In their current state, do you think any of the next-gen consoles have got a killer app yet?

[broadbandmink]

First of all, I'd like to clarify that the consoles I'm referring to are the the Wii U, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Secondly, when I say "killer app" it is meant to denote a game which you think either has or might potentially "sell the system" (i.e. provide a substantial hardware sales boost) that it was released for.

IMHO, I think only the Wii U has not one, but two killer apps atm: Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, both comparatively highly anticipated games that have received positive reviews and strong sales following their respective releases.

However, I have a hard time coming up with any single title yet released for either the Playstation 4 or Xbox One that commands a comparable commercial magnetism for their respective systems alone.

But hey, that's just my take on the current situation. What do you think?

Also, feel free to include future releases which you think might attain killer app potential.

 

[Zhukov]

The only thing that comes to mind is Smash Bros on the WiiU.

You already seem to have that one covered.

 

[J Tyran]

The Wii U has its games, they are driving it as much as they ever will at this point but you're right neither Microsoft or Sony have much at the moment. The PS4 hasn't really gotten anything of its own (TLOU was on PS3 and even made some people angry at "buying the same game again") and although Microsoft wheeled the Master Chief (again) after they changed his nappy, took off his bib and cleaned the old man up a bit they managed to bungle it badly.

Sunset Overdrive seemed okay but hasn't really excited many and a lot of the press The Order 1886 is getting isn't that great, so for exclusives there isn't much at the moment or in the near future.

 

[baddude1337]

I don't think so, no. Especially as a lot of the Microsoft and Playstation IP's from last gen have yet to have a new instalment on the current gen, as well as not having many new IP's. The 2 that were meant to be huge (Destiny and Titanfall) I have heard very mixed things about, and the only reason they sold well was due to gamers being starved of anything else.

 

[Maxtro]

I've always been a PlayStation fan and I don't have a PS4 yet simply because there isn't anything out that I really want yet. Having a gaming PC makes a PS4 even less attractive.

For me PS4's "killer app" will be Final Fantasy XV, and that doesn't even have a release date. I'm interested in Bloodborne but I'm not going to buy a system just to play it.

When I bought a PS3 the system had the ability to play PS2 games on and that was something that really helped ease my transition to the next generation and I was able to sell my PS2. Since the PS4 can't play PS3 games and there are still PS3 games I'm playing I don't really see the need to have two PlayStation systems.

Thankfully Persona 5 is also getting released on the PS3 so that's one more game I can play on the system I already own.

 

[Starbird]

Not at this point. It seems that basically everything I want on the current gen is out on PC too, cheaper and looking better on my PC. Oh there will eventually be something like a new God of War or Soul Calibur that makes me go out and buy one, but not likely for a while.

 

[Alma Mare]

In my eyes, only the Wii U. Not only it has Bayonetta 2 but also the best (by far) version of Bayonetta 1. That tips the scales in its favor for me.

As for the other consoles, haven't seen anything that makes me remotely interested.

 

[joest01]

In my eyes, only the Wii U. Not only it has Bayonetta 2 but also the best (by far) version of Bayonetta 1.

qft, and a semi handheld option to play Razor's Edge (which I have played on Ps3 to be fair but I didnt have a Wii U then)

Add mario kart. Which is a joy to play with the gamepad.

Actually I am in the PS3 but no reason to go PS4 camp. Maybe if Bloodborne gets really amazing reviews...

 

[DrOswald]

The Wii U has not only 1 killer app but many. Bayonetta, Mario 3d World, Pikmin 3. And some more.

If bloodborne gets good reviews it may become the killer app for PS4 (at least in my eyes) and Uncharted 4 may be up there, but right now I see no compelling reason to get either a PS4 or Xbox One.

If we count handhelds, the 3DS has so many good games I am not even going to try to list them. Easily the best console for value right now.

 

[Fappy]

If we count handhelds, the 3DS has so many good games I am not even going to try to list them. Easily the best console for value right now.

Agreed. There's no debating this.

OT: Bloodborne maybe be why I pick up a PS4, but it's niche enough that I don't think you can call it a killer app.

 

[Mister K]

Well, if those consoles were sold where I live and I had money to spend, then yeah, Bayonetta 2 for WiiU and upcoming Bloodborne would've been a "system-sellers" for me.

 

[broadbandmink]

Many interesting comments thus far. There are a handfull I'd like to adress.

I don't think so, no. Especially as a lot of the Microsoft and Playstation IP's from last gen have yet to have a new instalment on the current gen, as well as not having many new IP's. The 2 that were meant to be huge (Destiny and Titanfall) I have heard very mixed things about, and the only reason they sold well was due to gamers being starved of anything else.

Have to admit. I had high hopes for Destiny. I like Bungie's stuff, it was a new IP, and I thought the multiplayer aspect looked interesting. But ever since release, I've kept getting these reports that the game gets repetitive fast. Can neither confirm nor refute such claims since I've decided to not take the plunge.

For me PS4's "killer app" will be Final Fantasy XV, and that doesn't even have a release date.

This might, IMO, very well be killer app-material. But how have the fan base reacted to the decision of the developers to have this installment head into action role-playing territory?

When I bought a PS3 the system had the ability to play PS2 games on and that was something that really helped ease my transition to the next generation and I was able to sell my PS2. Since the PS4 can't play PS3 games and there are still PS3 games I'm playing I don't really see the need to have two PlayStation systems.

This is yet another aspect that has made me hesitant to buy either console. Apart from the Wii U, which allows one to play Wii games, backward compatibility appears to have been left out of the picture among the newer consoles. However, this is also a technical issue. Since both Microsoft and Sony decided to switch the internal architecture for their new consoles, they may both thus have deemed backward compatibility a sacrificial component for one reason or another.

