2014 is finally here! If last year is any indication of how 2014 will be, then you can expect an eventful 12 months of relentless competition.
We know that some blockbuster titles are on the horizon, but how will they fare? Despite the Xbox One and PS4 having just landed on store shelves, there’s some new hardware and technology planned for 2014. Will they shake the industry as we know it?
In the gallery below we’ve created a list of our top 10 video game predictions for 2014.
The Top 10 Video Game Predictions for 2014
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1. Naughty Dog will revive Crash Bandicoot for PS4.
Crash Bandicoot made a secret appearance in the PS4's first commercial, and an image of him was even posted on Sony Denmark's Facebook page. Hmm... I wonder why.
Sony and Naughty Dog are fully aware that gamers love the Crash Bandicoot series. It was a best-seller on the PS1 and for a long time Crash was even regarded as Sony's Mario.
Naughty Dog have said that they have a lot to share in 2014, and we're confident that Crash Bandicoot PS4 is one of them.
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2. Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes will be panned for short length, will sell well anyway.
With a price of $29.99, you'd think Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes would have a lot of content. Unfortunately, that isn't so. Hideo Kojima has confirmed that it's hundreds of times smaller than the full Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain experience which is coming in 2015. This has rubbed gamers and Metal Gear fans the wrong way.
I expect the game to sell incredibly well, especially on PS4 where it's the largest IP releasing during the first half of the year. However, I think a lot of people will be disappointed by how limited the experience will be.
For Konami it'll be a huge success. The game will make gamers even more eager for The Phantom Pain which will retail for a full $59.99. Welcome to the age of $90 games.
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3. VR will acquire overwhelming developer support following initial impressions.
After spending time with Oculus Rift at E3, I couldn't be more impressed. This is the real deal. Full virtual reality where your mind is tricked into thinking you're actually there. The best part? It's already available for purchase as a development kit and will have a consumer unit release later in 2014.
Oculus isn't the only player in the game, either. Sony have a headset of their own, and even Valve are working on a unit. The impression made on people has already been substantial. Once more developers see what it can do and how positively consumers respond to it expect to see support in a lot of titles including AAA franchises.
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4. Steam Box will drive hard competition in console arena.
The Steam Box has been a long time coming. In 2014, it will finally mark its territory. Its main goal is to bring the PC experience to those who don't want to sell an arm and a leg. That means thousands of supported games at launch, and Valve's level of quality. Such a thing shouldn't be underestimated.
Early prototypes look incredibly good. They're also more affordable than I originally suspected. Those turned off by the lackluster early libraries of the PS4 and Xbox One will have a compelling new option in 2014.
The console arena is already extremely competitive, and Valve will make it even more ferocious once the Steam Box is unleashed. Prepare for a bloodbath.
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5. The Elder Scrolls Online will prove a huge a huge financial loss for Bethesda.
A recent report stated that The Elder Scrolls Online has cost upward of $200 million to develop. You'd think that means it's going to be a huge hit. Well, if you've been following beta feedback you're probably scratching your head wondering where that money went. The game's ability to achieve success is already in-doubt from many gamers who have spent time on the continent of Tamriel, including myself.
Bethesda is in some serious trouble. It's understandable that development costs got out of control. After all, that's the nature of the MMO business. However, banking on the Elder Scrolls IP was a huge gamble, especially given how oversaturated and competitive the MMO market is. Sure, the IP is well known, but certainly not at the level of something like Star Wars, and even that couldn't save Star Wars: The Old Republic.
Bethesda are sailing toward an iceberg and the best they can do is try to impact it in the least painful way possible.
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6. The Order 1886, Halo 5, Uncharted 4, and Quantum Break will be targeted for 2015 release.
If there's one thing I've learned during the past few years it's that good games take a long time to develop. We're now in a new generation where development cycles are as long or even longer than we saw on the PS3 and 360.
I have no faith in Halo 5, Uncharted 4, Quantum Break, or The Order 1886 arriving in 2014. While the first three have never gotten dates to begin with, I've heard enough chatter to know that there are many gamers who expect to see them this year. They are likely in for disappointment. In the case of The Order 1886, a 2014 release date has been labeled, but so little is known about the title that it doesn't feel like it's only a few months away.
This might sound disappointing, but patience pays off. At least 2015 will be a profound year.
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7. Titanfall will spur Xbox One sales. Xbox One will reign in North America.
If I had to choose one game that has the most potential in 2014 it'd have to be Titanfall. Everything shown to this point has been spectacular, from its fast-paced gameplay to its mech system.
FPS is one of the best-selling genres in the business (if not the most), and some of the biggest FPS IPs fumbled in 2013. Battlefield 4 was buggier than anything I've seen in years, and Call of Duty: Ghosts was a step back for the series. There couldn't be a better time for Titanfall to release and takeover as head of the household.
While Titanfall will land on three platforms, its Xbox One version is the one that will get the most marketing and buzz. At the point of release the Xbox One will only be about four months of age. Titanfall can and should be the first next-gen system seller.
Titanfall's release, in conjunction with the inevitable marketing rally by Microsoft, is going to give Xbox One a serious boost in demand, particularly in North America. Meanwhile, the PS4 doesn't have anything to directly compete with such a release for a while.
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8. Nintendo will debut a Wii U bundle that ditches GamePad.
The Wii U is in trouble, and a lot of that has to do with its price. It's hard to compete with something like the PS4 when you're only $100 cheaper and a dozen times less powerful.
In an effort to bring affordability to the device, I expect Nintendo to drop the GamePad and replace it with a Wii U Pro in a new bundle. At first it'll be experimental, but once Nintendo sees how well a $199 Wii U can sell there will be no return.
Farewell, GamePad.
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9. RPGs will be plentiful and successful.
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
- Dark Souls 2
- Destiny
- Persona 5 (Japan)
- Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls (psuedo RPG)
- Child of Light
- Dragon Age: Inquisition
- Bravely Default
- Deep Down
- Project Eternity
- Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII
'Nuff said.
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10. Microsoft will increase value of Xbox Live Gold to combat PSN success.
There's no way around it, Xbox Live isn't as dominant as it once was. While its feature set and polish is still at the top of the totem pole, its value isn't. PS Plus has evolved from a supplemental subscription service to something that gives gamers a reason to buy a PlayStation console.
Microsoft need to begin offering more frequent free games to keep up with PS Plus. In addition, the paywalls for things like Netflix need to be dropped. After the PR nightmare they've faced during the past year it'd be incredibly surprising and unfortunate if big moves aren't made to make Xbox Live Gold a competitive service.
