With the arrival of the next-generation of consoles seemingly getting closer by the day, it appears that the sun is truly setting on the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. Over the years, Sony and Microsoft's flagship consoles have provided players with a number of excellent experiences ranging from long-awaited sequels and indie classics to exciting new franchises and even innovative VR spectacles. It's evidently time, though, for the next step in video game hardware, and fans now know that the next big milestone for both companies will be hitting shelves sometime at the end of this year.

With that in mind, it's worth wondering what brand-new experiences will be awaiting early PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X adopters on the day of release. While the current slate of consoles did wind up delivering some of the greatest exclusive titles in the history of both Sony and Microsoft, the initial lineup was somewhat disappointing, boasting only the likes of Dead Rising 3, Ryse: Son Of Rome, Killzone Shadow Fall, and Knack on the exclusive front, with the annual Call Of Duty, Battlefield, and Assassin's Creed offerings available to owners of either console as well. With that in mind, could this year's launch see a more exciting initial lineup?

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For one, it's worth acknowledging the tiny handful of games fans know or are almost certain will make their way to either the Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5 at the end of this year. The biggest currently slated for the Series X launch is Halo: Infinitethe sixth mainline entry in Microsoft's iconic sci-fi franchise developed by 343 Industries. The game was announced to be a part of the Xbox Series X's lineup and, if plans don't change, it seems to be a fairly substantial reason to buy into the new console at launch. Halo has, after all, been Microsoft's flagship property ever since the launch of the first Xbox, and if the new trailer is anything to go by, the game will supposedly acknowledge fan feedback and look to take the series' back to its roots.

There's also Godfall which, while still without a firm release date, will be released on the PlayStation 5 at some point this year. It seems wise to imagine that the game could be dropping alongside the console's release, especially as a recently leaked Godfall gameplay trailer seems to indicate the title is fairly far into production. From what's been revealed so far, Counterplay's RPG looks to be a visually striking action title that would easily showcase the technical advancements made in the transition between the PlayStation 4 and 5, which would no doubt be a great game to ship alongside the console's launch.

Both Godfall and Halo Infinite feel like strong picks to kick off the next generation, yet what could join them? Although it's far more speculative, there are a few games that have been talked about through leaks and rumors that would undeniably flesh out what the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 have to offer.

Looking at third-party titles coming to both consoles, a realistic guess would be the next entry in the Assassin's Creed series. Ever since the rumors surrounding a new Viking-based iteration of Ubisoft's time-hopping action franchise surfaced, it has seemed almost intrinsically linked with the launch of the next-generation consoles, with various Assassin's Creed leaks citing that the game would allegedly make its way to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. In a similar fashion to the release of Black Flag back in 2014, the title could bridge both the next generation and the current one, having simultaneous releases on both the PS4 and PS5 as well as the Xbox One and Xbox Series X.

Alongside Assassin's Creed, it seems likely that some of the annual mainstays could make their debut alongside the launch of the next-gen hardware as well. Call Of Duty: Blacks Ops 5 has been a rumor for quite some time now and seems a lock to make its way onto the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, while the popular yearly sports franchises will almost definitely follow suit. WB Montreal's heavily-teased Batman game might also be a third-party contender to make its way to the new lineup of consoles, especially as WB's hints about the title seem to imply that a full reveal is still a ways off.

In terms of exclusives, it's much harder to guess; however, a slate of rumors and leaks do begin to indicate what might be awaiting those who buy into each console. In terms of the PlayStation 5, there's a number of rumors surrounding a follow up to Guerilla Games' widely loved Horizon: Zero Dawn. While the existence of a sequel to the 2017 smash hit is far from a secret - especially with a job listing practically confirming the game was in development last year - the question has always been when fans will finally get their hands on it. Well, if a number of leaks are anything to go by, it seems as though the game could be Sony's flagship release this holiday to combat Halo Infinite and the Xbox Series X as a whole.

It would make sense as well. Aloy's adventure through a world of mechanical dinosaurs was a stand out for the PlayStation 4, attracting a wide player base despite being a brand new IP and garnering some of the best reviews of the decade. Having the sequel kick off the PS5's run would be a great way to show off the kind of experiences that Sony will be looking to cultivate going forward into a new era, with the first game having great visuals, an unconventional story, and some of the most diverse gameplay of the entire generation.

Alongside a Horizon sequel, one specific PS5 leak indicates that Sony could be debuting a number of new exclusives when it launches late this year, including the next MLB: The Show and a brand-new IP from the creators of God Of War. Most notably, the leak also teases that both a new Gran Turismo and Bluepoint's heavily-rumored Demon's Souls remake could be coming as well, which would no doubt stand as two of the strongest additions to the PlayStation's launch lineup. The former would be a brilliant way to showcase the console's new and improved visual power and the latter would be a terrific acknowledgment that Sony still intends to cater to its hardcore audience during the initial months of the PlayStation 5's launch.

Rumors are far less frequent in regards to what Xbox might tempt buyers with alongside Halo Infinite, as the Xbox doesn't intend to have many traditional exclusives at launch, opting instead to share its new titles across all the hardware currently under the Xbox brand for a while to come. That said, the studio has announced that a sequel to Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice will be coming exclusively to the Series X, although it seems unlikely to be a launch title seen as the developer is currently working on shipping Xbox One exclusive Bleeding Edge. Microsoft does, however, release a new Forza title nearly every year, meaning that fans could get a beautiful new racing game to play using the Series X's stunning new visual proficiency.

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Speaking of Forza, Playground Games, the studio behind the hit racing franchise, has been working on something brand-new for a while now. While it still hasn't been fully announced by the company, numerous rumors, leaks, and speculatory theories from fans have near certified it as being the long-awaited and highly-demanded next entry in the Fable franchise.

The humorous action-RPG return would be a massive addition to the Xbox Series X's launch lineup if it is as far into production as many believe, meaning that Microsoft will have two offerings from major Xbox franchises to entice fans. It's, of course, a giant stretch to imagine the game will be announced and released by the end of the year, but seen as leaks point to it being a giant part of the Series X's future roster of experiences, what better time to get the game in the hands of players than during the launch of its next flagship console.

Regardless, it's clear from these rumors and leaks alone that the lineup for the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 has more potential than ever before. If both consoles come out the gate with a number of genuinely exciting blockbuster experiences in tow, then this new wave of consoles will be well on its way to becoming even more successful than the last. With a rumored Sony reveal supposedly coming next month and E3 on the horizon, its finally time to see what Sony and Microsoft have been cooking up for the last few years.

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