Mark your calendars for Thursday, January 23rd at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern / 6pm UK. This is a showcase of highly anticipated games coming to Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Game Pass will be revealed. Microsoft has confirmed that Developer_Direct will focus exclusively on games launching in 2025. So get ready for a first look at what you’ll be playing this year. And of course, all of these games will be coming to Xbox cloud gaming.
The Developer_Direct goes beyond the typical showcase, offering in-depth insights directly from the game creators themselves. Journey alongside studios like Compulsion Games in Montreal as they delve into the world of South of Midnight. Then, head to Montpellier, France to meet Sandfall Interactive and explore the mysteries of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. The journey continues with a visit to the legendary id Studios in Richardson, Texas for the latest on DOOM: The Dark Ages. And don’t miss a surprise reveal from another studio with a brand-new game.
DOOM: The Dark Ages
Developed by id Software, DOOM: The Dark Ages is the prequel to the critically acclaimed DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal that tells the epic cinematic origin story of the Doom Slayer’s rage. In this third installment of the modern DOOM series, players will step into the blood-stained boots of the Doom Slayer in this never-before-seen dark and sinister medieval war against Hell. Learn more during the full game reveal at Developer_Direct.
South of Midnight
Compulsion Games, the creators of Contrast and We Happy Few, will share a deep dive on South of Midnight, a third person action-adventure game set in the American Deep South. As Hazel, you will explore the mythos and confront mysterious creatures inspired by Southern Folklore to unravel her family’s hidden past in this dark, modern folktale.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Sandfall Interactive will take us behind-the-scenes at their studio to shed some light on the development of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, this debut studio’s incredible new RPG. The team will share more about the game’s creation and how they plan to deliver an incredible story in a gorgeous fantasy world.
But what could the brand-new game be? Brand new implies it is something unknown. It could maybe be the Hideo Kojima game OD, which we know very little about. Or they could have another hit like Hi-Fi Rush shadow drop on the day of the Developer_Direct. But brand-new could also be taken as a “brand-new version” of a game. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is a strong contender. This was revealed in the leaked documents from the FTC vs Microsoft trial last year. But it could also be Halo: Combat Evolved completely remade in the Unreal 5 engine.
What do you think it could be? Let us know in the comments below!
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