Microsoft is warming up the gaming year with its first Developer Direct showcase of 2025, and this one’s looking particularly spicy. The presentation, scheduled for Thursday, January 23rd at 10 AM PT, promises deep dives into several heavyweight titles—none more intriguing than Doom: The Dark Ages, which could represent the biggest shake-up in the series’ history.
After 2022’s successful Developer Direct format, which gave us extended looks at Hi-Fi Rush and Minecraft Legends, Xbox is doubling down on the approach. This year’s showcase will spotlight several major titles, with Doom: The Dark Ages leading the charge. While details remain tantalizingly scarce, the medieval setting suggests id Software might be reimagining their legendary shooter formula through a distinctly different lens. Will we see demon-slaying with crossbows and battle axes? The possibilities are genuinely exciting.
Fans should tune in on Xbox channels (Twitch, YouTube) and Bethesda channels (Twitch, YouTube) at 12pm PT/3pm ET on January 25
South of Midnight, another headliner, has maintained radio silence since its initial reveal. The supernatural adventure from Compulsion Games (We Happy Few) draws heavily from Southern Gothic folklore—think bayou magic and backwoods mysteries. This Developer Direct could finally pull back the curtain on gameplay mechanics and, hopefully, a release window.
The mysterious Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 rounds out the confirmed lineup. While little is known about this title, the name suggests a sci-fi setting, potentially with horror elements. Given Xbox’s recent push into more experimental territory with games like Hi-Fi Rush, this could be another surprising addition to their portfolio.
Xbox has also teased “much more” beyond these announced titles. Given Microsoft’s recent acquisition of Activision Blizzard, speculation is running wild about potential appearances from their expanded portfolio of studios. However, Xbox has traditionally used Developer Direct to focus on games launching within the next six months, so manage those expectations accordingly.
The 2025 Developer Direct will stream across Xbox’s official channels on YouTube and Twitch. Based on previous showcases, we can expect each game to receive roughly 10-15 minutes of focused coverage, with developers sharing deep dives into gameplay mechanics, development insights, and hopefully some concrete release dates.
For PC players, this event carries extra weight. Microsoft’s commitment to day-one PC releases for all first-party titles means everything shown will be heading to our platform of choice, likely with the usual suite of PC-specific features and optimizations.
We’ll be covering the Developer Direct live, so check back on January 23rd for our complete breakdown of all the announcements, trailers, and surprises.
