The 2025 Xbox Developer Direct brought some big news for several highly anticipated games. Along with making big waves in the Ninja Gaiden fanbase, the official release dates for three big titles were announced during the broadcast. Even more excitingly, they’re being released sooner than many might have expected. This makes the upcoming spring yet another exciting part of the year.
South of Midnight
South of Midnight is an upcoming action-adventure experience from Compulsion Games, which will be published by Xbox Game Studios. The game follows Hazel as she ventures on a journey in the American Deep South. After a disaster strikes her community of Prospero, Hazel becomes a Weaver, which is a “magical mender of broken bonds and spirits,” according to the official description of the game. She will use her diverse abilities on her adventure that’s full of danger and Southern folklore as she attempts to find her missing mother.
The game packs a stylistic charm with its claymation-like animation style and lower-than-average framerate. The unique storytelling combined with folklore makes for an intriguing story. Players should expect action-packed sequences, beautiful landscapes, and a heap of mysteries to uncover when South of Midnight is released into our far less magical world.
Release date: April 8, 2025
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S and PC
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
For those who enjoy turn-based RPGs, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 just might be the top game to play this spring. The game is being developed by Sandfall Interactive and published by Kepler Interactive. In this game, players take control of a group of heroes who are set on taking down a being known as the Paintress. When she awakes and paints her cursed number, everyone that age turns to dust and fades from existence. The goal is to destroy her, so she can never paint another deadly number.
In Clair Obscur, players will get to experience what the official Steam description calls “a ground-breaking turn-based RPG with unique real-time mechanics” while they explore a fantasy-filled world. Even though this land is beautiful and whimsical, it is also full of danger. Luckily, players will be able to upgrade their part with a wide variety of perks called Lumina. This makes for an incredible diversity of ways to play the game when it officially arrives.
Release Date: April 24, 2025
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC
DOOM: The Dark Ages
Fans of the DOOM games have been extremely excited about DOOM: The Dark Ages since its official announcement more than half a year ago. The highly anticipated prequel will be coming to the world from id Software and Bethesda Softworks. The story of this action-filled experience showcases the origin story of the DOOM Slayer’s infamous and devastating rage.
Players will be dropped into a dark and sinister world full of monstrosities they can destroy in a gory fashion. They’ll get to experience previously unknown realms while taking on hordes of demons as they are charged with crushing the legions of Hell. During their brutal adventure, they’ll encounter mysteries, difficult challenges, and the darkness that lurks within every shadow. This is exactly what DOOM fans love, and they will finally get to dive back into this gritty world in the spring.
Release date: May 14, 2025
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC
An Exciting Year to Come
The games on this list are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to how exciting 2025 is going to be in terms of gaming. It seems like every month will see at least a couple of big titles that excitement has been brewing for. Games like Monster Hunter Wilds, Fable, Grand Theft Auto VI, and many more fill the list of upcoming AAA releases. If all things go well, this year will be one for the gaming history books.
