PC Gamers Are Shifting Toward Story and Co-op Games — Interest in PvP Declines

According to a new report by analytics firm Newzoo, in 2024, PC gamers increasingly preferred narrative and cooperative experiences, while interest in competitive PvP games has declined. The study shows that 58% of games chosen by PC players were PvE titles without competitive elements. In comparison, PlayStation and Xbox users selected such games in 42% and 41% of cases, respectively.

Experts attribute this trend to the rising popularity of “socially-oriented” games that emphasize teamwork and player interaction. Notable examples include Helldivers 2, Lethal Company, and R.E.P.O.

The Steam platform plays a key role in the growth of these games due to its low entry barrier for indie developers. With limited budgets, developers often avoid the high costs of competitive server infrastructure, instead creating original PvE experiences.

The report also notes that the more games a player tries per year, the more likely they are to choose PvE or co-op content—especially on PC, where this trend is more pronounced compared to consoles.

However, the study has its limitations: it does not account for players from China or India, doesn’t differentiate between single-player and cooperative PvE games, and does not analyze session duration.