PS4 vs. Xbox vs. Switch: Which Console Had the Best Year in 2018?
PS4
Sony’s 2018 has kept the wheels turning on what has been a steamrolling three or so years at the head of the industry. The PS4 has stayed one step ahead of the competition by putting content at the heart of its strategy.
It’s taken time to come to fruition, but it’s absolutely paying dividends now.
Critically acclaimed AAA titles such as God of War, Spider-Man, and Detroit Become Human continued to hammer home the message to gamers that the PS4 is the place to game.
Elsewhere, clever third-party exclusivity deals with companies like Level-5 and Square Enix has helped build a narrative that Sony’s console offers the most diverse range of content.
Revisiting old classics and generally playing on gamer nostalgia was also a big part of Sony’s agenda in 2018.
Remakes like Shadow of the Colossus and the Spyro series proved a huge success. Although the PlayStation Classic, Sony’s own mini-console similar to Nintendo’s NES and SNES Classic, wasn’t terribly well put together.
Importantly, though, Sony is managing to keep its hardware steaming forward by approaching consumers from all angles, from cutting-edge new content to playing to nostalgic heartstrings. It’s been an impressive strategy to watch unfold.
Other key strategic decisions have helped bolster the PS4 brand outside of content, too.
The revised thinking over cross-platform play after a backlash of negativity and the impetus to finally deliver on PSN name changes has gone some way to prove Sony is still thinking about its consumers despite its comfortable market lead.
PS4 vs. Xbox vs. Switch: Which Console Had the Best Year in 2018?
Nintendo
Nintendo was always going to struggle to match its exceptional 2017. The launch of Nintendo Switch and a flood of new game content set a blazing pace that might go down in history as one of the best year ones for any console ever.
Yet Nintendo still did a remarkably good job driving the brand forward in what felt like a bit of filler year as it tees up for a big 2019.
Although not on the same scale as in 2017, a host of small but still notable game content maintained their exemplary standard for innovation and playability, most importantly, really fun video games.
Their in-house titles lead the way as usual, with releases big and small dotted throughout the year.
Though Mario Tennis Aces, Super Mario Party, and Kirby Star Allies could be surmised as a warm up more than anything, they capped the year off with blockbusters in Pokemon Let’s Go and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
The latter held up our Game of the Year article as we considered its contention for Twinfinite’s most prestigious annual award, such was its quality.
Elsewhere, collaborative efforts with third-party developers efforts in the form of Octopath Traveler and ports of the Bayonetta titles helped build a catalog that followed-up 2017 admirably. It’s important not to forget Nintendo Labo, which was a huge success in Japan.
The hardware/software combination reminded us all that even in an era in which Nintendo feels much more modern and industry-savvy, it’s still willing to experiment and stand apart from other publishers.
PS4 vs. Xbox vs. Switch: Which Console Had the Best Year in 2018?
Xbox
Sea of Thieves and State of Decay 2 were the Xbox’s marquee exclusive titles in the first half of 2018, and neither of them went down particularly well with critics or fans.
Rare’s Sea of Thieves, in particular, was a sore spot considering that its multiplayer concept felt like a giant waste of potential. The cooperative exploration and combat was such a blast, but it’s yet another game that’s launched this generation without any substantial content.
State of Decay 2, on the other hand, launched with a bit of whimper, plagued by bugs and limited scope to its design. Despite recording impressive player numbers, it was hardly the sort of AAA experience to drive consumers to the Xbox brand.
Forza Horizon 4 was the console’s saving grace. Newly acquired by Microsoft, Playground Games latest iteration of the popular arcade racer is arguably the best yet. Typically sublime graphics, satisfying gameplay, and the addition of new multiplayer features went down a real treat.
Ultimately, though, it has been another painfully dry year for Xbox exclusive content on the whole. Yet the lack of games doesn’t quite tell the whole story for Microsoft in 2018.
Under pressure to keep pace with its rivals void of software, the company has spearheaded the initiative with some superb services and console features.
Game Pass has been a revelation, not just for Xbox but the entire industry as a whole. The concept of subscribing to what is effectively a game rental service for a monthly fee is one that was initially met with skepticism.
Gamers are a loyal bunch when it comes to physical media, for starters, but the notion of not actually owning the games in one’s collection was an even harder one to come to terms with for some.
But it’s hard to look past its value and effectiveness. Microsoft just keeps adding games, and it appears to be building a collection of newly acquired studios to keep the wheels turning.
It’s reminiscent of Netflix’s strategy to churn out original content rather than licensing third-party content as Amazon does, and though it’s a long-term solution to the Xbox’s lack of exclusives problem, it could prove very effective down the road.
Elsewhere, Xbox All Access lowered the barrier to entry for new consumers even further with a sort of higher purchase arrangement in which one simply pays a monthly fee for a console, Game Pass subscription, and Games with Gold membership in a single bundle.
With All Access, users benefit from no start-up costs and the ability to keep the console after finishing the monthly installments. It’s a stunning deal and yet another forward-thinking program that’s helped keep Microsoft competitive.
PS4 vs. Xbox vs. Switch: Which Console Had the Best Year in 2018?
Who Wins?
It feels as though we’ve been saying that 20XX will be “the year of the PS4” for years.
2016 was supposed to be stacked with games that eventually got delayed, but we still got Uncharted 4 and The Last Guardian. Between Horizon Zero Dawn, Persona 5, and Nioh, 2017 was incredible. And now 2018 might just be even better.
We’re in the golden age of the PS4, people.
The past twelve months are another notch on the Japanese giant’s belt after having built some serious momentum over the past few years.
Their in-house games seem to consistently have an edge in production value, leading the industry forward with a commitment to quality that we just aren’t seeing elsewhere.
Ironically, they’re all single-player story-driven games, too, which flies in the face of everything we’re told about “games as a service” overtaking traditional game design. I actually think that’s a huge draw for the brand.
Years after plastering the “For the Players” marketing slogan in the face of Microsoft’s botched Xbox One launch, you’d have to say that Sony absolutely delivered on that agenda.
It wasn’t just bullshit. They continue to center the brand around the sort of quality AAA content that gamers adore and create visibility for PS4 that has won over the mindshare this generation.
As we move toward the console’s final stages of its lifecycle, Sony will be hard pressed to keep things going in 2019. Nintendo’s Switch is just getting into its stride, after all.
And yet, there are still oodles of awesome games that may or may not be launching on PS4, so who really knows? Maybe 2019 will be the year of the PS4… again.
