Nielsen Most Wanted Next Gen List

While it's still too early to call a clear victor, thus far both the Xbox One and PS4 have done very well in the sales department. Each console moved more than 1 million units in their first 24 hours of availability, and both are in short supply at retailers.

However, a shiny new next-gen console is only one part of the equation, with the other being games. Games are what inevitably determine how much use a console gets, and they also help push system sales after that initial launch enthusiasm dies down. So, with that in mind, what are gamers look forward to? Read on to find out.

The folks at Nielsen have compiled a list of the most wanted next-gen (heretofore referred to as the 8th gen) titles for the PS4, Xbox One, and the Wii U. While the overall results aren't too surprising — plenty of familiar franchise chart relatively high on each list — the list itself is no less interesting.

Based on a survey of 1,200 male and female gamers ages 7-54, Call of Duty: Ghosts is the clear favorite in the 8th generation, as Activision's latest iteration took the top spot on both the PS4 and Xbox One, and made it into the top 10 for Wii U. Reviews for Ghosts may not have been as high as previous iterations in the franchise, but clearly Call of Duty is still a major draw across the board.

Other titles that made the cut include Super Mario 3D World (Wii U), Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag (all 3 platforms), Need for Speed: Rivals (PS4 and Xbox One), and Madden NFL 25 (PS4 and Xbox One). Some unreleased titles even made their way onto list, like Star Wars: Battlefront, Kingdom Hearts 3, and Final Fantasy XV. It's interesting that, although Square Enix has branched out into multiplatform development, the Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy franchises still chart on Sony's platform and not Microsoft's.

Check out the full list of most wanted 8th gen games below:

Nielsen Most Wanted Next Gen Multiplatform List

In addition to the multiplatform most wanted list, Nielsen also put together a list of the top 5 most anticipated platform exclusives. With the Call of Dutys and Battlefields ruled out of those lists, that left room for games like Uncharted, inFAMOUS: Second Son, Halo 5, and Sunset Overdrive.

Looking at this list (seen below) should give gamers and retailers a better idea of the games that will be "system sellers." Out of both the Xbox One and PS4 launch titles only Dead Rising 3 was able to rank on both lists, suggesting that these 8th gen consoles didn't have as compelling of launch line-ups as some hoped they would.

Nielsen Most Wanted Next Gen Exclusive List

While many gamers will be picking up a PS4, Xbox One, and Wii U this Holiday season, most are clearly looking to each console's future as much as their present. However, consumer interest is one thing; we'll see how each of these most wanted 8th gen titles performs when they hit store shelves.

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Source: Nielsen