I’ve always personally thought they were not. No matter how good the next-gen version looks like, the fact I can get the game for a console I already own negates any weight they might have had in my purchase decision.

So for me, the fact that Battlefield 4, Call of Duty: Inevitable Sequel, Watch_Dogs, Metal Gear Solid 5, Assassin’s Creed: Curse of the Black Pearl, etc... are all coming to PS4 does nothing to sway me to an earlier purchase of the console.

Now, reading some replies in other threads, I’ve realized that it might not be this way for everyone. I’ve read comments saying that the PS3/360 version of these titles will be look bad compared to their new gen counterparts (‘cause let’s face it, all the games we’ve been drooling over for the last 5 years are really utterly ugly now that something better as popped up... sorry my brain has trouble understanding graphic-whores).

So my question to you is: How important are cross-gen titles when making the decision to buy a next-gen console? Do they weigh as much in the balance as next-gen only titles?

Not at all. With the incredible amount of PS3 stuff coming this year and beyond, I'm not looking to upgrade any time soon unless something truly amazing like Versus or Last Guardian or Mother 4 is whipped out and slapped across my eager face.

What all these cross-gen titles do make me want to do is avoid them until I do upgrade to next gen.

I don't think that have very much influence on ppl buying a new console but I also don't think they hurt either. I think if the game makers made their games for just the new devices you may see a bit of an increase in system sells but not enough to make up how much they missed out on.

I don't believe early adopters are ppl that look for "system seller titles." To me that's more for ppl who are on the fence.

No importance for me whatsoever.

My main determining factor will be how good the next-gen exclusives are. Also, most of those cross-gen games you listed will also be on PC, which makes the graphics issue moot for me. I can't think of what else they could do with a cross-gen game that would make it so much more attractive for next-gen consoles that I'd buy one just to play that version.

Some games may turn out better on next gen consoles. I think I read that battlefield 4 will be 64 player on ps4 rather then 24 players on ps3 and will run at 60fps vs 30fps. So if other games have next gen advantageous over current gen, some people will wait or double dip.

Yeah, I won't be buying the "inferior" version, that's for sure. I won't buy any of those games twice, if that's what they're after.

Since I'll be getting the new system anyway I'm happy to get some more games to play on it.
A smoother experience is enough to win me over. Low res textures and 720p are not so bad, dips in frame rate and screen tearing are getting really annoying with every new release.

On the other hand if they pull some crazy stunt like online drm and/or blocking 2nd hand sales, I'm glad I can still get the games on current gen systems.

They're not system sellers. I think of them as system justifiers - the early adopters who were going to purchase the new system anyways feel better about their purchase because of these cross-gen ports (rather than the games being exclusive to the last gen) and will purchase them on the new console.

Asking these high-profile games to be new-gen exclusive would take a lot of bribing $$.

Nope, but if people see a big difference in graphics between their PS3/360 and PS4/720, then I think that would convince people to buy a new console.

cross-gen titles are system sellers to those that take sites like lens of truth seriously. take that how you will.