With the next generation of console gaming arriving this holiday season, anticipation worldwide is reaching a climax. 2013 is set to be one of the biggest years in gaming as it will usher in a new generation of consoles and more importantly a new generation of games. With Xbox’s recent policy changes concerning DRM both consoles are becoming more and more similar. However in every generation the one thing that always differentiates consoles are the exclusives. So without further ado here are 3 Xbox One and 3 PS4 exclusive launch titles arriving alongside the consoles release.

Knack

Featuring Pixar style animation this action platformer is headed to Sony’s Playstation 4. The lead architect of the PS4, Mark Cerny, is the game’s director and stated that he wanted to make a game that encomposses the nostalga of titles such as Spyro and Rachet & Clank while operating as an on-ramp for a new generation of gamers. The gameplay seems to be heavily influenced by games such as Jak & Daxter and Crash Bandicoot which Cerny has experience working on.

Dead Rising 3

DR3 is described as the “ultimate zombie sandbox” and is headed to the Xbox One. The amazing gameplay demo shown off at E3 is hard to forget especially after seeing the sheer number of zombies on screen. Taking a new direction the series seems to be heading towards a darker story focused on survival. Keeping the fan favourite weapon customization in the game yet removing the bright contrasting feel of the game is a bold move for Capcom and yet it feels right.

Killzone: Shadow Fall

Occupying the shooter genre is this PS4 exclusive title Killzone,which has gone through an evolution similar to Dead Rising . Now featuring a new look and a colorful atmosphere, developer Guerrilla Games has also opted to include large non-linear maps that allow players to choose which objectives to tackle first. The game also features a new companion device called the OWL which can shock enemies, set shields or deploy ziplines. The game also looks breathtakingly gorgeous.

Killer Instinct

The iconic Rare fighting game is being brought back to life by developer Double Helix for the Xbox One. Killer Instinct will be a day-one digital-only release on Xbox One and will be free to play. The game will feature one playable character (Jago) and will require the player to pay for any other characters. Although at this time the price of these characters is unclear, Microsoft should be commended for trying a new payment model in the fighting genre.