What revelations will there be today? (Picture: Microsoft)
Microsoft will showcase some of its most anticipated games at an Xbox Developer_Direct preview event this week, but what is likely to be featured?
After kicking off 2023 on a strong note, with the surprise release of Hi-Fi Rush during the first Xbox Developer_ Direct last year, Microsoft appears to be chasing the same momentum with the announcement of another presentation to start 2024.
This time around, however, it comes after a string of disappointments for Xbox – with both Redfall and Starfield not exactly setting the world alight, as Microsoft would’ve obviously hoped.
With various rumours about what could be in store, there’s a chance that this event might start to flip the script in its favour. Check out all the details below on what to expect from the Xbox Developer_Direct.
When is the Xbox Developer_Direct and where can I watch it?
The presentation takes place today, Thursday, January 18, at 8pm GMT in the UK, which translates to 12pm PT/3pm ET for viewers in the US.
It will be available to stream on the official Xbox YouTube channel, and will also be shown on Twitch and via Twitter – so it’ll be hard to miss.
Following the Developer_Direct, a second presentation will take place an hour later from ZeniMax Online Studios, to showcase the next major update for The Elder Scrolls Online. This event will stream from 9pm GMT in the UK, and 1pm PT/4pm ET in the US.
That implies that the Direct will last exactly an hour, although that’s not been confirmed by Microsoft.
What Xbox games will definitely be shown?
Microsoft has confirmed four titles that will definitely make an appearance. Developer Obsidian, makers of The Outer Worlds, will share a deep dive for their next fantasy role-playing game Avowed. It was originally announced in 2020 and is slated to come out this year, so it could be getting a specific release date.
MachineGames, creators of the modern Wolfenstein entries, will officially reveal their Indiana Jones game, after showing a brief teaser in 2021. It’s believed to be called Indiana Jones And The Great Circle, with rumours suggesting it could be released this year.
Strategy title Ara: History Unfold, from studio Oxide Games, will also be given the spotlight. The team is made up of former Firaxis Games employees, the studio who are known for the Civilization franchise – which Ara seems to bare a striking resemblance to.
The fourth confirmed game is Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 from Ninja Theory, the sequel to 2017’s Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. Like Avowed, it’s set to come out this year, with recent rumours suggesting it’s planned for release on May 21. It’s possible this could be confirmed at the showcase.
What else could make an appearance?
Hi-Fi Rush might be heading elsewhere (Picture: Bethesda)
In recent weeks, there’s been a number of rumours around Microsoft’s plans for Xbox in 2024. The timing might be a coincidence but it’s just as likely that the company is gearing up for a few surprises.
One of these could be Xbox exclusives Hi-Fi Rush and Sea of Thieves making their way to other platforms. This comes from a rumour that Microsoft is planning to publish a first party game with ‘high critical acclaim’ on a ‘competitor platform’ in 2024.
Elsewhere, there’s rumours of Final Fantasy 7 Remake finally making its way to Xbox in 2024. According to Windows Central editor Jez Corden, on the Xbox Two podcast, he has ‘evidence tentatively that there are discussions’ about the title coming to Xbox.
It’s very non-committal wording, but it has been rumoured for months now and unlike the first party Xbox games it wouldn’t be all that surprising, considering the game has been out for a few years now.
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There’s also growing evidence to suggest the upcoming DLC for Elden Ring, Shadow Of The Erdtree, is set to come out in February. While FromSoftware isn’t owned by Microsoft it could make an appearance if they have a segment dedicated to third party software (last year’s presentation, however, did not).
A remastered collection for Gears Of War is also rumoured to be in the works, with claims that it’s currently being ‘internally tested’ at studio The Coalition.
What won’t be at the Direct though is anything from Activision Blizzard, with Microsoft indicating you’ll have to wait until later in the year for news from them. That probably includes when their first titles will appear on Game Pass.
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Here’s all the confirmed games and rumoured announcements for the Xbox event, from Indiana Jones to Hi-Fi Rush going multi-platform.