Gaming technology improves with every new generation of hardware, but that’s not always apparent on launch day. Typically, new consoles are coupled with a lackluster slate of launch games, with developers needing time to fully take advantage of the new hardware. While there are some standout launch titles that will always be remembered — Tetris on the Game Boy, Halo on the original Xbox, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on the Switch — very few consoles ever arrive with more than one or perhaps two games worthy of being called system-sellers.
That’s looking to remain largely true with the launch of Sony’s PlayStation 5 and Microsoft’s Xbox Series X / S next week, despite the excellent-looking Tetris Effect: Connected port, the all-new Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and the Demon’s Souls remake, to name a few. But there’s one upside here that can’t be ignored: this is the first time in modern console history that you’ll be able to take your existing library, be it physical or digital, and bring it with you to a new platform.
That gives consumers unprecedented freedom in deciding where they want to play and what performance benefits are worthwhile enough to upgrade. And technologies like cross-platform play and now even cross-generation support will allow people that don’t upgrade to continue playing with their friends.
Yes, both consoles are arriving within days of another, seven years after the last generation of console hardware, and both have only a small handful of games that can be called truly next-gen experiences. Most are simply remasters or cross-generation titles with minor performance bumps. The minor good news is that there are quite a few big-name franchise releases to help fill the gap. Call of Duty is an obvious one, with Black Ops Cold War arriving the same week the new consoles launch. The same is true of the new Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.
But the much better news is that — besides 4K and the solid-state drives and other spec changes — Microsoft and Sony have pledged to support close to every title in the existing console platforms’ libraries. Every Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One game currently playable on existing Xbox One hardware (minus Kinect games) will be playable on the Series X / S, while Sony has committed to supporting a “vast majority” of PS4 games totaling more than 4,000 titles.
This changes the calculus a bit with regard to buying a new console. No longer do you have to abandon what you were playing on your old device and start anew. And thanks to some genuinely consumer-friendly initiatives like Xbox Smart Delivery and similar upgrade programs, plenty of the games we own now or are planning to buy in the next couple of months will not only work on the new platforms, but in most cases, they’ll also come with free upgrades from the standard PS4 and Xbox One versions. Sony is also introducing the PlayStation Plus Collection, a library of PS4 games available for free with its online subscription.
That leaves us with one big issue: how do you know what new games are coming out for which platforms and when? There’s also the painstaking process of parsing whether a game company is giving out a free next-gen upgrade of a cross-gen title, charging a little extra, or releasing a next-gen-only game.
We’ve compiled an exhaustive list detailing the launch slates of both new console platforms on day one as well as what’s coming out this holiday season and beyond in 2021.
When the Xbox Series X launches on November 10th, it will have 30 fully optimized titles that will technically qualify as launch games. The PS5 will launch two days later on November 12th, and it will have 20 games. (This includes only fully optimized games and not what’s simply supported via backwards compatibility. The list also excludes games like Sony’s Ghost of Tsushima that may receive benefits from next-gen hardware but are still not fully optimized.)
Here’s a list of every day-one game available on both systems, notably excluding titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War that launch shortly after launch day and will not be available by November 12th. Also, some games are noted as console exclusives despite having released on other platforms like the Nintendo Switch in the previous generation; we’re only focusing on whether a game is exclusive to either the PS5 or Xbox Series X / S, and timed console exclusives are treated the same as first-party permanent exclusives until a publisher or developer has a concrete cross-platform release date to share.
