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When the Xbox 360 launched, it had 15 games accompanying it in Europe. Of those, only PGR 3, Geometry Wars, Call of Duty 2 and maybe Condemned really stood out. It wasn’t a terrible launch line-up – between the HD upgrade and Xbox Live integration, there was enough on offer to keep players going – but Xbox One’s potential day one makes it look rather pitiful. It could be one of the best launch line-ups we’ve seen.
Like last time around, there’s a Call of Duty at launch, but the CoD of seven years ago isn’t the same as today. CoD 2’s multiplayer was the secondary attraction: the campaign hosting the real action. I probably don’t have to tell you how different it all is today, and although Ghosts may well end up being a stop-gap until Modern Warfare 4 next year, it’s still a massive coup to have a such a huge franchise at launch – especially with all those Xbox Live subs that need flogging.
What about FIFA 14, inextricably linked with the Xbox One thanks to Microsoft and EA’s deal? Remember which FIFA game was on offer at the last launch window? The risible Road to the World Cup ’06, a game so bad even EA had to admit it. The fact 14 is essentially packed in highlights just how good Xbox gamers have it this time around.
Watch Dogs, Assassin’s Creed 4 are also on the list, and both will be a phenomenal additions if they live up to expectations, as will Need For Speed Rivals and, of course, Battlefield 4 and that’s not – literally – even the half of it.
Many of these games are on PlayStation 4 as well, and it would be easy (and correct) to point that out. Those who opt for an Xbox One will miss out on the likes of Killzone and Knack, but the sheer amount of potential quality on offer here should outweigh any concerns, and even if it doesn’t, Microsoft has at least two exclusive games of its own that excite: Dead Rising 3, which is finally starting to take the sort of shape befitting the series’ popularity, and Forza 5, a game that Turn 10 is taking such a dementedly thorough approach to developing I’d be shocked if it didn’t live up to expectations.For the start of a generation, this has to be up there as one of the best yet.
Yes, there are potential duffers in there as well. Ryse: Son of Rome isn’t looking that hot, and Killer Instinct has a long way to go to convince that it’s going to be anything more than an interesting demo. But then that’s the way of every launch window. What isn’t is to have this much quality on show right from the word go, and it should mean that Xbox One and PS4 owners get off to a flying start with their new toys, early adopters or not. Regardless which system floats your boat, you can’t really lose.
There may have been console launches with better individual games (Super Mario 64 being one), but there might well not have been one with this much overall quality.
