"Xbox Mystery Game Announcement Set for January 23: Insider"

Summary

• Xbox's Developer Direct next week will showcase four 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.
• Potential candidates for the mystery game include Resident Evil, Persona, and a new Ninja Gaiden, though it could be something entirely different.

Xbox's third-annual Developer Direct is set to go live next week, promising exciting reveals for gaming enthusiasts. Since its inception in January 2023, the Developer Direct has become a pivotal event where Xbox's studio developers directly engage with fans, sharing insights into upcoming titles. The inaugural event famously shadow-dropped Tango Gameworks' critically acclaimed Hi-Fi Rush, setting a high bar for future showcases. Last year's Direct provided in-depth looks at Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and featured a surprise appearance from Square Enix with Visions of Mana.

Scheduled for next Thursday, January 23, the upcoming Developer Direct will spotlight three anticipated 2025 releases: Doom: The Dark Ages, South of Midnight, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 from Sandfall Interactive. However, the most intriguing aspect of the event is the announcement of a fourth mystery game, which has sparked widespread speculation among Xbox fans. While some hope for updates on Fable, The Outer Worlds 2, or Gears of War: E-Day, a recent feature article by Jez Corden on Windows Central sheds light on the nature of this mystery title. Corden suggests that the game is a "new entry in a legendary Japanese IP with decades of history," ruling out the possibility of it being from Xbox's first-party studios.

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

Given Square Enix's previous appearance at last year's Direct with Visions of Mana, it's tempting to speculate about their potential return with a new Final Fantasy game. However, considering Square Enix's ongoing partnership with PlayStation for the Final Fantasy series and the recent releases of major titles, this seems unlikely.

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 has been rumored to be in development for some time, making it a plausible candidate for a reveal. Similarly, Xbox's collaboration with Sega on Metaphor: ReFantazio's marketing, coupled with rumors of Persona 6's 2025 release, suggests that a Persona announcement at the Developer Direct could be a significant coup. Additionally, a new Ninja Gaiden game from Team Ninja, given the franchise's historical ties to Xbox during the original Xbox era, could also be a thrilling possibility.

While these speculations are exciting, they remain just that—speculations. Fans are encouraged to 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 uncover the identity of the mysterious fourth game.