For anyone who hasn’t made the plunge into the new
generation of video game consoles, trying to decide which system is right for
you can be a daunting task. Each varies in price and features a variety of
exclusive games that you won’t be able to play on any other console. Sometimes
it’s difficult to get a whole picture of the gaming landscape when there are so
many disparate factors to comprehend. That’s why we’ve compiled a few Venn
diagrams to help you decide what system is right for you or the person you
might be buying presents for this holiday season.
A few caveats before diving into this:
- · These diagrams were finalized on October 23, 2015 and are subject to change.
- · These diagrams only concern consoles, not PC. If a game is available on one console and also PC, but not the other two consoles, it’s represented as an exclusive for that console. PC is a beast all its own and a viable option for people with Steam Machines starting to emerge. Maybe next year, they'll be a separate category.
- · Many unreleased games currently listed as exclusives will likely release on other consoles, but if they are releasing with timed exclusivity, they’re listed as an exclusive. For example, Tomb Raider is listed as an Xbox One exclusive, even though it will be releasing on PS4 in a year’s time.
- · These diagrams do not include re-releases (Uncharted Collection, Gears Ultimate), but do include remakes at my discrection of the term (Rare Replay, Grim Fandango, Ratchet & Clank).
- · The games included are very much of my discretion, based on the online presence and importance of each title. Again, I tried to be as fair as possible.
Now that that’s out of the way, here we go.
The diagram below shows the notable exclusive games for each
system that have already seen release this year. Microsoft has had a fairly
quiet year on the AAA front so far (more on that to come), but has seen an
increase in indie support with exclusive gems like the beautifully animated Ori
and the Blind Forest along with surprise hits like #IDARB and Screamride. PS4
on the other hand has played host to a glut of impactful exclusive titles from
the masterful Bloodborne to the upcoming eSports phenomenon Rocket League. And
while the Wii U has seen an excruciating drop in third party support – notice
that it features very few titles in common with the other two systems – two of
the best games on the system (Super Mario Maker and Splatoon) saw release this
year.
The following diagram illustrates the future of each system.
Let’s start with the most glaring image: the Wii U library. While Star Fox Zero
and Xenoblade Chronicles X look promising, neither title screams system seller.
When the third party support is also nearly non-existent, it’s difficult to
feel optimistic about the future of Nintendo’s flailing system. The Legend of
Zelda is the single shining light on the horizon, but even that is at risk of cancellation
on Wii U in favor of a release on Nintendo’s next big platform, codenamed NX.
As far as the other two, Microsoft and Sony will both
provide gamers with a plethora of reasons to own their consoles in the years to
come. Microsoft has a clear advantage for the remainder of 2015, however, with
Sony’s exclusive output almost nil, while Xbox One will see the release of Halo
5 and Rise of the Tomb Raider. Looking into 2016 though, both systems will
feature possible powerhouses like Uncharted 4 and No Man’s Sky on PS4 competing
with Quantum Break and Scalebound on Xbox One.
The final diagram explains the features and pricing options
of each system. Note the prices, but keep in mind that each system manufacturer
could still chop prices this holiday season with aggressive bundles and sales.
Also note that Wii U is the only system to provide free online multiplayer to
its users, though Nintendo’s online service lacks the rotundity or reliability
of its competition. Like the games, this is a matter of taste and depends
greatly on what system your friends are playing on.
Hopefully these diagrams helped provide you with a fuller,
clearer picture of the current gaming landscape and your options going into
this holiday season. The point of this was to give you a clear, wide overview
of the games featured on each system, but if you see a title you’re unfamiliar
with, you’ll have to do some research.
Let me know if I missed any important games and tell me what
system you believe has the best library of titles.
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