Xbox scheduled its January 2025 Developer_Direct for Thursday, January 23, at 10 a.m. Pacific / 1 p.m. Eastern / 6 p.m. UK. The January 9 announcement named three games—DOOM: The Dark Ages, South of Midnight, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33—and teased a fourth game without naming it.
When was Xbox Developer_Direct?
Xbox Wire published the announcement on January 9, 2025, scheduling the showcase for January 23, 2025. The event was presented for Xbox Series X|S and PC audiences, with Game Pass players also addressed. Xbox described the program as an in-depth, creator-led look at upcoming games and how they were being made. Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief, wrote: “Presented by the game creators themselves, Developer_Direct offers an in-depth look at upcoming titles, how they’re being created, and who’s creating them.” Xbox Wire’s January 9 announcement is the source for the schedule and details below.
What games were announced for the showcase?
DOOM: The Dark Ages
Xbox described DOOM: The Dark Ages as a prequel to DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal, and said the showcase would include a full game reveal. The announcement said id Software would be visited in Richardson, Texas.
South of Midnight
Xbox described South of Midnight as a third-person action-adventure set in the American Deep South. Its protagonist, Hazel, explores folklore-inspired creatures and her family’s hidden past. The planned studio visit was to Compulsion Games in Montreal, Canada.
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Xbox called Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 the debut studio RPG from Sandfall Interactive. The team was expected to discuss the game’s creation and story during a visit to Montpellier, France.
What was the “brand new game”?
The January 9 announcement did not reveal the game’s title or identify its studio. It promised a visit to a surprise location to see another studio’s brand new game. So, based on that announcement alone, the answer is that Xbox teased an unnamed fourth game; it did not disclose what it was.
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What did the platform mention mean?
Xbox framed Developer_Direct for Xbox Series X|S and PC and addressed Game Pass players. That audience framing does not establish that every featured game was available on every named platform, nor does the announcement confirm any game’s current Game Pass catalog status. It was an event announcement, not a title-by-title availability list.
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