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This week Xbox announced a whole bunch of new games coming to Xbox players later this year on the Xbox Developer Direct 2025. Among the most anticipated titles are DOOM: The Dark Ages, South of Midnight, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and the much-awaited Ninja Gaiden 4. When these games come out there will be fresh new characters and intense gameplay.
Ninja Gaiden 4 was officially shown to gamers during the event by Team Ninja and PlatinumGames. This is the first in more than a decade in this series. In the game, Ryu Hayabusa features but a new protagonist is added in, in the form of Yakumo, a member of the Raven Clan. It takes place in a grim, ravaged Tokyo by some unknown Dark Dragon.
Yakumo’s shoes will be in the shoes of players as he will face both enemies and corrupted Ryu Hayabusa, Kagutsuchi Ryu Hayabusa. With his blood manipulation abilities Yakumo can also use it to launch devastating attacks and the game promises a very addictive action experience. One of his signature moves is his “Bloodbath Kill”, which can instantly slice an enemy.
The atmosphere of the game is still there, but Tokyo itself is a hostile place now, where the Dark Dragon has completely changed its atmosphere into a place of no atmosphere whatsoever, but much of the atmosphere of the game also has changed. Yakumo will be ever in danger as he walks through the city’s dangerous streets, always threatened by the miasma rain that falls on the city day in and day out.
Another major reveal was DOOM: The Dark Ages, the next instalment in the iconic DOOM series. New mechanics will be set as a prequel to DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal in hopes of making players feel more powerful than ever. Rather than focusing on speed and agility like previous entries, DOOM: Playing the Dark Ages requires players to show their force with overwhelming power.
One of the key features of DOOM: Its focus on exploration and player choice is the Dark Ages. There will be opportunities for the player to explore areas outside the main path, discovering hidden areas and secrets. The story will take a new movement from the codex style we last saw in previous games and move to tell the story through cinematic cutscenes to create a more immersive experience. DOOM: May 15, 2025, is the day The Dark Ages will be released.
Compulsion games South of Midnight was another big appearance at the event. The game stars Hazel who has magical powers and will be out on April 8, 2025. In a world full of Southern Gothic, she will encounter many challenges. In the game, players will help Hazel reunite fragmented memories from magical creatures to heal their world.
The game will feature an open-world design, with various regions controlled by different magical entities. These areas will each offer unique challenges, and players will need to use Hazel’s powers creatively to overcome obstacles. Her abilities will include manipulating her environment, conjuring objects, and overcoming difficult terrain. The world itself will be rich in lore and will require players to think critically about how to solve environmental puzzles.
