Do you consider PC a 'Microsoft' platform?

I have no idea what your problem is. I don't think anyone have said that Microsoft doesn't own Windows. People are saying Microsoft doesn't own PC. Do you not see the difference? You're the one who keeps adding "Windows PC".

-Guys, you so stupid saying Windows PC isn't a Microsoft platform.
-Dude. No one is saying that.
-Guys, you so stupid. Windows is owned by Microsoft.
-Umm..

@Litchie: so what other "PC" do you think TC was talking about with they said "Microsoft OS"?

if TC wasn't referring to a "Windows PC", then what was he/she referring to?..

"Umm.." indeed..

Just PC.

His example in the post was if a PC which has Windows and plays games from Steam should be called a Windows platform or a Steam platform. I still don't see how his post automatically changes his topic to "Windows PC".

So.. do you consider PC a Windows platform, even though you don't have Windows installed on it? If the answer is no, you agree with basically everyone in the thread.

so when someone says "PC", you don't think "Windows"?..

I realize PC gamers don't want to associate themselves with Microsoft but you're living in a fantasy world if you don't think this conversation is about Windows PC when the TC literally said "Microsoft OS"..

again, re-read the OP.. where did he ask if it should be called a "Steam platform"?

you guys are trying way too hard here..

in terms of this topic, all these platforms are housed under the Windows (Microsoft OS) platform.. if he is asking who owns Steam the answer is clear.. and that answer should be just as clear as who owns Windows..

if TC wants to clarify his question, please do.. i don't think anyone is saying Microsoft own Steam, Nvidia, or anything else.. does Microsoft own every gaming storefront whether it's Steam , Epic, or another?.. no.. but to imply that Microsoft doesn't own the Windows PC platform is absurd..

I did, and that's still what I got from it. Keep acting like he was only talking about Windows PCs in the topic if you want. Until he clarifies, I don't think anyone can be sure.

The bolded, yeah. The company making the product owns the product. But again, no one have said that Microsoft doesn't own Windows. You're going on and on about that, while adding "Windows" into the topic question. But I'm the one trying hard?

@Litchie: again, what other "PC" runs a "Microsoft OS"?.. please stop with the semantics.. Microsoft OS = Windows.. therefore, we are talking about a Windows PC.. what more clarification do you need?..

you are indeed trying too hard..

lol. k. Have fun.

exactly..

Yeah. Exactly..

Just bagged a FE for £649, and yes Windows is and isn't a MS platform.

PC no, Windows yes. Lems will say yes so they have some imaginary leg up.

For decades and decades now. If you're not using windows for gaming you're doing it wrong. :P

I think some of you don't realize this, perhaps inclutlding the TC given the MS OS comment, but Steam "sits" on Linux too, and they've built a surprisingly effective compatibility layer to back that up for games that don't officially support it.

Now, in real talk MS completely dominates the PC gaming scene with Windows. But no, PC is not owned by MS.

Lol, yep. And it's some freakin' sad shit.

To be honest this thread really shows the beauty of PC. There are no masters. Hermits take what they want, from where they want. No one platform defines PC. Total freedom (mostly).

At the same time, admittedly, this is why PC can be a headache. But most of us wouldn't have it any other way. It just comes with the territory.

PC isn't owned by MS but it is a MS platform. 😮

Who makes money when a game is put on pc?

Does Microsoft get a cut every time?

Making money is not a criteria for something to be a platform. You all are misunderstanding the term of what is a platform. A definition was already cited.

That's a bit like calling PC an Intel or AMD platform for the CPU, or an AMD or Nvidia platform for the GPU, and so on. The OS is just one part of the PC platform. Doesn't matter if it's Windows, Mac or Linux.

The OS is what makes PC. Games announced for PC is always associated with the Windows Platform. If the game is for other systems like MacOS and Linux, it is explicitly stated as such. If your system is made up of AMD, Nvidia or Intel parts those are all platforms.

Are we done pretending that PC isn't Windows?

The many platforms of the Personal Computer. This thread was worth just to see Debatelord3k in his element.

Let's recap:

• Xbox: MS platform, regardless of hardware
• Steam: Valve platform, regardless of hardware
• Windows: MS platform, regardless of hardware

Call it whatever you want. There are no rules here, just common sense - and you are stretching it.

