Simple answer when's the last time you've downloaded malware via a legitimise storefront and game on your PlayStation, switch or Xbox

This isn't the first instance of malware being spread via PC games just before this we had remote code executables running via legit GTA online server usage meaning total endpoint takeover.

As more and more games push root level drivers as part of their anti cheat this is only the start of it.

PC gaming is the wild west and you can't fix this due to the open nature of the platform

I was never criticising the platforms popularity it's growing but due to the open nature of the platform it's always going to have this issue you can't have it both ways. And rce or total endpoint takeover data leaks and spreading of ransomware isn't trivial it's a huge issue imagine logging into GTA to play a few hours and then some hacker gets your credit card and banking details and drains your bank account that's the reality of PC gaming nowadays

I just don't think that's a deterrent for anyone going into that PC space , it's probably that last thing considered when making a purchase. With rising costs with consoles and services associated with them , the barrier to entry is lessened when picking either/or . I wouldn't be surprised if ps6 is $1000, PS+ essential rises to $100 a yr and games become $80 standard by next gen. The open ended nature of PC is the draw that draws people in even if there's risks cause there's way more benefits . People that go pc usually don't go back to consoles and not that other way around

But it's not something anyone on a console has to worry about. The only risk of an attacker entering your network via your games console can only occur from jailbreaking your console.

I think most people who are entering the PC space for gaming also intend to use their PC for other things like work, banking, web browsing and media consumption. The constant push by publishers to have kernal level access should be something that people are pushing back on most major games are requesting this permission and barely telling the user. GTA v released it's enhanced version but you can't even play single player without accepting this.

If you're not aware kernel level drivers operate with the highest level of access possible for software making it extremely easy for a hacked server to take over a players pc with zero intervention on the users behalf. What's worse is that PC players are being told by influencers like Alex from DF to turn off their anti virus while playing.

I was discussing security implications and problems within the PC ecosystem but you keep pushing the cost conversation so lets talk about that.

Yes console costs are rising but let's not ignore the fact that PC parts are rising just as fast with a high end GPU costing double an entire console.
Also consoles will be guaranteed to last you 8 years plus while the same GPU you paid double for may only see half the generation out.
Case in point the GTX 7 series was the big card at the time of the ps4 launch but 5 years later that card was running games on low (if at all) while the ps4 is still being developed for a decade plus later try running reisdent evil village or god of war Ragnarök on a gtx 780 today

Why do i know this because I did go to PC from console i hated performance of the PS3 and 360 and the lack of access to stuff like crysis so i switched to PC I eventually left when the ps4 came out I have a job that requires a high end pc so i built another one around 2020 but i never stick around the PC ecosystem because the negatives absolutely do not outweigh the positives. When i play on PC i spend more time messing around settings then actually playing.

This vulnerability requires local files to be installed to take advantage of it. That's not possible on consoles unless you mod it and download circumspect files.

Consoles are not it you look into the cve item published by Microsoft it only impacts windows, Linux and iOS it doesn't impact PlayStation, Xbox and switch

This is why you're still seeing these games on console storefronts

@5tq3 I'd happily give up that freedom for security I've worked in the industry for to long to know how bad it can get.

If that freedom means i can run some mods which i barely have the time to spend configuring tweaking installing and or run some guys homebrew it's a whatever situation i wouldn't install software from a untrusted source because you're asking for trouble

PC games can't really play a lot more than consoles in this day and age what is the last major PC exclusive? it's not 2006 anymore devs are not making games like Crysis exclusive to the PC and everything is basically the same game running at different quality and resolution settings PC stopped being exciting when it lost the ability to play major exclusives locked to the pc ecosystems i'm talking stuff like Crysis, Quake1,2,3, Doom when it came out in 93 etc those days are so far behind us.