Just a week after Nintendo announced a new version of the Switch launching this year, gamers received another wave of exciting news from the Xbox Developer Direct event.

Established in 2023, this annual Microsoft event showcases game developers unveiling upcoming projects for this year and the future. At this year’s event, Xbox fans anticipated detailed looks at the 2025 releases “Doom: The Dark Ages,” “South of Midnight,” and “Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.”

True to form for such gatherings, studios took the chance to announce new games that had not yet been revealed or confirm release dates for highly awaited titles.

Here are the highlights from the announcements.

Exciting new game reveals from Xbox Developer Direct

Ninja Gaiden 4

After a long wait of over ten years since Ninja Gaiden 3, which premiered in 2012, gamers can look forward to Ninja Gaiden 4. This new entry, crafted by Team Ninja in collaboration with Platinum Games, is set in a ravaged, post-apocalyptic Tokyo, featuring dark aesthetics, fresh enemy types, and innovative gameplay that revitalizes the beloved series.

Ninja Gaiden 4 is scheduled for release in Fall 2025 on Xbox Series S and X, PC via Steam and Microsoft Store, as well as PlayStation 5.

Additionally, a new title titled Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound was introduced for PlayStation last December, developed through a partnership between Dotemu, Koei Tecmo Games, and Team Ninja, slated to launch in Summer 2025.

Microsoft also shared that Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, an enhanced version of the classic game, is now available for consoles, PC, and Game Pass.

Key highlights from Xbox Developer Direct

The event unveiled several release dates for upcoming titles, along with intriguing gameplay insights and development updates.

South of Midnight

Developed by Compulsion Games, known for titles like We Happy Few and Contrast, the new third-person action-adventure game, South of Midnight, follows protagonist Hazel as she embarks on a Southern Gothic journey, facing both monsters and characters rooted in Southern folklore.

South of Midnight is set to launch on April 8, 2025, for Xbox Series S and X, as well as Steam.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, created by Sandfall Interactive, is a turn-based role-playing game infused with real-time gameplay, set in a 1933 universe inspired by Belle Époque France. The game heavily emphasizes roleplaying, storytelling, and character interactions, offering various choices for character development and gameplay styles, alongside a 3D navigable world map.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is scheduled for release on April 24 for Xbox Series S and X, PC, and PlayStation 5.

Doom: The Dark Ages

“Doom: The Dark Ages,” set in an intriguing medical sci-fi fantasy realm, acts as a prequel to the 2016 “Doom,” bringing back the classic gameplay essence. This iteration promises a heavier, more robust play style compared to the quicker, more agile “Doom: Eternal.”

Described as a “stand and fight” experience by the developers at id Software, Doom: The Dark Ages will feature a diverse range of powerful weapons, balanced enemies, and the thrilling opportunity to pilot formidable mechs, such as a giant Atlan and a cybernetic dragon.

The release for “Doom: The Dark Ages” is slated for May 15, 2025, on Xbox Series S and X, PC, and PlayStation 5.