The Wii U has not only 1 killer app but many. Bayonetta, Mario 3d World, Pikmin 3. And some more.

I was initially going to add Bayonetta 2 to my (very short) list of games I thought had become killer apps for the Wii U, but that game is reportedly struggling sales wise. I'd like to stress that I have nothing against the Bayonetta series as such. Far from it. I played the first title on Xbox 360 and I had a blast.

 

[Sniper Team 4]

Bloodborne comes out next month. Unless I've missed something, only one other person here has mentioned it. I thought that a lot of people were looking forward to this game, but perhaps I just hang around the Souls crowd too much.

Oh! Halo 5 will be a console mover for sure when it comes out, but that's a ways away, so I don't know if it counts.

Dragon Age: Inquisition is the game that made me finally cough up money for my PS4, so does that count?

 

[laggyteabag]

Only the Wii U. They got Bayonetta 2, Smash and MarioKart 8 last year, and that library puts the Wii U leagues ahead of the PS4 and XbOne in terms of things to actually play. The PS4 has Infamous and Killzone, but I wouldn't regard either as system sellers. Sure, the PS4 also has The Last of Us, but so does the PS3, and that console is cheap compared to the PS4, so I wouldn't really count that. Same goes for the Xbox One; sure, it has the MCC, but you can play every game that the MCC comes with on the 360, and from what I am still hearing, the game still suffers from some major matchmaking issues.

Once Uncharted and Halo 5 come out, then I will understand why people get a PS4/XbOne, but as it stands, you would only really get one if you were super into the graphics.

 

[StreamerDarkly]

Have to admit. I had high hopes for Destiny. I like Bungie's stuff, it was a new IP, and I thought the multiplayer aspect looked interesting. But ever since release, I've kept getting these reports that the game gets repetitive fast. Can neither confirm nor refute such claims since I've decided to not take the plunge.

I can confirm. Played the beta, played it religiously for the first few months after release. Eventually got bored of it once my level was maxed out and had accumulated a respectable collection of top tier weapons and armor. PvP, while fun, didn't really draw me in as much as the Halo series. Was turned off by the idea of paying for DLC expansion for a game taht wasn't really enjoyable anymore.

The PvE missions are indeed very repetitive. After awhile you're on auto-pilot, grinding them purely for shards to upgrade weapons and armor. Still, I don't regret the purchase as I got hundreds of hours of gameplay out of Destiny. As any review will tell you, it is a well polished game. Despite critics seizing on the fact that the environment wasn't as big as promised, there is a lot to explore. I might pick it up again now that GTA V has become dull.

 

[broadbandmink]

Bloodborne comes out next month. Unless I've missed something, only one other person here has mentioned it. I thought that a lot of people were looking forward to this game, but perhaps I just hang around the Souls crowd too much.

Oh! Halo 5 will be a console mover for sure when it comes out, but that's a ways away, so I don't know if it counts.

Dragon Age: Inquisition is the game that made me finally cough up money for my PS4, so does that count?

Well, the definition of the term "killer app" isn't carved in stone. In my estimation, it's a chiefly subjective concept and thus open to many differing interpretations.

Hmm, even though From Software's earlier titles have managed to cross the million mark in sales figures, I don't think either of them have been instrumental in tipping the scales in any console's favour. However, earlier track records do not necessarily predict the future. Bloodborne may very well become a major incentive for consumers to invest in a PS4.

As for Halo 5, yeah, I think you're in the right there. However, as a person who's followed the Halo series since its inception, I can't help but wonder how long that will last. In my experience, the Halo franchise has suffered from what I'd like to refer to as a broken fanbase for years.

Regarding Dragon Age: Inquisition, I personally regard that game as a transition title of sorts, since it's been released for not only the newer consoles, but PS3 and Xbox 360 as well. But that's just my opinion.

I can confirm. Played the beta, played it religiously for the first few months after release. Eventually got bored of it once my level was maxed out and had accumulated a respectable collection of top tier weapons and armor. PvP, while fun, didn't really draw me in as much as the Halo series. Was turned off by the idea of paying for DLC expansion for a game taht wasn't really enjoyable anymore.

The PvE missions are indeed very repetitive. After awhile you're on auto-pilot, grinding them purely for shards to upgrade weapons and armor. Still, I don't regret the purchase as I got hundreds of hours of gameplay out of Destiny. As any review will tell you, it is a well polished game. Despite critics seizing on the fact that the environment wasn't as big as promised, there is a lot to explore. I might pick it up again now that GTA V has become dull.

Well, I'm glad to hear that you found you overall experience enjoyable. But judging by your description, I still think I'll spend my money elsewhere.

 

[Rubblemaker]

I'm personally waiting on No Man's Sky. If that turns out to be good (and actually work) then I think that could become a killer app for the PS4. It seems to be that it'll have exclusivity for that console (and the PC) at the moment.

Its certainly the game that will make me buy a PS4, until then, add me as a plus one for the 'see no need to own either console yet'

 

[Evonisia]

I don't know because the next gen consoles are still more than half a decade away from release.

The Wii U has Bayonetta 2, Mario Kart 8 and Smash Bros.

For now, we need to wait for Sony to release Uncharted another one for the PS4, and for the Xbox One we need to wait for 343 Industries to fuck Halo over a second time (well, fifth but I'll exclude those God awful novels and the terminals they put into the Halo: CE Anniversary and the MCC).

 

[CannibalCorpses]

Honestly...no.

My friends have all the new gen stuff covered and while i've played most of the 'big' titles on them i haven't played anything that made me want to pay over the odds for one. Even worse than that, if i bought a new console i could probably finish the entire back catalogue in about a month so.

They lack quality and quantity