Why doesn't every PC game allow you to use console commands?

The main reason most games lack a command console is because no game has a command console programmed into it by default.

A command console like that of Doom, Quake or Unreal Tournament games for example have been created from scratch by the developers as part of the game engine for those games specifically because the developers wanted it as a feature in their game, just like games have a save feature or sound and screen settings, they all have to be added manually by the programmers during the game's development.

Most developers don't add extra things like command consoles in their games because it takes time, effort and money to do so and it's ultimately a feature that is used exclusively by PCs to edit settings in real-time to optimize for different PC setups as PCs lack the standards that for example consoles and handhelds have.

Many developers make their games so that they can be easily ported to other platforms, like consoles, and anything that takes up extra resources like command consoles that aren't vital to making a game run are lost when ported for optimization reasons on more limited and standardized hardware, so a lot of developers have it as standard praxis not to add anything that'll get removed later anyway.

Command consoles for console ports are not needed for optimization reasons anymore due to the game already being optimized for the console in the porting process, so it becomes a redundant feature as simple cheat codes can replace the command console cheats, which are the only things left a command console could do for a console port at that point.

It's not a standard to have a command console so I never expect a game to have a one, it's just a pleasant suprise when they do, if anything I think if they have a command console they should have it listed as one of the game's features but I don't see how anyone could enforce it as mandatory to do so.

Technically anyone can release a game for PC because it's an open market, unlike the console market where you have to license your game and follow specific rules to get it released, if Sony made it mandatory to list such a thing on the back of the covers for PS4 games for example that would work, but nobody has that authority over PC games.

Also I don't think game developers and publishers would be very happy about having to point out what their games are missing, they like to list and brag about things their games have, not what they lack or the problems they have.

So as nice as it would be and as much as I'd like PC games to be clear about certain things, I can understand why it's not like that. Personally I stopped being a PC gamer when they all switched to digital distribution and Steam well over a decade ago, I've stuck with older PC games only after that, I'm not okay with modern PC gaming standards at all.

Wait, you DO know that console commands are primarily for spawning objects and manually altering game scripts, right? In my experience console commands do not affect the graphics settings at all. What PC games that you've played allowed you to alter graphics via console commands?

In response to that last statement, have you heard of GOG.com? "GOG" stands for Good Old Games, and the website offers both retro and modern titles, completely DRM free!

Why do you refuse digital downloads that aren't free money-wise?

Ahh, that actually makes a lot of sense. I never think about selling games, so that's why I didn't understand your reasoning at first. I regret selling pretty much every game that I've ever sold, because I really miss playing them. Some were difficult to acquire (like Astal and Darius Gaiden on the Saturn, and Streets of Rage 3 on the Genesis).

Cervantes I'm so glad you showed up! Thank you for the helpful info. It is indeed a shame that console commands seem to be going out of fashion.

Say, that reminds me of a question I've been meaning to ask you: does GTA IV PC have console commands? I know we talked about the PC port recently so I was curious.