Xbox Developer Direct 2025: everything announced

Xbox Developer Direct 2025 gave us a behind-the-scenes look at some of the most anticipated games coming to Xbox consoles, PC, and Xbox Game Pass this year. Such as the fantasy action-adventure South of Midnight, turn-based RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and hellish first-person shooter DOOM: The Dark Ages.

Presented by the creators themselves, a surprise studio (well, two actually) also offered a first-look at one of their upcoming games kept secret before the event.

If you missed the show, we’ve rounded up all the big news from the epic livestream right here. Including when these games will be released and a couple of extra announcements. Let’s dive in!

Ninja Gaiden 4

Release date: Autumn 2025

Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Game Pass, PC, PS5

We were expecting the much-debated mystery game to be revealed at the end of the event. But instead, we got it right at the start. With Team NINJA (Koei Tecmo Games) announcing their first new Ninja Gaiden mainline game in 13 years — Ninja Gaiden 4.

Developed in collaboration with PlatinumGames, this new high-speed action title is set in an abandoned Tokyo that's been devastated by the evil Dark Dragon. Its Rain of Darkrot has placed a curse on the vast concrete jungle, which will crumble around you and only make things tougher as you progress through the game.

You must step into the boots of a young Master Ninja called Yakumo to end the beast’s terror and restore peace. But it doesn’t look like it’ll be plain sailing. That’s because the whole place is flooded with fiends and the dastardly Divine Dragon Order, who police the desolate city and guard the Seal of the Dark Dragon. You’ll have to use all of Yakumo’s ninja techniques and tools to overcome them in fierce and fast combat. It’s pretty darn gory too!

two people in armor fighting in a dark room screenshot from ninja gaiden 4 revealed at xbox developer direct 2025

a man in a black ninja outfit standing in front of a storm screenshot from ninja gaiden 4 revealed at xbox developer direct 2025

a dark, futuristic city with neon lights and a large building

There will be brand-new fighting styles to help you unleash attacks on multiple enemies at once. As well as devastating instant kill moves never before seen in a Ninja Gaiden game. They'll help you turn the tide in situations where you’re outnumbered. But you’ll have to duel in high-pressure 1v1 battles too, where foes can guard and block just like you and really put your skills to the test.

To end their segment, Team NINJA confirmed that more new characters will be revealed alongside a few familiar faces. But the trailer did show franchise fan-favourite Ryu Hayabusa, who will apparently play a big part in the game's story and eventually clash with Yakumo. We can’t wait to play it!

South of Midnight

Release date: 8 April 2025

Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Game Pass, PC

The livestream took us from the depths of derelict Tokyo to the American Deep South. With Compulsion Games giving us a good look at their upcoming title South of Midnight. We’ve known a bit about this spellbinding action-adventure since mid-2023 when the first trailer came out. But after getting the full lowdown from the devs — we’re even more excited for it.

The game is set in a fictionalised Deep South and blends a striking, gothic style with vibrant fantasy elements and stop-motion inspired cutscenes. Some of the characters and settings literally look like they’ve been taken straight from the pages of a children’s storybook! Especially the mythical creatures you’ll encounter, although a few might be a little too scary for kids…

You’ll play as Hazel, a 19 year-old who suddenly possesses ancient ‘weaving’ powers after a disaster hits her town. She must use them to mend broken spirits and traverse the surreal world she’s been pulled into. All in a quest to discover her family’s hidden past and find a new place to call home.

a woman with a bow and arrow looking at a giant monster screenshot from south of midnight for xbox

a woman with a glowing orb in her hand and a dark background screenshot from south of midnight for xbox

But Hazel must also use her magic to fight off dangerous ‘Haints’. They’ll trap her in combat until she can unravel and destroy them, with different types having unique abilities you’ll have to learn to deal with. The developers said that timing and combos are everything in these tussles. And there will be plenty of bosses to confront across the game’s different regions too, including flooded farmlands and Appalachian peaks.

Not every monster is bad in this dark, modern folktale though. Some will lend a helping hand, such as good ol’ Catfish who’ll act as your storytelling guide and companion from the beginning. Plus, it sounds like you’ll have some sweet, swampy blues tunes keeping you company (and calm) too.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Release date: 24 April 2025

Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Game Pass, PC, PS5

Debut developer Sandfall Interactive shed plenty of light on their upcoming game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 — a gorgeous, turn-based fantasy RPG first revealed at 2024’s Xbox Games Showcase. They also gave us a tour of their stunning offices — built in an ornate manor in Montpellier, France!

And Sandfall’s upcoming game takes plenty of inspiration from their surroundings. It’s set in a world based on late 19th century Belle Époque France, where you must lead the members of Expedition 33 on a mission to destroy an evil character called the Paintress.

