It seems strange, but think about it:
Thus far, we can really only point to a few PlayStation 4 exclusives that significantly boosted consumer interest in the new console. Killzone: Shadow Fall was undoubtedly the lead title for the launch, and inFamous: Second Son got plenty of attention when it released in March.
However, beyond Shadow Fall‘s influence on day-one purchasers (all of whom were spurred onward by a 2013 loaded with positive PS4 news), it’s difficult to point to one game that pushed PS4 sales higher. Right now, it seems like The Last Of Us: Remastered is the game to do it.
Okay, it’s a little sad that the first true system seller is an updated PS3 game but hey, that’s the way things are shaping up.
Have we seen anything better than The Last Of Us since it originally launched?
I think this is the most important question: Is it possible that TLoU, a Game of the Year selection for countless sources in 2013, remains unmatched, even in terms of next-gen software? If this is even close to accurate, it means the game should retain plenty of appeal. This widespread belief that “everyone” who wanted to play TLoU already has is a colossal fallacy, especially as we’re seeing a lot of switching about this generation. Sony has already said that more than half of current PS4 owners never owned a PS3.
What have we seen since that has topped Naughty Dog’s masterpiece? Even if you don’t agree that it remains the best game since its launch, you have to admit that it still has plenty of punching power. There are lots of gamers out there who want to play this game, and the Remastered edition is a no-brainer. This is probably the best game of 2014 thus far, even though it’s really a 2013 production. That’s hugely significant.
Besides, what else is coming out this summer? Why not gear up for the holiday season now?
I have a feeling a lot of gamers are waiting until Destiny releases in September before leaping aboard the next-gen bandwagon. After all, not much is coming out this summer, right? But that works in TLoU’s favor. If you want something great to play, you’ve been considering a new console purchase, and you’ve never enjoyed Joel and Ellie’s epic adventure, now’s the time to strike. You’ll get the definitive version of one of the industry’s best-ever games, and you’ll have the console you want before the holiday rush.
Here’s one last point to consider: PS4 exclusives are a little lacking this year; we really only get Driveclub, Planetside 2 and LittleBigPlanet 3. The heavy hitters won’t arrive until 2014, so The Last Of Us: Remastered is as good an excuse as any to get the PS4 this year. I really think people will be surprised at the impact this game has on PlayStation 4 sales.
