The release of the next-gen consoles late in 2013 was some of the biggest gaming news in a decade. However, in the early going, there haven't actually been very many games released for the consoles yet. Naturally it takes time for them to roll out, and in 2014 we'll begin to see regular releases of everything from established franchises to brand-new games. With that in mind, here are five Xbox One games that will help to define the console in 2014.

1. Titanfall

Set for release in the U.S. on March 11, the Respawn title Titanfall will be one of the first major releases exclusively for Xbox One. An action-packed first-person shooter set in the distant future, Titanfall has received some Call Of Duty comparisons for its weapons tech and gameplay. However, where the game will differ significantly is in the inclusion of massive "Titans," which are essentially mechanized units four or five times the size of a human that can be used in battle.

Players will have the choice between controlling "Pilots" (highly trained human soldiers) or "Titans" during gameplay. They can also take advantage of a unique new multiplayer platform that combines elements of campaign mode with online play. This is a bit of a fuzzy concept as it's been described, but it certainly sounds like a bold and exciting approach to online multiplayer. Early screenshots and videos of gameplay look to be high-end versions of a familiar concept, and it could be that the release of Titanfall establishes yet another enormously popular shooter franchise to rival the likes of CoD, Battlefield, etc.

2. The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Despite all its success on the big screen, Marvel has had a bit of trouble rolling out console games as spectacular as its films. Spider-Man, however, has been an exception, as there have been numerous popular games over the course of the last decade or so. Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, for example, was a well-received title, and Spider-Man: Web Of Shadows was arguably one of the top superhero games in recent memory. Furthermore, the success of Spider-Man in gaming extends beyond popular consoles. Even at the Betfair Arcade online, you'll find casino-style gaming options such as jackpots and slot machines with Spider-Man themes, and there are numerous Spider-Man centered games in app markets as well.

For this reason, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, developed for release alongside the film of the same name, is well worth keeping an eye out for. Beyond the established success of past Spidey games and the simple joy of online arcade and app games, the idea of a web-slinging, action-packed adventure on Xbox One will have superhero fans salivating. The early word is that the game will offer a vastly expanded New York City, and a storyline that goes a different route than this summer's film.

3. Mad Max

Mad Max, too, has a new film coming out (with Tom Hardy slated for the role of Max Rockatansky), though it won't hit theaters until 2015. But the release of the Xbox One edition of Mad Max is more about its ability to continue, or replace, a popular and iconic gaming franchise on the new console.

The Warner Bros. game will follow a third-person shooter format in an open world setup, inviting players to battle their way through "The Wasteland" with all the brutality and creativity they can muster. The game description offered at IGN cites "vehicular warfare" as an exciting main aspect of a game that's beginning to sound more and more appealing on the new console, where open world formats are expected to be so much grander and more enjoyable. Not to mention there's just something cool about a throwback action franchise being brought to the newest and most capable of gaming consoles.

4. Halo

It will likely be the biggest gaming release of 2014, yet the one that we need say the least about. Halo has been the defining game franchise of the Xbox console since it first came into existence, and the release of the first edition on the Xbox One will be a marquee event. The idea of Halo at 60 frames-per-second (possible on the Xbox One) is intriguing enough, but it's more the expectation that Microsoft will use the game to show off its new console's full range and capability that has fans excited.

5. Final Fantasy XV

Final Fantasy XV is yet another example of an old franchise being transitioned to the new console, and due to its massive following of fans, that should make this gaming release another major event. As has been done before in the series, the game will blend third person and RPG style action in gameplay.

Perhaps the most exciting aspect of this particular release from Square Enix, however, is how it will look on Xbox One. The Final Fantasy franchise has always been recognized for its visual beauty, so we can expect this latest edition to be a very good looking game.

There will be plenty more releases in 2014, across all genres of gaming. But these are five of the biggest we'll see for the Xbox One, and should help to shape the first full year of the console's existence.