Xbox Mystery Game Announcement Set for January 23

Summary

• Xbox's Developer Direct next week will showcase 4 games, with the identity of the fourth game currently a mystery.
• The mystery game is hinted to be a new entry in a legendary Japanese IP.
• Some possibilities for the mystery game include Resident Evil, Persona, and a new Ninja Gaiden. However, it could turn out to be something different.

Xbox's third-annual Developer Direct is set to captivate fans once again when it goes live next week. The event, which kicked off in January 2023, allows developers from Xbox's studios to directly engage with fans about their upcoming projects. Notably, the first Developer Direct saw the surprise release of Tango Gameworks' critically acclaimed Hi-Fi Rush, cementing the event's reputation as a must-watch. Last year's showcase included in-depth looks at Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and a surprise appearance from Square Enix with Visions of Mana.

Scheduled for January 23, this year's Developer Direct will focus on three eagerly anticipated 2025 titles: Doom: The Dark Ages, South of Midnight, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 by Sandfall Interactive. Additionally, a fourth mystery game will be unveiled, sparking a flurry of speculation among the Xbox community. Fans are eagerly anticipating potential reveals of Fable, The Outer Worlds 2, or even Gears of War: E-Day.

In a recent Windows Central article, industry insider Jez Corden shed some light on the mysterious fourth game, hinting that it could be a "new entry in a legendary Japanese IP with decades of history." This revelation suggests the game may not come from Xbox's first-party studios.

Xbox Developer Direct Mystery Game Could Be a New Entry in a Legendary Japanese Franchise

While Square Enix made an appearance at last year's event with Visions of Mana, their return with a new Final Fantasy game seems unlikely due to their ongoing partnership with PlayStation and the recent releases of major Final Fantasy titles.

Other potential candidates include Capcom's Resident Evil and Sega's Persona. Although Resident Evil games are typically unveiled at PlayStation events, Resident Evil 9 is rumored to be in development and could be ready for a reveal. On the other hand, Xbox's collaboration with Sega for Metaphor: ReFantazio's marketing, coupled with rumors of Persona 6 releasing in 2025, makes a Persona announcement at the Developer Direct a tantalizing possibility. Additionally, a new Ninja Gaiden game from Team Ninja could be on the cards, given the franchise's historical ties to Xbox.

While these guesses are exciting, they remain speculative. Fans should tune into Xbox's Developer Direct on Thursday, January 23, to get the latest updates on Compulsion Games' South of Midnight, Doom: The Dark Ages, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and to finally discover the identity of the mysterious fourth game.