Well, at least for Ubisoft, it appears that the next-gen is beating current-gen, even with games that will be available at least a month before the PS4 and Xbox One will be on store shelves. Apparently, the promise of next-gen technology trumps playing a game early.
According to Ubisoft, pre-order numbers for next-gen versions Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag and Watch_Dogs, two highly anticipated fall releases, are much higher than those for current-gen versions.
Obviously, there is going to be a transitional period as we move from current-gen titles and technology to the next-gen, but Ubisoft feels that transition might be quicker. They also anticipate Watch_Dogs and Assassin’s Creed 4 will do very well sales-wise, and could chart somewhere in the top 5 for 2013.
Watch_Dogs has a strong following behind it in part because it’s an original IP, and because it has some interesting, tech-inspired ideas. Assassin’s Creed 4, on other hand, puts players in control of a pirate assassin, and who doesn’t want that?
Publishers are also doing their part to make the transition to next-gen easier by making Season Pass subscriptions cross-gen, meaning if you buy it for one console it will translate over to its successor. Activision just announced it for Call of Duty: Ghosts, and Microsoft confirmed their Season Pass guarantee shortly after. So, at least on Xbox One — and hopefully on PS4 — Season Passes will carry over even if you purchase both versions.
Of course, we won’t know how well these titles will actually sell until they are available for purchase. Watch_Dogs releases on November 19th, which is around the time we expect the two next-gen consoles to hit. Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag, on the other hand, is the more imminent of the two releases, and will hit store shelves on October 29th.
Will you be picking up either Watch_Dogs or Assassin’s Creed 4? Are there any games that you are waiting to play on next-gen consoles over current-gen?
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Source: MCV
