The Console War In Venn Diagrams

The Venn diagram below shows the video game releases of 2014 separated by home console platform. I wanted to show the parity between the big three consoles, illustrating the differences in each system’s game library for anyone looking to buy one this holiday season. The second diagram shows what games are coming to each system in 2015, and the third diagram illustrates the various features and apps available on each system.

I tried to be objective with the choices of games, including triple-A games (highlighted in bold) along with independent titles. I didn’t list every single game release, since that would never fit into the diagram, but I tried to pick the ones that will seem to make an impact. I also didn’t include games that had previously been released on other platforms, so games like Towerfall, Rogue Legacy and Binding of Isaac didn’t make the cut, though special re-releases like Last of Us Remastered and Halo: Master Chief Collection did.

As you can see, the Xbox One has had a stellar year for big exclusives, with Halo: MCC, Sunset Overdrive and Titanfall leading the way, while the PS4’s rather slim triple-A lineup was bolstered by a slew of indies. Both platforms are well supported with third party blockbusters like Destiny, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare and the annual sports games. The Wii U clearly stands alone though, only sharing a handful of games with both of its competitors, relying instead on Nintendo’s legendary properties and exclusives like Bayonetta 2 and Shovel Knight.

Games of 2014

The diagram below shows what the future holds for each of these systems. Again, I tried to be objective and list as many confirmed titles as possible. Keep in mind that some of these games could be released for other platforms in the future, but as of right now, if a game has only been confirmed for one console, it’s listed as an exclusive. So note that Silent Hills, Rise of the Tomb Raider, No Man’s Sky, Kingdom Hearts III and any number of indie games could still cross over to other platforms in the future.

While Xbox One came away from 2014 with a stronger exclusive library, PS4 seems primed to have a breakout year in 2015 that should validate the system’s early sales lead. Not only will Sony’s flagship be host to dozens of indie titles (all of which, I ran out of room to list), but the first-party exclusives look far more interesting than the 2014 lineup. Xbox One owners still have plenty to look forward to though, with familiar names like Halo, Tomb Raider and Fable being complimented by newcomers like Quantum Break and Screamride. The Wii U’s library – while still light on third party games, will be full of big Nintendo properties like Star Fox, Mario and the dazzling Legend of Zelda. 

Games of 2015 and Beyond

And below you can see the features, pricing and available non-gaming apps for each system.

Nintendo’s Wii U is very light on video streaming apps, outside of the standard Netflix, Hulu Plus and Amazon Prime Video, but makes up for it with the cheapest price, Wii backwards compatibility, and built in remote play through the gamepad.

While the PS4 also offers remote play, it’s only for those who purchase the rather expensive PS Vita handheld. However, the PS4 does have unique features that set it apart from its competition, such as Shareplay, which allows users to digitally hand their controller to a friend over the internet and the ability to upload screenshots to Facebook and Twitter.

The Xbox One on the other hand, can connect to your cable box to allow for simultaneous viewing or instant switching between live TV and gameplay. Both the PS4 and Xbox One offer a wide array of apps that Nintendo’s console can’t match, though the Xbox One features a much larger library of apps than either of its competitors.

Hardware Features

Hopefully you found this helpful. Let me know if you liked this and if you would want to see more of these in the future. Happy shopping!