The 2005 holiday season is shaping up to offer a solid selection of fighting games for fans of the genre. Soul Calibur III, Dead or Alive 4, several SNK fighters going online for the Xbox, and even a portable version of Mortal Kombat: Deception will be hitting store shelves between now and the end of the year. However, as we look ahead to 2006, we can clearly see what could be the biggest fighting game battle of all time.

It's become an industry standard to launch a console with a fighting game. The PlayStation launched with Battle Arena Toshinden and Tekken, the Saturn launched with Virtua Fighter, Killer Instinct Gold hit the Nintendo 64 shortly after launch, the Dreamcast had Soul Calibur, the PS2 had Tekken Tag Tournament and Street Fighter EX3, the Xbox had Dead or Alive 3, and the upcoming Xbox 360 will launch with Dead or Alive 4. Some of these fighters were better than others, but the fact remains that almost every console over the last decade has released with an exclusive fighting game.

The trend will likely continue in 2006, as both the PlayStation 3 and the Nintendo Revolution are all but confirmed to be launching with exclusive fighting games. In addition, Midway will likely chime in with a multiplatform Mortal Kombat. That only leaves Microsoft to come up with a second exclusive fighter, and with Rare finishing up Perfect Dark Zero and Kameo, they should have some room for a new fighting game. If not, MS could call on the wildcard, Sega, for a huge exclusive. Gaze into our crystal ball and check out the fighting games of 2006.

Namco and Sony have always had a close relationship. The arcade hardware used for Tekken and Soul Calibur has always been based on PlayStation architecture, and the home ports of every Tekken game have seen exclusive releases on Sony consoles. While Soul Calibur II saw a multiplatform release, the PlayStation 2 will be the exclusive home to Soul Calibur III.

At Sony's E3 press conference last May, it was no surprise to see a Jin Kazama of Tekken fame come to life in Sony's PlayStation 3 video montage. The nod from Namco seems to be confirmation that the next installment in the Tekken series will be landing on the PlayStation 3. Considering the fact that the original Tekken launched with the PS1, and Tekken Tag launched with the PS2, it makes sense that the next Tekken will launch with the PS3.

While news on Nintendo's next console may be hard to find, there are two things that we know for sure. The first is that the console will offer the ability to download games from Nintendo consoles of the past. The second fact is that Super Smash Brothers 3 will release with the console, and feature online play. Most Smash Brothers fans would agree that a new installment in the series is long overdue.

Even though Super Smash Brothers: Melee released at the GameCube's launch, it still remains one of the best selling titles for the console. Most people will agree that Nintendo will be hard-pressed to take even the number two position with the Revolution, but a new Smash Brothers title is all most fans need to secure a purchase of the upcoming console.

Tecmo has been Microsoft's savior when it comes to Japanese support and exclusive fighting games. Dead or Alive 3, DOA Xtreme Beach Volleyball, and Dead or Alive Ultimate are all exclusive to the Xbox. This arrangement worked out well when MS launched its first console, but now that the 360 will be heading to stores as much as a year before Sony and Nintendo, having Dead or Alive 4 at launch won't help against Smash Brothers or Tekken. Microsoft will need an exclusive fighter set for release in the latter half of 2006.

This is where Rare comes into play. It's a well known fact that Rare receives a ton of e-mail each week about the Killer Instinct series. While Rare has continually denied, or simply refused to comment on a third installment in the series, they've dropped a couple hints for hungry fans. Rare's first Xbox release, Grabbed by the Ghoulies, featured a room with Killer Instinct 3 boxart on one shelf. In it's latest release, Conker: Live & Reloaded, the crude squirrel is seen reading a magazine with a Killer Instinct advertisement on the back cover, stating that the game is coming soon. It seems quite possible that a new KI could be on the way in 2006.

Midway has never really been exclusive to any one console with its Mortal Kombat series. Shortly after the release of MK: Deception, the company announced it had already begun work on Mortal Kombat 7 for next generation consoles. Midway has not yet confirmed which next generation consoles the game will be hitting, but it's a safe bet that the title will grace the PS3 and Xbox 360. It wouldn't be too far fetched to assume the Revolution will see MK7 as well.

Mortal Kombat has always sold well, and even going head to head with a next generation Tekken, Smash Brothers, and possibly Killer Instinct, MK7 will still sell extremely well. In fact, the only way Mortal Kombat 7 could potentially hurt one of the next generation consoles is by not appearing on it. If Nintendo doesn't get MK7, the Revolution could be in trouble, and the same can be said if Sony or MS didn't get Midway's upcoming fighter.

It's been a little while since Sega's flagship fighting game last saw the light of day on home consoles. Virtua Fighter 4 and the VF4: Evo were both exclusive to the PlayStation 2. However, the arcade follow-up, Final Tuned, never made it to consoles. At E3 2005, Sega showed off what a next generation Virtua Fighter might look like in the Sega Theater. While the company would not indicate which platform a new VF title would grace, or even if what was shown was more than just a tech demo, it's safe to say another Virtua Fighter is coming. History would indicate it's going to the PlayStation 3, but Microsoft may just step in.

Sega has shown solid support for all three consoles this generation, and Microsoft is working hard to gain better Japanese support for the Xbox 360. An exclusive Virtua Fighter title would certainly move some consoles in the Land of the Rising Sun, and with online play it would be a top contender for fighting game of the year. Plus, if Rare doesn't come through with Killer Instinct 3, Sega would have very little competition on Microsoft's new hardware.

A battle between Tekken 6 (or Tekken Tag Tournament 2), Super Smash Brothers 3, Killer Instinct 3, Mortal Kombat 7, and Virtua Fighter 5 would be an insane fighting game barrage. Never have all of these huge fighting game properties clashed in such a huge brawl. With each of these fighters being huge sellers, the consoles they end up on may decide which fighter comes out on top.

It's fairly safe to assume that each of these fighting games will feature online play. The lack of online play in any of these fighters would be instant defeat. If it comes down to hardware, the assumed high price of the PlayStation 3, coupled with the Microsoft's head start with the Xbox 360 could lead to KI3, the Xbox 360 version of MK7, or VF5 (assuming it hits the X360) all taking top sales honors. We'll be waiting eagerly for more information on each of these fighters as 2005 comes to a close and we kick into overdrive for the crowded 2006 gaming season.