Microsoft carried out his Xbox Direct Developer 2025 showcase on Friday, sharing details about its upcoming first-party games and bringing some new announcements. of Bethesda first-person shooter Doom: The Dark Ages finally received a release date, and so did Compulsion Games’ action-adventure title, South of Midnight. Both games also showed off new gameplay footage and shared pre-order details on supported platforms. Developer Sandfall Interactive also revealed the release date for its upcoming turn-based RPG, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
Finally, in the Developer Direct showcase, Ninja Team and Platinum Games announced that he was working on the next Ninja Gaiden title, scheduled for release in autumn 2025 on Xbox, computer and PS5. Ninja Gaiden 4 will be the first main entry in the beloved series in over a decade, after Ninja Gaiden 3 was released in 2012. The studio also announced Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, a remastered version of the original, now available on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series S/X.
Here’s everything that was announced at Xbox Developer Direct 2025 on Thursday:
Doom: Dark Ages release date confirmed
First revealed in last year’s pack Xbox game showcase, Perdition: The Dark Ages finally received a confirmed release date in Xbox Direct Developer on Wednesday. Identification Software confirmed that the long-awaited follow-up Eternal Destiny will be released on May 15, 2025, for PC, Xbox Series S/X and PS5, launching on the first day of Game pass.
In an in-depth developer breakdown, id Software shared extensive details about the game’s combat, exploration, and story design. Considered the most ambitious Doom yet, the game will serve as a prequel to the 2016 game Ruin and Doom Eternal and will be set in a dark fantasy/sci-fi world.
Players will be encouraged to stand their ground and fight bigger, meaner demons, with the Doom Slayer now playing as a tank. To help players defend themselves and counterattack, the game will equip them with a shield saw and plenty of medieval weaponry in addition to the game’s beefy weapons. The game is also available for pre-order on the Microsoft store and on Steam at the PC, Xbox and PlayStation stores.
South of Midnight gets a release date
Another original Xbox title has received release date confirmation in Developer Direct. Compulsion Games’ Midnight SouthFirst revealed at Xbox Games Showcase in 2023, it will launch for PC and Xbox Series S/X on April 8, 2025. The game will also be available on Game Pass at launch.
The developers also released a new story trailer for the game, detailing the characters and the Southern Gothic setting. South of Midnight is also available for pre-order, and those who pre-order the Premium Edition will have five-day early access starting April 3.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 launch date announced
First revealed at last year’s Xbox Games Showcase, Chiaroscuro: Expedition 33 received an update in the Developer Direct showcase. The turn-based RPG arrives on PC, PS5, Xbox Series S/X and Game Pass on April 24, 2025.
The developer also shared a new release date trailer, showing more of the gameplay and story. Pre-orders for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 are also live.
Ninja Gaiden 4 announced
In addition to release date updates for already announced games, the Xbox Developer Direct held a surprise announcement for its final update. The beloved Ninja Gaiden franchise is finally returning after more than a decade since the release of the last main title in the series. Team Ninja and Platinum Games announced Ninja Gaiden 4with Xbox game studios publishing the title following Microsoft’s partnership with Tecmo Cowwhich owns the Ninja Gaiden IP.
The new mainline entry will arrive in fall 2025 for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series S/X. Ninja Gaiden 4 will also be available on Game Pass at launch. The game will see the return of the series’ protagonist, ninja master Ryu Hayabusa. Ninja Gaiden 4, however, will gain a new protagonist, Yakumo. Team Ninja also debuted a trailer that featured brutal, fast-paced melee combat, exploration and traversal, and a dark, gritty world.
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black released
In addition to revealing Ninja Gaiden 4, Koei Tecmo announced Ninja Gaiden 2 Blacka remaster of 2008’s Ninja Gaiden 2, with graphical improvements. The game is now available for PC, PS5, Xbox Series S/X and Game Pass.
In an interview with Xbox WireFumihiko Yasuda, head of Team Ninja and producer of Ninja Gaiden 4 at Koei Tecmo Games, spoke about the announcement of Ninja Gaiden 4 and the release of Ninja Gaiden 2 Dark simultaneously.
“This simultaneous announcement and same-day release alongside Ninja Gaiden 4 may have caught some people by surprise,” he said. “The biggest reason for developing NINJA GAIDEN 2 Black was to address the concerns of core fans who may be wondering, ‘What’s going on? will it happen to Ryu Hayabusa?’ We also wanted to give players something to enjoy while they wait for the release of Ninja Gaiden 4. We chose Ninja Gaiden 2 because it’s one of the most solid action games in the series. We added ‘Black’ to the title to signal to fans that this is the definitive version, just like Ninja Gaiden Black was in the first game.”