The PlayStation 4 launched in 2013, and it is one of Sony's most successful consoles, with 106 units sold globally. The console's success was boosted by Sony's continuous support, as well as the avalanche of great games that were released on the PlayStation 4. Although it got off to a slow start, the PS4's launch line-up was still fairly solid and provided enough to keep gamers occupied until the next wave of AAA games came around.
There was a great variety of games available to please players regardless of what genres they enjoyed. For gamers who want action, Infamous Second Son was on offer, while gamers who were looking for a colorful experience could grab Resogun. There were also tried and tested franchises like Assassin's Creed available for gamers who craved something familiar.
The PS4 Launch Titles
At launch, the following PS4 games were available:
- Angry Birds Star Wars
- Battlefield 4
- Blacklight: Retribution
- Call of Duty: Ghosts
- Contrast
- DC Universe Online
- DiveKick
- FIFA 14
- Flower
- Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition
- Just Dance 2014
- Killzone Shadow Fall
- LEGO: Marvel Super Heroes
- Madden NFL 25
- NBA 2K14
- NBA Live 14
- Need For Speed: Rivals
- PlayRoom
- Skylanders Swap Force
- Sound Shapes
- Super Motherload
- Trine 2: The Complete Story
- Warframe
Infamous Second Son
Although Infamous Second Son wasn't available on the day of the PS4's release, it hit shelves within the release window, technically making it a launch title. Developed by Sucker Punch, Infamous Second Son is a fast-paced action-adventure game that has players taking control of Delsin Rowe who can absorb the powers of other conduits. With the PS4's technology, developers could take the Infamous franchise to the next level. The game's particle effects are still dazzling to this day, and speeding around Seattle as Delsin hasn't gotten boring yet. Second Son also features a convenient photo mode, and it was one of the first games to sport this now-ubiquitous feature.
Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag
One of the most visually appealing games available at the PS4's launch was Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag. It differs from prior games by focusing more on piracy and ship exploration. The beautiful water physics showed off the console's potential while the gripping combat proved that Assassin's Creed still has plenty of creativity left. The game spawned a standalone pirate game titled Skulls and Bones, but it seems to be stuck in development hell, and it currently has no definite release date. Ubisoft would lead the charge again with the PS5's launch by releasing Assassin's Creed Valhalla, which has fared well with critics and gamers alike.
Knack
Knack was developed by Japan Studio, and it was bundled with the console in some regions. The game centers on the titular Knack as he saves humankind from goblins. As a platforming beat 'em up, the gameplay is relatively easy to get a hang of, and the environments are a visual treat. Knack is formed of a bunch of Relics, as the game was meant to show off the PS4's physics capabilities. Though the game was praised for its graphics and physics, critics did note its surprisingly high difficulty. It spawned a sequel titled Knack 2 which was released in 2017.
Resogun
Housemarque's Resogun was a PS4 exclusive shoot 'em up released as a launch title. Gamers take control of a spaceship with access to a spectacular array of weapons that can be used against the waves of enemies. The game is visually stunning, and using the PS4's power, it renders hundreds of thousands of voxels in real time. Resogun received positive reception, and Housemarque would go on to release Returnal on PS5 before being acquired by Sony in 2021.
The PS4 had a tough job at launch, as the console is not backward compatible, which greatly narrowed its library. However, developers managed to ship out enough to give gamers good reasons to head out and purchase the console. The PS5 arguably had a better launch line-up filled with titles like Demon's Souls and Miles Morales, and the PS VR2 also has a jam-packed few months ahead.