Both the new consoles from Sony and Microsoft have some killer exclusives lined up but the first big salvo will be shot by the Redmond giant when TitanFall is released in less than 2 months time. Can this unknown entity be big enough to get Microsoft back into the sales race against the PlayStation 4?
We know the pedigree of the team at Respawn Studio as they are largely made up from the Infinity Ward team that brought us the highly rated Modern Warfare series. Pretty much everyone who has gone hands on with TitanFall is calling it a possible Game of the Year contender.
But what we need to remember is that those gaming events are all tightly controlled with a TitanFall server in close proximity and utilising perfect machines. Being an online only game that requires dedicated servers could hold the game back quite badly if you live anywhere outside of America or Western Europe or if you are in one of those countries but don’t have a top quality line.
I’ve spoken about the trouble around not having an Azure datacentre anywhere in South America, Asia (Correction: There are two datacentres in Asia; Hong Kong and Singapore), Australia or Africa and how gamers on these continents are not gong to get the benefit of all those powerful servers.
It’s even been raised locally that gamers could take retailers and EA to court utilising the National Consumer Protection Act as the game will simply be useless if you don’t have a very good connection locally. Now I don’t expect that to be a reality as the game boxes will make it quite clear that you need an Internet connection and that results may vary.
But it’s not just the meanderings of a grumpy journalist that has people worried. Ketu Patel, the category leader of gaming on Amazon.co.uk had the following to say.
If you look at our bestsellers chart PS4 always has been, and still is, our number one best seller,
Xbox One will fall somewhere within the top five. Obviously one console has outperformed the other generally and we probably confirm that split between the two.
[Titanfall] will be a big driver. I think Microsoft have got themselves a big coup there in negotiating that with EA. It will help close the gap, but personally speaking I think that gap is quite a big one at the moment. There’s a lot of catching up to do.
The reported gap in sales at the moment is apparently only about 400 000 but that’s quite the lead to have a mere 3 months into the race with the PlayStation 4 still selling out quicker than Sony can make them while the Xbox One is pretty much in stock at all major retailers.
More is resting on TitanFall than I think Respawn or EA would like but if any team is good enough to handle the expectations it’s the guys from Respawn. I for one can’t wait to jump into my Titan and wreak havoc across the world.
Oh and if you are wondering the new “Make it Bigger” links have been added for those people, like me, who prefer watching videos in full size. If you don’t see it then your browser can likely not handle jQuery. Let me know if there are other gimmicks you’d like us to add to the site.
Last Updated: February 4, 2014
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 4, 2014 at 10:39
Other gimmicks? How about Oculus Rift functionality? I want to feel like The One in the Matrix while navigating the news.
I think Titanfall is a major risk. If it doesn’t sell really, really well a lot of heads will roll given all the money they’ve spent developing it.
RinceThis2014
February 4, 2014 at 10:46
I’ll get Will to call Gavin 😉
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 4, 2014 at 10:51
Just don’t tell him I called it a gimmick. He might never forgive me lol. It’s not like he uses the internet & could read this… right?
RinceThis2014
February 4, 2014 at 11:01
Nope, he knows not what this ‘internet’ is!
Uberutang
February 4, 2014 at 10:42
If they put local servers down for it, I will get it.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
February 4, 2014 at 10:42
This, I agree on
Hammersteyn
February 4, 2014 at 10:45
Yes, but for PC.
Uberutang
February 4, 2014 at 10:46
Off course
Admiral Chief in Vegas
February 4, 2014 at 10:54
Goes without saying
Tarisma
February 4, 2014 at 10:58
Agree but until then, I’ll just play something else.
Uberutang
February 4, 2014 at 10:59
Oh for sure.
Tarisma
February 4, 2014 at 11:01
Also with the exchange rate being so awesome it will probably cost 1k when it launches in October.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
February 4, 2014 at 10:42
I guess the correct question is not if TitanFall is Titanic enough, but IF THE CLOUD IS!!!!!
TiMsTeR1033
February 4, 2014 at 10:44
The answer is no
RinceThis2014
February 4, 2014 at 10:44
I want a ‘donate to Rincethis’ button added.
TiMsTeR1033
February 4, 2014 at 10:48
What can we donate?
Hammersteyn
February 4, 2014 at 10:48
Sun lotion?
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 4, 2014 at 10:52
It rubs the lotion on it’s skin.
RinceThis2014
February 4, 2014 at 10:53
0-O
Hammersteyn
February 4, 2014 at 10:53
Or else it gets the hose again 😛
RinceThis2014
February 4, 2014 at 10:53
Watch it booooy.
Hammersteyn
February 4, 2014 at 10:53
XD
TiMsTeR1033
February 4, 2014 at 10:53
I would supply that free of charge, I never forgot one day, an albino guy came to me in a mall asking me for money, I said “what you need the money for?” his answer was simple “sunblock so I can walk home” lol
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 4, 2014 at 11:03
Eh, how did he GET to the mall then?
TiMsTeR1033
February 4, 2014 at 11:04
Taxi!
RinceThis2014
February 4, 2014 at 11:06
Stop making sense!
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 4, 2014 at 11:09
Okay, I’ll just go slam my head into the pavement shall I? *run*
Hammersteyn
February 4, 2014 at 11:04
LOL shame
TiMsTeR1033
February 4, 2014 at 11:05
I felt really bad because he was wearing a tank top and I said I only got a card.
