Yesterday, the Xbox Developer_Direct was held. It was an important date because although we have a good start to the year, Xbox was not present at it. If there was something this presentation had to demonstrate, it is that Xbox will have a presence in 2025. That they have games in the pipeline and can compete against the big titles of this year. And that is exactly what they have demonstrated. Because if anything, this Developer_Direct has been a fantastic example of how to hold an event.
Ninja Gaiden 4
The event began with a surprise. And what a surprise it was. Announcing a collaboration between Platinum Games and Team Ninja, they unveiled the existence of Ninja Gaiden 4. Heavily inspired by the gameplay of Ninja Gaiden 2, but with an emphasis on speed, exploration, and the parry and juggling that characterizes Platinum Games, Ninja Gaiden 4 seems like the perfect marriage between both companies. Now with absolutely spectacular graphics to which it is hard not to feel that special care has been dedicated.
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black
Additionally, it wasn’t the only surprise Team Ninja had up their sleeve. Like good shinobi, they surprised us with an attack in the form of a remake of Ninja Gaiden 2. Named Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, now in Unreal Engine 5, it is the perfect crossover between Ninja Gaiden 2 and Ninja Gaiden 2 Gaiden, delighting the die-hard fans of the franchise.
And we speak in the present because yes, we have already been able to try it. Because Ninja Gaiden 2 Black is now available on both Game Pass and PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PlayStation 5. Although we fear that for Ninja Gaiden 4 we will still have to wait a bit to sink our teeth into it. Without a specific date, we have a general Fall of 2025. So, unless it gets delayed, between October and December of that year we will have a new adventure of Hayabusha among us. Or to be exact, two adventures about ninjas growing in the shadow of Hayabusha.
South of Midnight
The next title they presented was South of Midnight, a game by Compulsion Games. Inspired by Southern Gothic, in this game we will play as Hazel, a young woman from Próspero who, after witnessing a hurricane, will have to see how reality and fantasy begin to intertwine. With an interesting use of stop-motion, it will arrive on April 8th for PC, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Another highlight of the afternoon was Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the JRPG from the French studio Sandfall Interactive. Does it sound strange to talk about a JRPG from a non-Japanese studio? It shouldn’t. Not when Sandfall Interactive has shown us a deep love for the genre, a great knowledge of it, and an incredible premise: a world where every year a goddess writes a number and all the people of that age die, and we are part of the expedition to prevent this massacre that will end humanity.
With spectacular graphics, an incredibly dense system, and what seems to be a very elaborate narrative, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 presents itself as one of the great games of the year. And we will be able to enjoy it on April 24th on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.
Doom: The Dark Ages
Doom Eternal is fantastic. Doom: The Dark Ages, however, promises to go in another direction. Slower, more focused on melee combat and in more open settings, it promises to be rougher, bigger, and more brutal. Does all that sound like Doom? Perfect. That’s the intention. It will be released for PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PlayStation 5 on May 15th, and we’re not going to lie: it has the potential to be one of our games of the year.
Brief, giving space to developers and nailing it
This was everything presented during the Developer_Direct. And we couldn’t ask for more. Some surprises, developers commenting on interesting things, and above all, specific dates. Additionally, something we really like: all these games will be available on day one on Game Pass. So you have no excuse not to play them all. Not when they all release a month and a half apart.
