PC master race
/piːsiː ˈmæstər reɪs/
Very CommonThe belief that PC gaming is objectively superior to console gaming, or someone who holds that belief.
The phrase is intentionally over-the-top. Some use it as a joke. Others mean it. Hard to tell them apart.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | just built my first rig, welcome to the PC master race i guess | The person joined PC gaming and is joking about the community's self-importance. | reddit, 2024 |
| 02 | 60fps cap on console while pc gets 120, pc master race wins again | Using a performance difference to declare PC superior. | x, 2023 |
| 03 | my friend spent 700 on a ps5 and i built a better machine for the same price, pc master race | The speaker is making a cost-performance argument for PC. | reddit, 2023 |
| 04 | cringe pc master race guys acting like their hobby is a personality | Calling out people who treat platform choice as an identity. | x, 2024 |
Use it when
- Someone is bragging about PC specs or performance over a console.
- Mocking someone who takes platform loyalty too seriously.
- Self-deprecating humor about being a PC enthusiast.
Do not use it when
- You just mean someone prefers PC gaming without being elitist about it.Use “PC gamer” instead.
Variations and related forms
PC master race vs console peasant
PC master race
PC master race is a self-applied or community label for PC gaming superiority.
VS
console-peasant
Console peasant is the insult aimed at console gamers by PC enthusiasts.
Origin and context
Originated from a 2008 Zero Punctuation review by Yahtzee Croshaw, used satirically. Adopted unironically by PC gamers on Reddit, leading to the r/pcmasterrace subreddit. The phrase evolved from joke to genuine community identity marker.
- First seen
- 2008
- Confidence
- high
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/pc-master-raceUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0