And we’ve got everything you’re gonna wanna know right here.
We need only wait and see what news might come of it.
We’ve recapped the biggest announcements from the Xbox Developer Direct 2025 below.
Everything Announced At The Xbox Developer Direct 2025
And we’re live!
One of the games we’re excited most for isDoom: The Dark Ages.
Gears of War: E-Day was third, though it doesn’t look likely we’ll see that today.
How highly does the new Doom game sit among your most anticipated games?
Of course, it’s not just more Doom we’re looking forward to.
And then there’sSouth of Midnight, the latest from We Happy Few studio Compulsion Games.
Are you looking forward to it?
One hour warning, gang!
So, what’s the mystery game, then?
Not that it will stop me from dreaming about something Dragon Quest-shaped.
What’s your best guess?
If you’ve caught live coverage from us previously, chances are you’ve seen my handiwork.
Which is all to say: buckle up.
Less than 10 to go!
The little concept art for various games popping up is a nice touch, certainly.
The scribbling noise as the images appear and disappear is strongly reminding me of Comix Zone.
If you don’t, you’ll never ride eternal, shiny and chrome.
Just a couple minutes left!
(Everything is not an Xbox, but, well.
Ah heck yeah, we’re starting with people slowly walking around and looking at monitors.
This is the good stuff.
Xbox using this moment to state we’re going to hear directly from devs.
Seems like maybe we’re starting with the unexpected, unrevealed entry?
Team Ninja logo preceded by a bunch of water.
Fumihiko Yasuda talking about the reveal for a popular franchise.
Dark rain in Tokyo, seems like PlatinumGames is involved.
Looks like a new, modern 3D Ninja Gaiden?
Classic action brawling; strong PlatinumGames vibe.
“Ryu Hayabusa” namedropped; definitely a Ninja Gaiden of some kind then.
And there it is: Ninja Gaiden 4.
“After more than 10 years, the wait is finally over.”
Lore drop from Yuji Nakao.
Tokyo is flooded with fiends and adversaries.
The lad Ryu is looking pretty good!
But there’s also going to be tight and fast 1v1 fights.
Yakumo apparently has a slightly different fighting style, Raven and Nue, than Ryu.
Various Obliteration and Ultimate Techniques return, but he’ll feel different.
Lots of variety, “limitless,” for dealing with enemies.
New movesets in Ninja Gaiden 4 as well as returning.
Been in the works for “many years” with PlatinumGames.
All the usual suspectspluson PS5.
Maybe a remake of the initial Xbox Ninja Gaiden game?
Definitely same sort of modern graphics as Ninja Gaiden 4.
Lots of characters to play on console, PC, and Xbox Game Pass today!
2025 will be “the Year of the Ninja,” which, I mean, maybe!
Immediately shifting to Compulsion Games and South of Midnight.
No time to breathe.
South of Midnight explores Southern Gothic themes with a dark fantasy twist.
Voice actress Adriyan Rae here to talk about Hazel.
Typical 19-year-old, but disastrous events cause her to tap into Weaving and redefine herself.
Lots of weaving-related weapons: spindle, hooks, and so on.
Blends craft with mystical elements, but she still can parkour around because of course.
As is right and good.
Manifestations of corruption are common enemies, called Haints.
They have their own styles of fighting and weaknesses, so it’s all about countering appropriately and combos.
Combat looks fairly solid and dynamic with plenty of movement.
“Timing is everything.”
Spells interact with each enemy uniquely, opening up many different ways for dealing with opponents.
With the right combos, cooldowns can be reduced and chains continued.
Experience allows you to unlock upgrades to push things even further.
These critters influence the music and more of their respective areas.
And apparently a respective musical theme builds up over time during fights with them?
Swamps to farmlands with reclaimed buildings falling to surreal nature and the fantastical.
Lots of Southern folklore infused at every turn; bottle trees used as an example.
There are still locals that stayed behind “in the face of a hurricane.”
Visually, there’s a moody atmosphere with inspiration taken from stop-motion animation and more.
(No mention of PS5.)
Started as a solo passion project!
Clair Obscur never beating the “western Persona” allegations with the stylish UI and combat.
Still looks great, though hard to say how that all works in reality.
Four years developing the story.
Team didn’t want to just go for good vs. evil, broader and deeper than that.
How do you still be hopeful?
What do we owe each other?
Looks to be lots of big questions to wrestle with and different motivations for different characters.
One even joins up with you and can transform into defeated enemies.
Realtime combat means dodging or firing at the right time has a big effect.
Each playable character has their own unique mechanics.
Add to that hundreds of potential passive effects to equip.
Devs are excited for folks to craft builds they couldn’t possibly imagine.
I looked away for a moment and now there are a bunch of Gestrals in a sanctuary?
There’s a real fantastical element here with one taking inspiration from a balloon.
And now: Doom!
Doom: The Dark Ages called id’s most ambitious yet.
Superweapon in the medieval war against Hell with weapons to unlock and enemies to conquer.
Prequel to Doom 2016, which is a choice.
Run and gun, jump and shoot, and now: stand and fight.
New Glory Kill system at the player’s control.
Some of the most ridiculously powerful weapons the team has ever created, apparently.
“Only in Doom” is the mission statement behind new gear.
Closer look at the combat loop between all of this now.
I’m open to change, but the gameplay does look… slower than I would have imagined.
Just… gameplay running.
Killing a bunch of critters.
Looks like Doom, if not moving as fast as I’d like.
Lots of different locations and environments to explore, upgrades to grab.
“There’s always something new waiting to be discovered, or destroyed.”
You control where you go, who you fight, and so on.
Story of Doom: The Dark Ages is big.
“Summer blockbuster with everything on the line.”
Slayer is imprisoned at the start of the story with power balance between good and evil shifting.
Narrative out of codex and into cutscenes; described as good for new players.
(Will have to just… trust them on that one for now.)
The goal is to give players an experience as fun it is to play as it was to make.
Make the best Doom possible.
And we end(?)
with outtakes followed by a roundup of the most important details revealed during the event.
A recap, in case you missed it.
Also, more juggling somehow.
…it’s over!
That’s all, folks.
Some release dates, some Ninja Gaiden.
A whole lot of Doom destruction.