TiMsTeR1033
February 4, 2014 at 11:09
Rince gonna kill me for this, but funny as hell!
Hammersteyn
February 4, 2014 at 11:37
Run for your life!
RinceThis2014
February 4, 2014 at 10:53
Money…
TiMsTeR1033
February 4, 2014 at 10:56
How much you
wantneed??RinceThis2014
February 4, 2014 at 10:56
ALL OF IT 0-O
TiMsTeR1033
February 4, 2014 at 10:57
good answer! sadly this is not a game show..
Admiral Chief in Vegas
February 4, 2014 at 11:01
NO, don’t pay for booty! I’m sure there is a girl out there for you Rince!!!
Weanerdog
February 4, 2014 at 11:27
Probably cheaper just to pay for it.
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 4, 2014 at 11:34
bwhhahahaha oh the BURN!
iAmWeasel
February 4, 2014 at 10:45
Can’t think of any MP-only game that made a significant impact on gaming in the past 10 years. So I’m doubtful this will be the big game changer that everyone seems to expect.
Uberutang
February 4, 2014 at 10:46
All the CODS, Battlefields, Counter Strikes, Team Fortress and MMO’s disagrees.
iAmWeasel
February 4, 2014 at 10:48
CODS and Battlefields have no SP? Wouldn’t really consider Team Fortress and such game changers, and I’m referring mainly to shooter games. MMO’s are a different kettle of fish.
Rags
February 4, 2014 at 11:56
You don’t buy BF for SP though.
Hammersteyn
February 4, 2014 at 10:47
Planetside 2 is also a prime example.
Admiral Chief in Vegas
February 4, 2014 at 10:55
Prime PRIIIIIIIIME example
Mossel
February 4, 2014 at 11:04
So this is totally off topic…but have you guys seen the gameplay vids for Loadout?! It looks awesome! And it is free! So everyone with steam go download it! NOW!
TiMsTeR1033
February 4, 2014 at 11:07
Have you seen The Forest?? Makes me want to get a pc!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwImGYR2rwg
Mossel
February 4, 2014 at 11:09
Will need to eatch this at home. The IT gods have once again screwed me.
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 4, 2014 at 11:11
That does sounds pretty cool. How big is the dl?
Mossel
February 4, 2014 at 11:13
2gb! I would’ve started a remote download, but my pc is off…
e1ace
February 4, 2014 at 11:06
Not to harp on about sales differences, but isn’t the PS4 leading by 1.2 million?
Last time they both released stats for sales to consumers (and not retail) it was 3m vs 4.2m.
Brian Murphy
February 4, 2014 at 18:24
Vgchartz has the gap at 1.4m currently.
Rikus
February 4, 2014 at 11:35
IMO TitanFall is not really a system seller. If you really want to play it, just get it on PC or Xbox 360. Unless, they deliberately make those versions inferior, which will upset a lot of people. Stranger things have happened though
Ultimo_Cleric N7
February 4, 2014 at 11:54
I cant believe one game exclusive can save an entire consile. It doesnt matter how good the game is. Why?
Because if the game is a HUGE success, its only a matter of time before Respawn see the Dollar signs and launch across all platforms. EPECIALLY if it’s a online FPS.
oVg 60fps > 30fps
February 4, 2014 at 12:19
The XBOX ONE is doing just fine… In America.
Pieter Kruger
February 4, 2014 at 12:59
By this logic Lazygamer should be doomed cause they’re getting far less hits than IGN…….
FoxOneZA
February 4, 2014 at 13:54
LOL!
That Tall Ork Norm
February 4, 2014 at 13:30
Rather than Titanfall, the game that could make me buy a next-gen console would be The Division. And even for that, I would buy a PS4.
Mabenito
February 4, 2014 at 14:55
Something is wrong with that GAP…
Johnny
February 4, 2014 at 15:59
This is about dumb. Really? Xbox one isn’t going anywhere this generation has just started and way to early to even start with this shit.
naiko
February 4, 2014 at 16:28
Rescue for what? Is insane the words of trolls
CredCheck
February 4, 2014 at 17:13
So early in the year and we have a winner for” biggest crap wrote” already!! Hope this was by a part timer?
sjp77
February 4, 2014 at 21:01
Haven’t MS just announced record sales for their new console??? Don’t think they need rescuing really…. lol
Brian Murphy
February 4, 2014 at 21:36
Yeah, lost in all this shuffle is that the One is still selling well (It’s just not selling AS well, as the PS4). What remains to be seen is if the current demo group of One owners, are the kind of folks who’ll go out and buy titanfall. Which I’m not so sure of. Just like last gen when the PS3 released as the all-in-one media darling, the folks buying it weren’t necessarily focused on buying the exclusive titles.
Still, doesn’t mean that Microsoft isn’t moving Ones. It just means that Titanfall may not appeal to the majority of One owners.
Brian Murphy
February 5, 2014 at 01:44
Man, no wonder the Xbox One needs the cloud for this game…just look at those PC specs! Beast mode!!!
Min: 64-bit Windows 7, 8, 8.1
AMD Athlon X2 2.8GHz or Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz
4GB RAM
512GB VRAM, Radeon HD 4770 or GeForce 8800GT