Since its debut in 2023, the Xbox Developer Direct has been Microsoft’s way of giving gamers a more intimate look at certain games their myriad of studios are making. Delivering intrigue and hype on a more personal level by not only presenting viewers a peek behind the scenes of the particular game, but also at its creators and the development process behind it. Providing a direct contrast to the way games are traditionally presented by the industry and granting Xbox a bit more personality as well.
Officially announced by Microsoft via the Xbox Wire, the 2025 version of the Xbox Developer Direct takes place on Thursday, January 23 at 10am PT/1PM ET/6PM UK and it may be the most anticipated edition yet as it features three titles gamers are eagerly awaiting. Bethesda and id Software’s DOOM: The Dark Ages, Compulsion Games South of Midnight, and Sandfall Interactive and Kepler Interactive’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
What Else to Expect from the 2025 Xbox Developer Direct
The last two editions featured a total of five games, ran for about 45 minutes, and had surprise announcements. The 2023 version showcased the shadow drop of what would become Xbox’s most celebrated game of that year in Hi-Fi Rush and the 2024 edition added third-party titles to the presentation with Square-Enix showing off Visions of Mana.
Microsoft already pre-announced a third-party game for this year, (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33) and they even said there will be a surprise studio visit to see their “brand-new game” in this one as well. Could there be two unannounced surprises at this year’s show? Maybe so, and with Visions of Mana not being included in Xbox Game Pass, it could literally be anything from a small indie title to a major third party game that winds up being the fifth game.
Whether we receive another surprise announcement or not, the Xbox Developer Direct offers gamers a great look at what’s to come for Xbox in the coming year. So, we’ll have to wait and see what gets revealed when it airs on Thursday January 23.
In case you weren’t aware, Compulsion games put out a great 30-minute documentary on South of Midnight that is absolutely worth watching if you want to know even more about the game prior to this showcase.