PS5 & Xbox Series X/S launch games
Game | Xbox Series or PS5? | Cross-gen upgrade? | Other platforms? | PC? |
---|---|---|---|---|
Game | Xbox Series or PS5? | Cross-gen upgrade? | Other platforms? | PC? |
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla | Both | Free | PS4, XB1, Stadia | Yes |
Astro’s Playroom | PS5 only | No, PS5 exclusive | No, PS5 exclusive | No |
Bugsnax | PS5 only | Free | PS4 | Yes |
Borderlands 3 | Both | Free | PS4, XB1, Stadia | Yes |
Bright Memory: Infinite | Xbox; other platforms in 2021 | TBD | PS5, PS4, XB1 | Yes |
Cuisine Royale | Both | Free to play; no upgrade needed | PS4, XB1 | Yes |
Demon’s Souls (remake) | PS5 only | No, PS5 exclusive | Originally on PS3 | No |
Devil May Cry 5: Special Edition | Both | No upgrade path | No | No |
DIRT 5 | Both | Free | PS4, XB1 | Yes |
Enlisted | Xbox only | Yes, price TBD | XB1 | Yes |
Evergate | Xbox only | Yes, price TBD | PS4, XB1, Switch | Yes |
The Falconeer | Xbox only | Free | XB1 | Yes |
Fortnite | Both | Free to play; no upgrade needed | PS4, XB1, Switch, iOS | Yes |
Forza Horizon 4 | Xbox only | Free | XB1 | Yes |
Gears 5 | Xbox only | Free | XB1 | Yes |
Gears Tactics | Xbox only | Free | XB1 | Yes |
Godfall | PS5 only | No, PS5 exclusive | No, PS5 exclusive | Yes |
Grounded | Xbox only | Free | XB1 | Yes |
King Oddball | Optimized for Xbox Series | TBD | PS4, XB1, Android | Yes |
Maneater | Both | Free | PS4, XB1, Switch | Yes |
Manifold Garden | Xbox only | Free | PS4, XB1, Switch, iOS | Yes |
Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales | PS5 only | Free | PS4 | No |
Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered | PS5 only | No, PS5 exclusive | No, PS5 exclusive | No |
NBA 2K21 | Both | Only with $99.99 Mamba Edition | PS4, XB1, Switch, Stadia | Yes |
No Man’s Sky | Both | Free | PS4, XB1 | Yes |
Observer: System Redux | Both | No upgrade path | PS4, XB1, Switch | Yes |
Ori and the Will of the Wisps | Xbox only | Free | XB1, Switch | Yes |
Overcooked: All You Can Eat | PS5; Xbox coming later | No announced upgrade path | XB1 (coming later) | No |
Planet Coaster | Both | Free | PS4, XB1 | Yes |
Sackboy: A Big Adventure | PS5 only | Free | PS4 | No |
Sea of Thieves | Xbox only | Free | XB1 | Yes |
Tetris Effect: Connected | Xbox; PS5 coming 2021 | Free | Originally on PS4, Oculus | Yes |
The Pathless | PS5 only | Free | PS4, Apple Arcade | Yes |
The Touryst | Xbox only | Free | XB1, Switch | Yes |
War Thunder | Xbox only | Free | PS4, XB1 | Yes |
Warhammer: Chaosbane Slayer Edition | Both | No announced upgrade path | No, next-gen exclusive | Yes |
Watch Dogs: Legion | Both; PS5 discs launch Nov. 24 | Free | PS4, XB1, Stadia | Yes |
WRC 9 FIA World Rally Championship | Both | Free | PS4, XB1, Switch | Yes |
Yakuza: Like a Dragon | Xbox; PS5 coming March 2 | Free | PS4, XB1 | Yes |
Yes, Your Grace | Xbox only | Free | XB1, Switch | Yes |
The confirmed launch day lists only scratch the surface of the upcoming game libraries for the PS5 and Xbox Series X. In the weeks following release, dozens more games are on the way. And 2021 is packed full of new releases and full optimizations of cross-gen games that should further pad out what’s available to play on your new system of choice. We’ve compiled the list below to help you understand every game coming out during this year’s holiday season and what’s been confirmed so far for 2021.
This excludes games without release dates that may have been previously announced — like Elder Scrolls VI and the Fable reboot, for example — and games previously listed in the above chart. We’ve also chosen only to list release dates for games for which the publisher has chosen a concrete date with both day and month.
PS5 & Xbox Series X/S Holiday and 2021 Release Schedule
Game | Release Date | Xbox Series or PS5? | Cross-gen? | PC? |
---|---|---|---|---|
Game | Release Date | Xbox Series or PS5? | Cross-gen? | PC? |
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War | 11/13/2020 | Both | Yes, $10 upgrade | Yes |
Halo: The Master Chief Collection | 11/17/2020 | Xbox only | Yes, free upgrade | Yes |
Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate Edition | 11/17/2020 | Both | Yes, free upgrade | Yes |
Poker Club | 11/19/2020 | Both | Yes | Yes |
Just Dance 2021 | 11/24/2020 | Both | Yes | Yes |
