Summary
Microsoft has announced its nextXbox Developer Direct, which will take place on January 23. The upcoming broadcast will mark the firstXboxgame showcase event of 2025.
While Microsoft has regularly hosted dedicated game showcases throughout the 2020s, itfirst started using the Xbox Developer Direct branding in January 2023. A second iteration of the show dedicated to previews of upcoming Xbox games took place in January 2024.
Keeping up with this pattern, Microsoft has now announced a 2025 edition of the event, which is also set to take place in January. Specifically, the newly confirmed showcase is scheduled for January 23, beginning at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm GMT. This turn of events may not come as a surprise to the most attentive of fans, as anXbox Developer Direct 2025 announcement was already rumored for January 9.
Xbox Developer Direct 2025 Details
As for what fans can expect from the upcoming event, Microsoft has so far confirmed three games that will be featured at the showcase. One of them isSouth of Midnight, a stylish action adventure that’s currently in the works at Canada-based Compulsion Games, known forContrastandWe Happy Few.South of Midnightwas originally announced in June 2023but is still lacking a release date, which may finally be confirmed at the upcoming Xbox Developer Direct.
Another title confirmed to be featured at the January 2025 show isClair Obscur: Expedition 33, a turn-based RPG from French studio Sandfall Interactive. Much likeSouth of Midnight, Sandfall’s RPG is still waiting for a concrete release date, although it was previously confirmed to be targeting a 2025 launch.Clair Obscur: Expedition 33will also be a day-one Xbox Game Pass title. The final title confirmed for Xbox Developer Direct 2025 is id Software’sDoom: The Dark Ages, which was originally announced in June 2024. The game’s demo was already playable at QuakeCon 2024 back in August, with the shooter itself currently being rumored for a mid-2025 launch.
These three titles may not be the only games featured at the upcoming event. The first two Xbox Developer Directs each ran for over 40 minutes and showcased at least a handful of games. E.g., the 2024 iteration of the show offered new looks atAvowed,Ara: History Untold,Indiana Jones and the Great Circle,Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, andVisions of Mana. Similarly, the 2025 Xbox Developer Direct could include some additional surprises that Microsoft has chosen not to spoil in advance.
Xbox Series X Digital
The Xbox Series X Digital is the best way yet to play Microsoft’s extensive collection of Game Pass titles. In a distinctive robot white color, Microsoft’s flagship console has the same 4K gaming capabilities and supports 120 fps gameplay. The Xbox Series X digital ships with a blazingly fast 1 TB SSD to ensure gamers have plenty of space for digital downloads. With the console, buyers receive the versatile Xbox Wireless Controller with a dedicated Share Button to boast gameplay achievements.
