Launch Titles (Usually) Don’t Actually Matter
Even if the games that are launched are good, it doesn’t mean the system will sell well or stick around long.
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The news that Microsoft has delayed Halo Infinite, a planned launch title for the upcoming Xbox Series X, until next year has brought an age old question to the forefront: What role do launch titles play in the success of a console? Will the titles that are immediately available with a new console be a factor in how well the console performs in the longterm? The short answer is “not really.” The longer answer takes a bit of explaining.
Obviously, launch titles are a factor in gaming systems. A large part of the hype around the launch of a new console stems from the announcement of new titles. While faster processors and enhanced graphics are always nice, a lot of consumers are more concerned with the games they will get with a new system. Yet, even if the games that are launched are good, it doesn’t mean the system will sell well or stick around long.
Look at the games that launched with the ill-fated PS Vita. With huge titles like Uncharted: Golden Abyss and Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3, it seemed that the portable system was destined for greatness. Fast forward to 2020 and the Vita is nothing more than a gag in a post-apocalyptic game. Even the PlayStation 3 (which coincidentally also shows up in the aforementioned post-apocalyptic game) had some amazing launch titles, like Call of Duty 3, but couldn’t really take off like Sony probably wanted it to. Despite the awesome launch titles, these systems couldn’t perform well enough to make the long haul.
On the other side of the spectrum, you have the systems whose launch titles were lackluster. When the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One launched in 2013, the titles they initially had were not standouts. Yet, seven years later both of these systems are powerhouses with huge titles under their belts and closing in on high sales. Sure, Assassins Creed IV: Black Flag and Knack were fun games, but they are nothing when compared to The Last of Us or Gears 5.
Not to mention the current state of the world amidst a pandemic where gaming has become a new hobby for many. Looking at the recent uptick in sales that Nintendo had with their Switch console shows that quarantine is introducing a lot of people to the joys of gaming or at least offering them time to finish a game. Being the first consoles to be released in this new way of life, the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series X may see powerful sales no matter what titles launch with them.
While this Halo news may have some already counting these next-gen systems out, it is impossible to gauge sales based on these launch titles alone. Especially considering that these new systems will eventually bring with them highly anticipated titles like Horizon Forbidden West, Assassins Creed: Valhalla, and Spider-Man: Miles Morales.
Source: IGN
Link Source : https://www.thegamer.com/launch-titles-usually-dont-matter/