I have to say, 2014 wasn’t really a great year for gaming. Major titles got pushed back to 2015 and then there were some AAA titles that proved to be subpar experiences.
Still, 2014 had its moments. There were a few, but awesome exclusives which fans on both PS4 and Xbox One highly enjoyed. Who can forget the awesome inFamous: Second Son or Resogun’s amazing and addictive gameplay on PS4? On the other side of the coin, we had Sunset Overdrive and Forza Horizon 2 on Xbox One some great games indeed. I would have mentioned Halo: The Master Chief Collection, but the game had so many issues.
2015 is looking to be a great one in terms of exclusives for both PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Let’s take a look at what’s in stored for us this year and which console seems to be winning 2015 in terms of major exclusives:
PlayStation 4 Exclusives 2015
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
Release Date: 2015
Uncharted 4 is Sony’s biggest known release of 2015. The game was shown in all its glory on PSX last month and managed to blow us away with its incredible gameplay mechanics and visuals. For Naughty Dog, blockbuster hits have sort of become a routine now and Uncharted 4 is looking to carry on the trend. Xbox fans will surely be tempted to grab a PS4 to play this exclusive.
Bloodborne
Release Date: March 2015
Is there any doubt regarding the talent of From Software? There isn’t at all! They did a great job with the Souls games and are now working on a creepy new RPG, Bloodborne. If you have played Dark or Demon Souls, you’ll know that this game will be highly challenging. The game features no blocking mechanics, you can only dodge or move out of the way. Enemies are fierce and won’t go down easy. The environment is Victorian-era inspired and don’t even get me started on the visuals. Bloodborne is a must have PS4 exclusive of 2015.
The Order: 1886
Release Date: February 2015
What can I say about The Order that hasn’t been said before? The title is one of the most visually impressive PS4 games to hit the market in 2015. Although a simple cover-based shooter, The Order: 1886 seamlessly combines cinematics with gameplay. There were some concerns about the gameplay section due to the lack of showing, but all concerns went away after PSX. The Order: 1886 is on its way to amaze us all in February.
Until Dawn
Release Date: Summer 2015
In the list of exclusives, Until Dawn might not be the biggest, but it is certainly the most interesting. The concept is similar to the one we see in teen horror flicks. Bunch of teenagers are trying to enjoy life and to do so they choose a creepy cabin in the woods. Now, we all know where this is going. Obviously, this means a psycho killer hunting each and every one of them down one by one and not the other thing you might have thought.
The reason I think this is interesting is that it is one thing to watch a thriller/horror film like this, but it’s another thing to play the role of a person trapped in this situation. Every move you make, every word you choose to speak will have an impact on the game. There will be occasions where you will have to decide either to save yourself or save a friend/girlfriend. How far are you willing to go in order survive?
No Man’s Sky
Release Date: 2015
No Man’s Sky will be making its console debut exclusively on PlayStation 4 this year (a timed-exclusivity). The game has the potential to be great. No Man’s Sky features a procedurally-generated universe which is literally impossible for anyone to fully explore in one lifetime. The only thing developers have to be careful about is the content. Players shouldn’t feel like there’s nothing to do expect exploration. If done right, No Man’s Sky can be a top seller.
Persona 5
Release Date: 2015
Another great PS4 exclusive is Persona 5 and this one is my personal recommendation to you all as well. The game is loved by millions and is one of the most awaited PS4 games of 2015. Nothing much is revealed about the game yet, but considering the level of quality we saw in the previous versions, Persona 5 is going to be a must have title.
So that was the major PS4 exclusives which are expected to release sometime in 2015. However, there are some other amazing games as well such as Alienation, Everybody’s gone the Rapture, ABZU among other awesome indie games. Let’s see what Microsoft has in store for us this year and whether or not their exclusive line-up is able to compete with Sony’s.
Xbox One Exclusives 2015
Halo 5: Guardians
Release Date: 2015
How can we not mention Halo 5: Guardians while listing the most anticipated Xbox One exclusives of 2015? In Halo 5: Guardians, the journey of our beloved Master Chief will further unfold as we embark upon a new sci-fi adventure. Halo 5 is a strong contender for game of the year and a must have Xbox One title.
Rise of The Tomb Raider
Release Date: 2015
Since its reveal, Rise of The Tomb Raider generated a lot of buzz. Not because it was a new Lara Croft game but it was Lara Croft game which was timed-exclusive to Xbox One. The game came as a huge shock to Sony fans and amazing news for Xbox users, as it was announced as a timed-exclusive by Microsoft. Lara’s next adventure is going to be available in 2015 – a system seller for sure.
Quantum Break
Release Date: 2015
Remedy Entertainment has made quite a name for itself with Alan Wake and are now ready to amaze us will its next project. The title is called Quantum Break and is going to give players the ability to manipulate time itself, an accompanying TV series, and cover-based shooting (the likes of which are experienced in Max Payne 3 and Alan Wake).
The game has been delayed for a couple times and will hopefully arrive sometime in 2015, exclusively for Xbox One.
Crackdown
Release Date: TBA 2015
The original Crackdown was one of my most favorite games on Xbox 360. It was incredibly fun and addictive. Microsoft revealed the next Crackdown for Xbox One in 2014 along with a brief trailer. The footage was more than an indication that this game is going to be an amazing experience. Not an easy one to beat for Sony.
Although not much is known about the game, but it’s reported to make use of Microsoft’s Cloud-tech and Xbox Live servers and release sometime in 2015.
Fable Legends
Release Date: 2015
If you own an Xbox One, Fable Legends is a must have game of 2015. It’s a co-op RPG developed by Lionhead Studios. There are several playable characters in the game, each with its own ability, strength and weaknesses. RPG lovers will surely spend hours exploring the beautiful and lush surroundings as well.
Cuphead
Release Date: 2015
This game is the simplest yet the most interesting game of all. Why? Because the game is inspired by the art-style and visuals of 1930’s cartoons. Remember Mickey Mouse? It featured a same art-style among other things. The game doesn’t have Mickey in it, but you get the idea. It’s like instead of watching a cartoon, you’re controlling it. As for the concept, you will fight series of bosses and repay a debt to the devil himself.
These were some of the most awesome Xbox One exclusive to be released this year. Apart from these we have a creepy yet creative game called ‘Inside’ and a highly ambitious title called Ori and The Blind Forest.
Verdict
Both PS4 and Xbox One have some really great exclusive titles and right now it is really hard to know which console is going win the year 2015 in this regard. Both systems are neck and neck but as we head deeper into 2015, more exclusives will be announced and it will be easier to predict a winner. For now, based on the announced exclusives, it seems like a tie between both rivals.