When I boot into Windows to play a Game Pass game, you may call it an MS platform. Since the software can change, it is de facto not a MS platform until I make it one. So you see, stretching.

System wars has always had a difficult time separating hardware from software.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Linux_games

As someone who games all the time on Linux, I disagree. In fact it's not a point to "agree" on - it's just wrong to say PC = Windows.

And the above list discounts Proton, which works really well for maybe 70% of the non-linux games I've tried

I'm not disputing that Windows is 100% the dominant platform for PC gaming. It's the first thing that comes to mind and the market share especially for gaming dwarfs the competition. But it's not the sole platform and that includes new games (in fact its exclusivity is far less now than it used to be, even if it remains overwhelming. Back in the day there was basically no such thing as a AAA Linux game release)

*edit* actually this list is incomplete. There are numerous big hitters and popular games missing right there including the Total War Warhammer games, Valheim, Crusader Kings III, Mount and Blade II Bannerlord... that list sucks

Come man. If a game is listed as PC game or available on PC it is understood as Windows. When anyone on this forum is talking about games on PC, we are talking about Windows. When anyone is talking about PC gaming they are not talking about Linux or MacOS. You are being disingenuous.

Unless I am mistaken, no one was arguing that there aren't games made for other platforms such as Linux and MacOS.

As stated on page 1

...When a game is announced for PC it is almost 100% Microsoft Windows they are referring to. The PC moniker has become a Windows thing despite the actual abbreviation indicating to the contrary.

There are rules. These rules are definitions. This trend of re-inventing definitions because of emotional attachment is far too common. So, it is not a matter of calling it whatever I want or you want. It is calling it for what it is. Simple.

The fact is Windows is a platform. It doesn't matter what you think. How you feel about. Whether or not you acknowledge it. It is a platform. Again, simple.

EDIT: I am amaze that this is even a debate. Emotional attachments to hardware and software is definitely not limited to console fans as demonstrated here.

You gotta help me understand.. PC = Windows platform, because people who game on Linux are fewer, and PC games are almost always made with Windows in mind?

How is a Linux PC being used to play a Linux game a Windows platform?

I mean, a PC is likely to be a Windows platform. But not always.

For gaming yes.

It's mainly hipsters that use Linux and Apple is just hipsters who love burning money.

It's Microsofts platform.

I believe I clearly stated in my re-quote. When the media and gamers are talking about PC gaming they are referring to Windows. This isn't something new. When a game is announced for PC, no one thinks "I can't wait to play it on Linux or MacOS." I am not even sure why this is a "thing".

I don't know why PC gaming being associated with Microsoft and Microsoft being associated with PC gaming is a "thing". This is a non-issue that is being made into an issue. I would have thought something this basic and fundamental to PC gaming (yes! I am referring to Windows) would not be this contentious.

Why does this:

"When the media and gamers are talking about PC gaming they are referring to Windows. This isn't something new. When a game is announced for PC, no one thinks "I can't wait to play it on Linux or MacOS."

Make PC a Windows platform? Why does it matter what people talk about most? I bet there's several Linux gamers who talk about gaming on Linux. But again, why does that matter?

You also said:

So a Linux OS makes the PC a Linux platform, no?

When people have conversations there is a certain level of what is understood. What you and several others are attempting to do is make what is understood in general conversations, something else. When we talk about PC gaming we are not talking about Linux or MacOS. When we are talking about Linux and MacOS, we specifically refer to those operating systems. Again, this is not a complicated issue.

@Litchie: Pedro's just taking popularity for the actual definition. Basically discounting what isn't popular. This is why he's technically wrong. It is also why he keeps trying to prove he's right: because he can't, and it infuriates him.

And what people talk about the most makes the platform?

This is just a circle of weirdness to me. And you're not answering my questions. Why not just give me a Yes or No on "A Linux PC makes it a Linux platform" statement. Why instead repeat a third time that most things use Windows?

A PC with Windows is a Windows platform, correct? Yes.
A PC with Linux is a Linux platform, correct? NO. Because most things use Windows.
OK, but why does it matter what "most things use"?
No answer.
So... A Linux PC is a Linux platform then? NO, it's a Windows platform.
What?? How??
Because most things use and most talk and refer to Windows.

Like... what?

Pc will always be an open platform.

What people talk about most doesn't make anything a platform. PC is just synonymous with Windows.

