Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
I’ve been a hardcore PC gamer for about as long as I can remember. Yet in 2026, my only computing device is a Chromebook. Of course, I didn’t get here overnight.
It began in 2020, when I decided to replace my aging custom gaming desktop with a Zephyrus ROG gaming laptop. This was a mistake. After years of overheating and build-quality issues, my ROG eventually gave up the ghost in late 2025.
This has left me stranded with a high-end Chromebook as my only computing device. While my original plan was to replace the machine with a custom rig as soon as possible, finances tightened up as the holidays crept closer. The current RAM crisis didn’t help either, as prices have gone through the roof. Ultimately, I decided to hang out as long as I could.
At first, I was pretty upset about the idea of losing access to PC gaming for months on end. Months later, I have to admit that I don’t miss traditional PC gaming as much as I thought I would.
Has anyone else left PC gaming for console or streaming? 12 votes Yes, I don't game enough that it's worth investing in a gaming PC anymore. 33 % No, I use consoles (and/or streaming) but still keep a gaming PC around. 17 % No, I could never switch from PC gaming. 42 % Other / Unsure (Tell us more in comments.) 8 %
Gaming without a gaming PC isn’t as bad as I thought it would be
Dhruv Bhutani / Android Authority
As much as I cling to the title of hardcore gamer, the identity isn’t as true for me as it once was. I simply don’t have as much time for it as a forty-year-old man with three kids, a wife, and tons of responsibilities.
It’s true I still chase after specs like a PC gamer, and I love having the latest gaming platforms. Likewise, I keep up with gaming culture and the best hits. That said, my interest tends to come and go in waves anymore.
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