Once a year, she wakes and paints a cursed number upon her monolith that turns everyone above that age to dust. 33 is up, and with the number ticking down each year and erasing more people, you must break her cycle of death. But it won’t be easy, as your path will constantly be blocked by powerful foes who will try everything to stop you reaching her.

a man with a sword in his hand in a video game clair obscur expedition 33

a video game scene with a woman standing in front of a fire clair obscur expedition 33

a video game with a woman fighting a monster with a sword clair obscur expedition 33

a video game with a large ship flying over a large body of water clair obscur expedition 33

That’s why you’ll have to think carefully about who’s in your team and what their strengths are. With Sandfall’s CEO & Creative Director, Guillaume Broche, saying that “every character has their own playstyle” and “unique skill tree”. A key aspect of the game will also be customising your characters before each battle to give yourself the best chance of victory. It’ll be more about strategy than sheer button-bashing, with perfectly-timed dodge, parry, counter, and combo moves making the difference.

Beyond the battles will also be a beautiful world to explore. It’s filled with lush and vibrant landscapes, from the Island of Visages to the Forgotten Battlefield. And there will be lots of hidden quests and secret areas of the map to discover too. Plus, some intriguing NPCs who’ll help your cause.

DOOM: The Dark Ages

Release date: 15 May 2025

Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Game Pass, PC, PS5

The stream ended at id Software’s Texas HQ, where they shared a look at their “most ambitious game yet” — DOOM: The Dark Ages. It’ll be blasting its way onto Xbox on 15 May 2025, making it more than five years since the last main entry in the series. And this third instalment in the franchise’s modern era will be a prequel to both DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal.

The brand-new game will go back to the Doom Slayer’s brutal beginnings, where he must serve as a super weapon in the middle of a medieval war against the forces of Hell. You’ll have to take him on a blood-thirsty, demon-hunting rampage in a sci-fi fantasy world bigger than any we’ve ever seen in a DOOM game. Of course, with that signature metal soundtrack keeping your strength up!

We know that combat is what DOOM games are all about. And in this upcoming title, there will be plenty of new mechanics to master. Like the Shield Saw, designed to block incoming fire and slice foes from afar. Plus, medieval-inspired weapons like the Iron Flail and Spiked Mace that you can pummel and paralyse incoming monsters with.

a close up of a man in a green suit with a gun doom slayer

a video game with a bunch of monsters and a gun screenshot from doom the dark ages in xbox developer direct 2025 trailer

a dark and stormy night with a castle in the background hell doom the dark ages

a video game character with a large sword and armour doom the dark ages

DOOM isn’t DOOM unless it has some crazy guns in it though. And DOOM: The Dark Days has some of the most “ridiculously powerful weapons” id Software’s ever created, made to flatten entire hordes in seconds. If you feel like they make things too easy, the new game’s difficulty system will allow you to tweak the speed and challenge of the game to fit you best. Nice.

But the coolest thing about DOOM: The Dark Days is that you can pilot a 30-storey high ‘Atlan’. This is a giant machine that can wipe out the minions of hell on a colossal scale. And you can even ride around on a fire-breathing mechanised dragon!

What else was announced at Xbox Developer Direct 2025?

All four games will be on Game Pass: That’s right, you’ll get to play Ninja Gaiden 4, South of Midnight, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and DOOM: The Dark Ages on day one with Xbox Game Pass. They'll support Xbox Play Anywhere and Xbox Cloud gaming too.
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black: Team NINJA/Koei Tecmo ended their segment with another surprise announcement — Ninja Gaiden 2 Black. It's a remake of their critically-acclaimed Xbox 360 thriller from 2008 that has received a major graphical boost. And you can play it on console, PC, and Xbox Game Pass now! Perfect while we wait for that upcoming fourth instalment. In fact, the whole Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection is up.

FAQs

What is Xbox Developer Direct?

Xbox Developer Direct is a pre-recorded livestream produced by Microsoft Gaming. It showcases upcoming content from Xbox Game Studios and partner publishers, offering an in-depth look at exciting new titles and how they’re being created. Each show features a mix of announcements, trailers, extended gameplay sequences, and developer insights.

How long is Xbox Developer Direct?

The Xbox Developer Direct stream typically lasts around 45 minutes. 2023’s show squeezed plenty of cool content into 44 minutes, with the 2024 edition lasting over 48 minutes.

How often do Xbox Developer Direct events happen?

Xbox Developer Direct takes place every year in January. It gives Xbox fans much more than a glimpse at the games they can expect to play on their console later the same year.

When was the first ever Xbox Developer Direct?

The first Xbox Developer Direct took place on 25 January 2023. It marked the beginning of Microsoft's efforts to boost engagement with their Xbox fans around the globe.

When is Xbox Developer Direct 2025?

Xbox Developer Direct 2025 was livestreamed on 23 January 2025 at 10am Pacific, 1pm Eastern, and 6pm UK times. If you couldn’t tune in, you can play back the entire event on Xbox’s YouTube channel.

How do I pre-order new Xbox Developer Direct games?

We’d recommend bookmarking our upcoming games page to stay in the loop. It’s the best place to find out about the latest titles and when you can pre-order them for your Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S. Don’t forget about our Xbox news section here on TechTalk too!

Any more questions?

To find out more about what your console can do, check out our Everything you need to know about the Xbox Series X article. From how to share games with your mates to how to expand its storage, it’s your guide to all things Xbox.

And while we wait for all the new Xbox Developer Direct 2025 titles, how about firing up a fresh quest in the meantime? We’ve got a great range of Xbox games to explore.