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A launch title is a video game that has been made available to consumers synchronously with its respective video game console, meaning they are the only available games at the time of the console's launch. Because they provide first impressions of the console's features and technical abilities, they are extremely important in the video game industry, and many launch titles have been killer games.

Quality vs. quantity

Historically, the number of launch titles has been an important factor in deciding the success of a gaming platform. The more games available at launch, the higher the chances that players will find something that interests them. However, the same importance applies to game quality: poor quality games don't sell as well in the long term as high quality ones.

When gearing up for a major console launch, developers and publishers have a decision to make. They can release a large number of launch titles, often accompanied by the promise of more soon after launch, or they can release a few extremely strong titles, or a killer game. Whilst releasing a large number of extremely strong titles is of course preferred, this may not be practical. To balance these choices, developers will often supplement one or two strong titles with third-party or licensed titles to bolster the number of launch titles.

Popular launch titles

Here are a few popular games that debuted at launch.

Launch title listings

These launch title listings are for the chronological releases of various games consoles.

Atari 2600

US launch: October 1977

Atari Jaguar

US launch: November 1993

Microsoft Xbox

US launch: November 15, 2001

Microsoft Xbox 360 Live Arcade

Nintendo Entertainment System/Famicom

Japanese launch: July 15, 1983

US launch: October 18, 1985

Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Japanese launch: November 21, 1990

US launch: August 13, 1991

Nintendo 64

Japanese launch: June 23, 1996

US launch: September 19, 1996

Nintendo DS

US launch: November 21, 2004

Japanese launch: December 2, 2004

Nintendo Game Boy

Japanese launch: April 21, 1989

US launch: August 1989

Nintendo Game Boy Color

US launch: November, 1998

Nintendo Game Boy Advance

US launch: June 11, 2001

Nintendo GameCube

Japanese launch: September 14, 2001

US launch: November 18, 2001

Nintendo Virtual Boy

US launch: August 14, 1995

Wii

US launch: Fall 2006

(Super Mario Galaxy and Smooth Moves are also possible, but said to be very unlikely.)

Nokia N-Gage

US launch: October 7th, 2003

Sega Dreamcast

US launch: September 9, 1999

Sega Game Gear

Japanese launch: October 6, 1990

Unknown

US launch: 1991

Sega Genesis/Mega Drive

Japanese launch: October 29, 1988

US launch: January 9, 1989

Sega 32X

US launch: November 1994

Japanese launch: December 1994

Unknown

Sega CD

US launch: October 15, 1992

Japanese launch: December 1, 1991

Sega Master System/SG-1000 Mark III

Japanese launch: October 20, 1985

Unknown

US launch: June 1986

Unknown

Sega Saturn

Japanese launch: November 22, 1994

US launch: May 1995

Sony PlayStation

US launch: September 9, 1995

Sony PlayStation 2

Japanese launch: March 4, 2000

US launch: October 26, 2000

Sony PlayStation 3

Sony PlayStation Portable

Japanese launch: December 12, 2004

  • Unknown

US launch: March 24, 2005

European launch: September 1, 2005

  • Unknown

Computer and video game marketing | Computer and video game lists

Launchtitel

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Launch title".

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