Haven | 12/3/2020 | PS5 only | Yes | Yes |
Immortals Fenyx Rising | 12/03/2020 | Both | Yes | Yes |
FIFA 21 | 12/4/2020 | Both | Yes, free upgrade | Yes |
Madden NFL 21 | 12/4/2020 | Both | Yes | Yes |
Destiny 2: Beyond Light | 12/8/2020 | Both | Yes, free upgrade | Yes |
Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 | 12/8/2020 | Both | Yes | Yes |
Temtem | 12/8/2020 | PS5 first; Xbox and PC in 2021 | Yes | Yes |
Cyberpunk 2077 | 12/10/2020 | Both | Yes, free upgrade | Yes |
Worms Rumble | December 2020 | PS5 only | Yes | Yes |
12 Minutes | 2020 | Xbox only | Yes | Yes |
Bridge Constructor: The Walking Dead | 2020 | Both | Yes | Yes |
Call of the Sea | 2020 | Xbox only | Yes | Yes |
Control: Ultimate Edition | 2020 | Both | Yes, upgrade only with Ultimate Edition | Yes |
CrossfireX | 2020 | Xbox only | Yes, free upgrade | Yes |
Dead by Daylight | 2020 | Both | Yes, free upgrade | Yes |
For Honor | 2020 | Both | Yes, free upgrade | Yes |
Mørkredd | 2020 | Xbox only | Yes | Yes |
Sable | 2020 | Xbox only | Yes | Yes |
Samurai Spirits (aka Samurai Shodown) | 2020 | Xbox only | Yes | Yes |
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege | 2020 | Both | Yes, free upgrade | Yes |
Warframe | 2020 | Both | Yes, free-to-play | Yes |
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart | PS5 “launch window” | PS5 only | No, PS5 exclusive | No |
Hitman 3 | 01/20/2021 | Both | Free upgrade from digital | Yes |
Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood | 02/04/2021 | Both | Yes | Yes |
Little Nightmares 2 | 02/11/2021 | Both | Yes | Yes |
Outriders | 02/21/2021 | Both | Yes | Yes |
Riders Republic | 02/25/2021 | Both | Yes | Yes |
Destruction AllStars | February 2021 | PS5 only | No, PS5 exclusive | No |
Balan Wonderworld | 03/26/2021 | Both | Yes | Yes |
The Medium | 12/10/2021 | Xbox only | Yes | Yes |
Braid: Anniversary Edition | 2021 | Both | Yes | Yes |
CYGNI: All Guns Blazing | 2021 | Both | Yes | Yes |
Chivalry 2 | 2021 | Both | Yes | Yes |
Chorus | 2021 | Both | Yes | Yes |
Cris Tales | 2021 | Both | Yes | Yes |
Deathloop | 2021 | PS5 only | No, PS5 exclusive | Yes |
Doom Eternal | 2021 | Both | Yes, free upgrade | Yes |
Echo Generation | 2021 | Xbox only | Yes | Yes |
Exomecha | 2021 | Xbox only | Yes | Yes |
Far Cry 6 | 2021 | Both | Yes | Yes |
Ghostwire: Tokyo | 2021 | PS5 only | TBD | Yes |
God of War: Ragnarok | 2021 | PS5 only | TBD | TBD |
Goodbye Volcano High | 2021 | PS5 only | Yes | Yes |
Gotham Knights | 2021 | Both | Yes | Yes |
Grand Theft Auto V | 2021 | Both | Yes | Yes |
Guilty Gear Strive | 2021 | PS5 only | Yes | Yes |
Halo Infinite | 2021 | Xbox only | Yes | Yes |
Heavenly Bodies | 2021 | PS5 only | Yes | Yes |
Hello Neighbor 2 | 2021 | Xbox only | Yes | Yes |
Hogwarts Legacy | 2021 | Both | Yes | Yes |
Horizon Forbidden West | 2021 | PS5 only | Yes | TBD |
Hood: Outlaws and Legends | 2021 | Both | Yes | Yes |
Kena: Bridge of Spirits | 2021 | PS5 only | Yes | Yes |
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga | 2021 | Both | Yes | Yes |
Marvel’s Avengers | 2021 | Both | Yes, free upgrade | Yes |
Psychonauts 2 | 2021 | Xbox only | Yes | Yes |
Resident Evil Village | 2021 | Both | Yes | Yes |
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II | 2021 | Xbox only | TBD | Yes |
Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One | 2021 | Both | Yes | Yes |
Solar Ash | 2021 | PS5 only | Yes | Yes |
Stray | 2021 | PS5 only | Yes | Yes |
Subnautica / Subnautica: Below Zero | 2021 | Both | Yes, free upgrade | Yes |
The Ascent | 2021 | Xbox only | Yes, free upgrade | Yes |
The Elder Scrolls Online | 2021 | Both | Yes | Yes |
The Gunk | 2021 | Both | Yes | Yes |
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum | 2021 | Xbox only | Yes | Yes |
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 2021 | Both | Yes, free upgrade | Yes |
Tribes of Midgard | 2021 | PS5 only | Yes | Yes |
Unlimited Fishing Simulator 2 | 2021 | Both | Yes | Yes |
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 | 2021 | Both | Yes | Yes |
Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong | 2021 | Both | Yes | Yes |
War Mongrels | 2021 | Both | Yes | Yes |
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide | 2021 | Xbox only | TBD | Yes |
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League | 2022 | Both | TBD | Yes |