On January 23rd, Microsoft presented its Xbox Developer_Direct 2025 showcase. For almost an hour, fans received updates on four highly anticipated video games for the year on Xbox Series X|S, directly from the developers themselves. I really enjoy this kind of announcements. We get to hear the creators passionately discussing the game they are working on. Most of the titles presented were already known of, the only surprise being the arrival of Ninja Gaiden 4. However, new details were unveiled, including the release dates for each. Here is my summary.
Ninja Gaiden 4
Team Ninja/Koei Tecmo Games/PlatinumGames/Xbox Games Studio
In collaboration with PlatinumGames, Team Ninja revealed the development of the fourth main installment in the iconic Ninja Gaiden series. Ninja Gaiden 4’s images are stunning, polished, and the combat appears precise and solid. Fans will notice the signature touch of PlatinumGames in this game credited to Team Ninja. I have high expectations for this title and I feel that I won’t be disappointed.
Set in the heart of a devastated Tokyo infested with demonic monsters, the title introduces Yakumo, a new protagonist in the series. The gameplay sequences revealed introduce a new vision of ninja combat. Stylish techniques such as Bloodbind Ninjutsu are noticeable, while incorporating iconic techniques from the series, such as Flying Swallow and Izuna Drop. Fans will be pleased to learn that Ryu Hayabusa will make an appearance. He will even be a playable character as a master ninja with a revamped arsenal that remains true to his legendary brutality and precision.
The developers also took this opportunity to highlight the 30th anniversary of the Ninja Gaiden franchise, and surprised fans with a remake of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black. The action game is now available, among others, through Xbox Game Pass. Enjoy!
Ninja Gaiden 4 is scheduled for Fall 2025 on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC.
South of Midnight
Compulsion Games/Xbox Games Studio
Before anything, I really enjoy the atmosphere of South of Midnight. Both the music and the visuals immerse players in the American South, reminiscent of Louisiana and its bayous. The game is being developed in Montreal by Compulsion Games, so I am even more excited to get my hands on it. The footage shown revealed details of the story: Hazel embarks on a quest to find her home. A hurricane blew her house away with her mother inside. Naturally, the young woman will set off in pursuit to find her, hopefully safe and sound.
Hazel has unique powers and encounters creatures drawn from the folklore of the region. She will be called upon to master an ancestral power capable of weaving broken creatures back together and uncovering the traumas that have destroyed them. Her quest will also be personal, adding a narrative layer that I am very much looking forward to discovering in just a few months.
South of Midnight will be released on April 8 on Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Sandfall Interactive/Kepler Interactive
Sandfall Interactive presented us with their role-playing game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, whose genre seems completely off the beaten track. Drawing inspiration from games like Persona 5 and the recent Metaphor: ReFantazio, players will fight both in turn-based mode and in real-time combat. The title takes place in a fantasy version of late 19th-century France, where the world faces an existential threat year after year.
Once a year, the Paintress awakens. On her Monolith, she paints her cursed number, and all those of that age turn to smoke. Tomorrow, she will awaken to paint the number 33. That is why the characters will embark on their final mission: to eliminate the Paintress, so that she may never paint death again.
In terms of gameplay mechanics, a deep development of each character’s skills is planned. A variety of passive skills will be added to what players can unlock throughout the adventure. It’s up to them to activate them or not. With a grand world map, a fantastic bestiary, and a complete customization tool, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 aims to adhere to traditional role-playing games while offering elements that keep things modern.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 will be released on April 22 for Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Doom: The Dark Ages
id Software/Bethesda Softworks
Revealed in June 2024, the Slayer returns in Doom: The Dark Ages. Players will once again take on the role of the unyielding champion to confront the darkness in this first-person shooter and action game that looks to be even more epic than ever before. Designed with the latest IdTech engine, players will witness the origins of the Slayer’s wrath. As a prequel to DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal, the story will unveil how the ultimate hope of a kingdom became Hell’s worst nightmare.
Although the franchise’s signature weapons will still be present, I was captivated by the demonstration of the saw-shield during this Developer Direct. It can both protect the Slayer and ricochet enemy shots to send projectiles back to them. Its jagged edges will also serve as a throwing weapon to inflict damage on enemies at varying distances. There’s no denying it, this is going to hurt. This shield will also allow us to cross collapsed bridges, scale structures, open secret passages, and break chests filled with treasures. Talk about a multifunctional tool!
Doom: The Dark Ages is scheduled for May 15, 2025, on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC.
Xbox is planning some great games for 2025
The Developer_Direct 2025 gave fans a nice preview of what’s coming for 2025 on Xbox. Although we already knew most of the titles, it’s always reassuring to see in-game footage as we did on that occasion. My favorite is South of Midnight, produced in Quebec, but Ninja Gaiden 4 promises to be intense.
What game are you looking forward to the most among the four titles presented at the Xbox Developer_Direct 2025?
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