Xbox Developer Direct 1/23/25 review: x-citing games on the horizon

Review:

Once a year, Xbox comes out of the new year swinging, showcasing what they have in the immediate to near future. This year, we have confirmed that Microsoft will talk about 4 different games. These games are DOOM: The Dark Ages, South of Midnight, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and a mysterious fourth game that’s from a Japanese studio from a long-running IP. What it is is anyone’s guess. Personally, I like what they had to showcase from past years, despite my personal gripes with Microsoft as a whole. And this year is looking to be no different than what they have done. 

The first game they showcased is something alot of fans have been asking for a long time: the announcement of Ninja Gaiden 4 from Koei Tecmo’s Team Ninja and Platinum Games (creators of such games as Bayonetta, The Wonderful 101, Astral Chain, and tons more). Featuring a new story from iconic ninja Ryu Hayabusa, and the arrival of a new playable ninja named Yakumo, whose paths and swords will cross during this high-stakes, high-impact story and action adventure from some of the best studios around. And we’re seeing a Fall 2025 release date for the game, so things are going to be hype when fall rolls around. As a Platinum Games fanatic, I am very excited to see how this game is going to perform and hope to see what's next for this iconic franchise.

Also, during the stream, the shadow drop announcement was made that Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, a modern remake of Ninja Gaiden 2, is now available on Xbox, PC, PS5, and Gamepass. 

The Second game that was showcased was South of Midnight, a 3D action-adventure game from Compulsion Games. From what we've seen from the direct, it showcases 2 unique aspects of the: the main character, and inspiration behind the setting of the game. In the game’s newest trailer, we see the main character Hazel try to find her mom after she gets lost in a storm and has to traverse down the south to find clues and rescue her mother while helping with locals and their issues facing with monsters and events based off of Sothern Gothic history. While playing through, you can see how improvised Hazel is with her powers, both for combat and for interacting with the world around her. The combat looks very action-oriented with combos to boot, and interacting with the world around her looks to showcase the history of these monsters terrorizing the locals. I think this game could be a sleeper hit if it gets enough people talking about the game. South of Midnight launches on Xbox, Steam, and Gamepass on April 8th (or 5 days earlier with a premium edition)

The Third game showcased here was Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, an RPG created by French developer Sandfall Interactive, which was only formed back in 2020, meaning that this is going to be the first game they've done. Complete with a unique story filled with survival and less “good vs evil” narrative, a group of characters who are flawed to each other and even to themselves, a star-struck voice cast bringing them to life, Expedition 33 is shaping up to be one of the most looked at RPG’s of the year, complete with a skill tree for everyone and even a world travel system, something that hasn't been used in so long in most RPG’s these days. The story is set in an alternate France where a mysterious painter paints a number, and if you are of or over that number in age, you die. Because of this, there have been countless expeditions set off to stop the painter, but none are successful. The game takes place when the number is now set to 33, and Gustave, who is currently 32, is now part of this year’s expedition, meaning he has about a year to defeat the painter. Fortunately, he won’t do it alone, thanks to his party of other executioners, each with their other reasons for being there. They also announced this game comes out April 24th, aka my birthday, on Xbox, PS5, Steam, and Gamepass.

The fourth and final game showcased was DOOM: The Dark Ages by ID Software and Bethesda. It is the third game in the modern DOOM Trilogy (a prequel to Doom 2016). Although all the games from the showcase looked incredible, I have a feeling DOOM: The Dark Ages might end up being the best game of the showcase. They showcased a few new gimmicks, including a new chainsaw sword, a flail, a mace, and even a thunder gauntlet. There are a ton of other things they showcased as well, like difficulty settings, cutscenes for story mode, a new mech, a cyber-dragon, a parry system, and difficulty modes that make anyone able to play the game at any level, from first time players to veteran slayers. 

Overall, I believe this was Microsoft’s best Developer Direct they've ever done. All the games that were presented here today are stuff I would love to play through and each of the showcases hit every nail on the head, making this a well-enjoyed direct. My only gripe, if any, is that 3 of these games come out very close to one another. But besides that, I loved what was shown and I think I am going to love all these games.

9/10