Linux being a platform was never called into question until you arrived. So, what are you ranting about now?

Steam, Epic etc. are essentially distribution platforms, so they are in the same category as Microsoft Store, PS Store and Nintendo eShop.

Operating systems such as Windows, macOS, Linux, as well as middleware, runtimes etc., are platforms for software. However, that does not mean that PC platforms are owned by those companies that sell operating systems.

I'm not ranting, or at least I don't mean to. I'm only trying to understand why a PC without Windows would be considered a Windows platform, and just used Linux as an example. And I'm not seeing any other explanation than "most PC things refer to Windows". And that's not an explanation on why PC = Windows, which you mentioned yourself with your first sentence.

PC is synonomous with Windows. Yeah, I guess, it's the most popular OS. That's still not an explanation on how a Linux PC would be a Windows platform.

Linux (or other OSs) being a platform or not came into question as soon as you ask "is PC a Windows platform", which was the topic question. The answer should be "in most cases" rather than just "yes". Or maybe "yes, it's also a Linux or whatever the hell OS you're using-platform".

Is all this arguing just because of the topic and post being different from eachother?

Again, you are making things more complicated than it need be. Your question has been answered many times over. Who said that a PC with Linux is a Windows platform? I have clearly stated that when referencing games with support for these other platforms such as Linux and MacOS, the reference is explicit. When talking about PC gaming, Windows is implicit unless explicitly stated otherwise.

It is clear to me that you don't like the explanation more than it not being explained. In the process, you are creating scenarios that was not proposed. PC being synonymous to Windows is as simple as it gets. It is not a denial that other OSes exist. We have talked about the other OSes. It seems to me, that you are trying to argue that when people talk about PCs they are typically referring to MacOS and Linux or any other OS that can be installed. Which is simply not true. And I have stated before while PC is personal computer, the usage of the acronym is synonymous to windows and has been for decades.

Then we having people talking about ownership of PC, which to me is outside the scope the conversation when the initial question was whether or not PC is a Microsoft platform and the answer is yes. Just like MacOS and Linux or whatever variant of choice.

I'm glad we agree.

@Pedro: Yes. Thank you. I get it now.

I thought you were implying that. I was wrong.

No man. Was only trying to understand. And when I don't understand, I can get frustrated. Being human and all that.

I felt that saying PC = Windows was a way of denying the existance of other OSs.

No, that is not what I was trying to argue, and I'm sorry if it came across that way. Just didn't want other OSs (or "PC platforms") to be ignored just to be able to say PC = Windows.

Indeed.

@Litchie: Then we are all good. 👍

@Pedro: @Litchie: Windows is a Microsoft platform. Windows is a PC platform. PC is not a Microsoft platform. PC is not a Windows platform. The directionality of the language is what I was reacting to. The question wasn't one of the former two but one of the latter two. I know it's pedantic, but when I started on PC MS wasn't even the only version of DOS. When I look at a game on steam, for my PC, I look at what OS it is available on and decide where to install it. Obviously one can assume Windows is an option, but it's not what defines my computer

Yes and (kinda) no.

Microsoft is the platform holder thus making PC gaming (for the vast majority) a Microsoft platform, like it or not.

But that's about where MS' involvement stops in the sense that you're free to release software and conduct business however you like on that platform so it feels less like one company's playground and more of an open market. But that platform still belongs to Microsoft.

You are making an argument from your personal experience while ignoring the general application of the acronym PC. If you want to argue that when gamers, media, publishers and developers talk about PC gaming they are referring to Linux and MacOS, then I not sure what else can be said. 🤷‍♀️

@Pedro: but I'm not arguing "from personal experience" or that PC = Linux... if anything my argument is trying to get us away from being overly simple or idiosyncratic. The only reason I brought up my personal experience was to demonstrate that it's a bigger thing than "just" Windows. Certainly not to swing the definition towards a DIFFERENT OS

I don't understand man... I just don't understand.

In the same manner people state PCs are faster and better than consoles is an overly simplistic but understood mantra, the same can be said with regards to PCs being Windows. It not an accurate statement but it is a general statement that rings mostly true. I am not sure why we are trying to make a exemption in this case.

"not an accurate statement"

The truest thing you've said.

Also: "mostly true" = not really true

@wandering_halls: Seems like my posts are really getting you. 😂