Mystery Xbox Game Announcement Hinted 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, scheduled to go live next Thursday, January 23. Since its inception in January 2023, these Developer Directs have provided a direct line of communication between Xbox's studio developers and its passionate fanbase, discussing upcoming games in detail. A highlight from the very first event was the surprise release of Tango Gameworks' critically acclaimed Hi-Fi Rush. Last year's Developer Direct featured deep dives into Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and included a showcase from Square Enix with Visions of Mana.

This year's event promises to reveal more about three anticipated 2025 titles: Doom: The Dark Ages, South of Midnight, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 by Sandfall Interactive. However, the buzz is all around the mystery fourth game, which Xbox has kept under wraps. Speculation has been rife, with fans guessing everything from Fable to The Outer Worlds 2 and Gears of War: E-Day.

In a recent feature by Jez Corden on Windows Central, some insight into this mystery game was shared. Corden hinted that the game is a "new entry in a legendary Japanese IP which has decades of history," steering speculation away from Xbox's first-party titles.

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

Given Square Enix's appearance at last year's event with Visions of Mana, some might expect them to return with a new Final Fantasy title. However, with Square Enix's ongoing partnership with PlayStation for Final Fantasy, and considering the recent releases of major games in the franchise, this seems unlikely.

Other possibilities include Capcom's Resident Evil and Sega's Persona. Resident Evil 9 has been rumored to be in development for some time, traditionally revealed at PlayStation events, yet a surprise reveal at Xbox's Developer Direct could be on the cards. On the other hand, Xbox's partnership with Sega for Metaphor: ReFantazio's marketing, alongside rumors of Persona 6's 2025 release, fuels speculation about a Persona appearance. Additionally, a new Ninja Gaiden game from Team Ninja, given the franchise's strong association with Xbox during the original Xbox era, is another exciting prospect.

While these speculations are thrilling, they remain just that—speculations. Fans are encouraged to tune into Xbox's Developer Direct on Thursday, January 23, to learn more about Compulsion Games' South of Midnight, Doom: The Dark Ages, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and to finally discover the identity of this mysterious fourth game.

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