham Knightwas more extensive in terms of the graphics, combat, and thearray of characters it boasted.
Leaving that aside, gamers playing the game on the PC were dealing with a different type of disappointment. The disappointing storyline aside, most couldn’t even play the game. The game was riddled with bugs, constant crashes, missing or broken textures, and an unplayable frame rate stutter. Things got so severe that the game had to be removed from Steam. Unfortunately, the damage was already done when the game got a minor relaunch.
Metal Gear Solid 2 (2001)
TheMetal Gear Solidfranchise was and still isHideo Kojima’sfavorite baby. WhenMetal Gear Solid 2came out, it utilized the PS2’s control mechanics in every possible way. As a result, the game was hugely successful thanks to the narrative and the gameplay experience.
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However, on the PC side, picking up the game from GameStop was as crazy as a casino night gamble. Some worked flawlessly, while some had flaws that could break a Windows PC. Unfortunately, the fundamental flaw was never addressed. Still, exchanges were made available at a few outlets for unlucky fans who experienced a broken game.
Resident Evil 4 (2005)
The fourth installment of theResident Evilfranchisecame out in 2005 and was initially intended as a GameCube exclusive. The game became an outstanding success and won numerous Game of the Year awards. Fans were crazy about it, and the PC gamers were stoked to find out about the PC port of the same game, and that’s when the bad things came pouring on all corners.
Theapproach used for the PC versionof the game was questionable. Firstly, the game did not have mouse support, and mastering the key bindings was as tricky as playing Twister or a spelling bee challenge. The worst part was that the game did not let the players tweak the keybindings, and even if they did, the tutorials and hints did not match the custom keybindings.
GTA 4 (2008)
BeforeGTA 5took the world by storm, Rockstar’s fourth franchise installment was the biggest-selling game of that time across all platforms. Thegame was better, more extensive,and had a very rusty color palette which might break the fan base into two. However, the game was lauded for its narrative and a more grounded cinematic approach to its gameplay.
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However, when the game launched on PC,GTA 4was massive and poorly ported. The game took a significant toll on the system configurations, even on high-end configs. It had constant crashes, and some even labeled it impossible to run on a PC. However, the studios did the fans good withGTA 5, which helped the PC players forget about Rockstar’s blunder and celebrate the new offerings of the studios.
Mortal Kombat X (2015)
WB Gameshave been having a rough patch lately regarding PC gaming. FromArkham Knightto the more recentGotham Knights,their games haven’t been buttery smooth from the get-go. However, the most unforgivable one dates to 2015’sMortal Kombat X.
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The game was making a comeback of sorts, andMortal Kombat Xwas the first gamefor the then New Gen PS4 and Xbox One and promised to be a stellar arcade-like experience boasting multiplayer modes and tournaments. Unfortunately, although all of its promises were kept up, the game’s developers had specific difficulties in keeping the quality of the promises. The PC port was bugged with weird keybindings, and the most intolerable issue of all was the whacky multiplayer connectivity. Players experienced frequent lags in the multiplayer mode or, even worse, disconnects during a mid-fight. Although it was patched up, players had completely moved on from the PC version, and the console versions found more love.
Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection
The gaming world went bonkers when Sony announced that its PlayStation exclusives would soon be ported to the PC. With so many Sony IPs going on to become massive hits, yet the forbidden fruits to PC players, this news was the most welcomed since word of Leo finally winning an Oscar. One of the much-awaited games for the PC port was Naughty Dog’s grand finale -Uncharted 4andUncharted: The Lost Legacy.
However, upon release,Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collectionwas met with more heartbroken fans than joyous ones. Despite the game working buttery smooth, it had a particular twist. Although players had system configs that could crushCrysis 3(in a parallel world), the game would not work unless the CPU had AVX2 support. A few months later, a patch was provided to lift the AVX2 restraint, but the disappointment during the launch was not easily forgotten.
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