Microsoft (Xbox One)
Who Won 2019?
The Xbox One in 2019 really picked up where the platform left off: effectively just building for the future, while trying to scrape together what they can for the present.
Xbox Game Pass continues to be of incredible value. I constantly wonder how things would have been different this generation if Microsoft had launched the Xbox One with this service in place.
Even with the lack of exclusives, the amount of solid third-party (and first-party) titles on Xbox Game Pass is reaching absurd and amazing levels. The entire year saw Microsoft/Xbox continue to build that up, and make the Game Pass service even more attractive than it already is.
It’s a good thing too, because from an exclusive game perspective, the Xbox One still feels lacking.
Crackdown 3 was okay, but it was hardly a killer app. I don’t believe it was ever imagined to be a major system seller but the spotlight was a bit unfairly shined on it anyway because of the lack of well known exclusive IPs on the platform.
Gears 5 did wrap up the final stretch of 2019 on a very positive note though. While it hasn’t won any Game of the Year Awards that I’ve noticed, it’s still one of the best exclusive games not named Forza that Microsoft has published this console generation.
E3 2019
E3 2019 was a strange one for Microsoft. It continued the trend of it being an objectively entertaining conference, but not really containing anything for hardcore fans of the console that are looking for exclusives features to really get excited about.
Double Fine being acquired is good news for fans of Xbox, and Bleeding Edge’s existence feels a little more safe now that we know Ninja Theory is not working on Bleeding Edge at the expense of a new Hellblade game; but it was still lacking a bit of exclusive punch.
Phantasy Star Online 2 exclusivity in the West would have been a major (and shocking) get for Microsoft if that was the case, but it will eventually trickle out to other platforms as well.
Xbox Series X Announcement
Finally, at pretty much the last opportunity for 2019 during The Game Awards, Microsoft revealed their next gen console: Xbox Series X. Potentially confusing naming aside, it was an impressive first look at the next generation of Xbox.
It was brief, and a look at what games to expect other than Hellblade and Halo will likely come sometime at or around E3 next year. Still, the tone shift over the last few years to being more focused on their core gaming audience definitely shined through in the reveal. Plus, it looks like it’s going to be a total beast spec-wise.
Nintendo
Who Won 2019?
Nintendo did in 2019 what Nintendo has been doing since the launch of the Switch: keeping a steady stream of exclusive games coming alongside a few surprising third-party ports.
What eventually caught up to the Wii, and beleaguered the Wii U from the start was the lack of third-party support and even first-party support slowing down to a crawl.
Thanks to the popularity of the console and the more standard set of controls to develop around, this has not been a problem for the Switch.
Nintendo pumped out and supported excellent exclusives games such as Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Astral Chain, Super Mario Maker 2, Luigi’s Mansion 3, Pokemon and more. Joining the usual first-party lineups was surprises such as Overwatch, The Witcher 3, Mortal Kombat 11, Wolfenstein, Dragon Quest Builders, and both Civ VI expansions. Combined, it made for a very solid lineup for Nintendo in 2019.
E3 2019
Nintendo’s E3 stole the show this year. Granted, it was a fairly tame E3 as we’re heading into the end of a generation, but still, the announcement of Banjo-Kazooie in Smash, the reveal of a Breath of the Wild sequel, and a new Animal Crossing would have been exciting any year.
It was a well-balanced show that featured content coming in 2019, 2020 and beyond from both a first-party and third-party perspective.
Nintendo Switch Lite
On the hardware front, the major piece of news this year was the release of the Nintendo Switch Lite. By most accounts, including ours, the Switch Lite was an impressive hardware update although not necessarily a game-changer or a must-have.
If your Switch is downtrodden and you are in the market for a new one, the Switch Lite featured some neat new hardware upgrades such as a nice matted finished and improved buttons. Or, if you’re a parent looking to buy multiple Switch consoles for a more affordable price, the Lite is a great way to stay under budget.
Sony
Who Won 2019?
Over the course of, well, pretty much the entire generation, Sony has led the way in terms of massive, big-budget, AAA games that have moved the industry forward.
2019 was the first year, however, maybe since the PlayStation 4’s launch window, that felt lacking.
Days Gone kicked things off and it was fine, it just likely isn’t a game that we’re going to remember generations from now unless Sony gives the franchise another go in the future.
Death Stranding is the big game this year. While we were fans here at Twinfinite, the gaming community at large (both from critics and fans) have been all over the place in terms of reception. It very much seems like one of those games you either “get” and appreciate, or you fail to see the appeal and find the experience boring.
Judgment and MLB The Show 19 were both solid as well within their respective genres, and in most years that would be enough. The bar was just set so high from previous generations and at some point, Sony was going to fail to clear it.
Fortunately next year looks a lot brighter.
Passing of the Torch
The PlayStation 4 looks set to go out with a bang with games like The Last of us Part II, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Nioh 2, and Ghost of Tsushima all launching exclusively for the PS4 in 2020.
Coupled with the launch of the PlayStation 5, Sony is positioned to have a major bounce back year in the gaming sphere.
I do wish we got to learn a little bit more of what Sony has planned for the PlayStation 5 this year. Aside from an acknowledgement of its existence, and some specs trickling out, the PS5 is still largely a mystery.
It feels like in this very early stage, Microsoft is stealing a bit of the hype each time we learn about a new feature such as its powerful graphical capabilities, backwards compatibility with games and Xbox One accessories, and the carry over of the excellent Xbox Game Pass.
Sony likely won’t be a slouch in these areas either, and its own subscription service, PS Now, is definitely coming along; but unless Sony has something that can outdo what Microsoft has revealed so far (which is very possible), their announcement might lack some punch after hearing about similar features from Microsoft earlier.
State of Play
Sony/PlayStation in 2019 has also stepped up how often they interact with their fans with the new State of Play broadcasts that were spread out throughout the year.
While they have varied in terms of quality, regardless Sony appears to be heading down a similar road as Nintendo; that is eschewing traditional media events for their own controlled reveals.
Fans seem to enjoy and look forward to most of the Nintendo Directs and Sony doing something similar going forward with the PlayStation brand isn’t a surprise, nor is it a bad thing.
There are certainly lots of positives to this approach such as it being easy to follow, and generating hype throughout the year rather than waiting for something like E3. Fans should be aware though of the obvious (and totally understandable) bias/spinning that comes from such controlled reveals, whether it’s Sony or any company for that matter.
Who Won 2019?
Winner: Nintendo
For us, Nintendo won 2019. It wasn’t necessarily a big win as it felt like both Microsoft and Sony were in transitional years as they gear up for big hardware launches in 2020. However, that doesn’t take away from what Nintendo was able to accomplish.
They have proven capable of utilizing their first-party studios effectively and efficiently to deliver a first-party lineup that alone would be enough to sate many Switch fans.
They have stayed on schedule from previous announcements in most cases and laid out an impressive slate of games still to come in both the near, and long term.
They have supplemented that effort with a renewed focus on third-party games both from smaller, indie developers and AAA franchises and publishers.
While it remains to be seen how the Switch will hang with the Xbox Series X, and the PlayStation 5 down the road, at least for 2019 Nintendo and their customers have a lot to be happy about.
Published: Dec 30, 2019 01:49 pm