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2025 looks like a great year for Xbox

Xbox Game Pass is finally getting a regular drop of games.

www.theverge.com

There's a long-running joke in the Xbox community that Microsoft will finally hit its stride with Game Pass and Xbox releases "next year." The joke has been going around since 2018, when Microsoft made a series of big studio acquisitions to create more Xbox games and make Game Pass more appealing. Year after year, Xbox fans have been waiting for a solid 12 months of new games to play, and it now looks like 2025 is going to be that "next year" everyone has been waiting for.

Published by Xbox Game Studios, Ninja Gaiden 4 is the latest entry in a long-running franchise that's seen a lot of success on Xbox in the past. South of Midnight finally got a release date and a deeper dive into the gameplay and story, too. It's heading to Game Pass on April 8th and will be joined that month by Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 — the debut title from Sandfall Interactive on April 24th. It looks like Doom: The Dark Ages will have some unique gameplay that sets it apart from previous entries in the Doom franchise, and I'm really looking forward to playing this one on May 15th. These three new games now make for a packed series of Xbox Game Pass releases in the coming months. Obsidian's Avowed is arriving on February 18th, just weeks after Sniper Elite: Resistance, Eternal Strands, and Citizen Sleeper 2 appear on day one in Game Pass.

Microsoft's Xbox summer showcase will then set the stage for the rest of the year and beyond. Ninja Gaiden 4 is coming in the fall, but Microsoft announced that The Outer Worlds 2 and Fable are 2025 releases. It will also be interesting to see if Gears of War: E-Day will make the 2025 release date I'd heard Microsoft was planning for last year.

There could be some more surprises on the way, too. In recent weeks, rumors have pointed toward a remaster of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. I first heard about this remaster last year, and at the time, Microsoft was tentatively targeting a release in late spring or early summer 2025. I'm also hoping we hear more about Contraband or Clockwork Revolution at the Xbox summer showcase.

 

[FlyyGOD]

I don't see either game releasing this year. The slate is already starting to get crowded.

 

[Senua]

I voted A because you caught me off guard

 

[adamsapple]

I ... dont know how that poll snuck in there, gonna ask the mods to remove it

 

[Ozriel]

Yeah, looks like they’re finally getting in stride.

Being able to play these on my GamePass sub is quite the solid deal indeed. And if it takes xbox porting these over to competing platforms to maximize retail revenue alongside GamePass, I’m ok with that.

Perhaps they’ll push a few over into 2026 if the release schedule gets too cluttered.

 

[pnutboy]

Gears and Fable will be the big two for 2026 probably

 

[poppabk]

"...Xbox releases "next year." The joke has been going around since 2018"

Feel like it has been around longer than that.

 

[Reizo Ryuu]

poll deja vu

 

[Trogdor1123]

Put a d as nothing appealed to me.

Was hoping for oblivion remake. It’s never happening though I feel. I hope I’m wrong.

 

[R3TRO]

Sheesh they have a lineup if they can deliver quality.

 

[Kacho]

Strong doubts we see the Oblivion remake so soon. Why not show it off in the direct yesterday if it was releasing in late spring / early summer?

 

[diffusionx]

hmm if only Microsoft had a show where they could talk about these soon-to-release games!

 

[JerryinSoCal]

It's hard to believe Gears would be this year especially when they didn't even have the Xbox Series X/S logo or splash on the trailer like it did for fable.

 

[Gonzito]

Are we finally going to get a good gears of wars for once?

 

[Neat]

It was E3 2015 they used "greatest games lineup in Xbox history".

It's been bangers ever since.

 

[adamsapple]

Are we finally going to get a good gears of wars for once?

 

[noob smokes]

Its mad they been promising great games for so long & when they finally get their shit together and got a steady flow of good games pumpin out they tapout & go 3rd party

 

[kazuyamishima]

I just want to know the release dates for the PS5 versions.

 

[Gonzito]

The original trilogy was awesome. After that, the franchise went downhill

 

[Represent.]

Theres no way E-Day drops this year.

I'd be super happy if im wrong

 

[intbal]

They're not reinventing anything. At this point, The Coalition has the formula for making a Gears game down to a science. I actually would expect E-Day to release this year.

 

[Killjoy-NL]

Why do Xbox fans do this to themselves? Honest question.

 

[Killer8]

We've gone from "Xbox has no games" to "Xbox has too many games" very quickly.

 

[coachmcguirk91]

They're not reinventing anything. At this point, The Coalition has the formula for making a Gears game down to a science. I actually would expect E-Day to release this year.

That sucks because Gears needs a GOW 2018 type reboot. Cover based shooters is an archaic gameplay loop. I really hope they are more innovative. Coalition have had 6 years

 

[Evil Calvin]

Gears and Fable will be the big two for 2026 probably

Need a 'big' 2025 fall/holiday release though................

 

[Kacho]

We've gone from "Xbox has no games" to "Xbox has too many games" very quickly.

And it doesn’t matter one bit for their hardware. Fate is a cruel ass bitch.

 

[adamsapple]

Why do Xbox fans do this to themselves? Honest question.

Do what?

 

[VanCityGamer]

I don't see either game releasing this year. The slate is already starting to get crowded.

Oblivion remaster will be this year. Gears on the other hand I doubt. Also wouldn’t shock me if Fable got delayed.

 

[mayham2199]

The original trilogy was awesome. After that, the franchise went downhill

I just got tired of the series at that point. They should find a way to reinvent the formula similar to what GOW 2018 did.

 

[DenchDeckard]

If fable launches this year that is one insane year of releases, and for gamepass.

 

[poppabk]

That sucks because Gears needs a GOW 2018 type reboot. Cover based shooters is an archaic gameplay loop. I really hope they are more innovative. Coalition have had 6 years

Is it? Seems to work fine. Hopefully they can bring a bit more too it, like destruction maybe using the ray tracing hit detection tech from Doom.

 

[TheGodfather07]

My stack of Microsoft reward points is gonna pay off this year!

 

[Ozriel]

hmm if only Microsoft had a show where they could talk about these soon-to-release games!

Their annual Showcase is in June, yes.

I just got tired of the series at that point. They should find a way to reinvent the formula similar to what GOW 2018 did.

Easy enough to reinvent a single player game that has no strong multiplayer component with a dedicated fanbase tacked on.

 

[coachmcguirk91]

Is it? Seems to work fine. Hopefully they can bring a bit more too it, like destruction maybe using the ray tracing hit detection tech from Doom.

If you look at sales and engagement of Gears 5, it was quite dissapointing. It scored an 84 on mc. Which is good for most games, but not for tent pole titles, which Gears is supposed to be for Xbox. I'm not sure how big an IP Gears is outside of Xbox players over 30. It's been a while since it's been relevant

 

[Ozriel]

Why do Xbox fans do this to themselves? Honest question.

 

[poppabk]

If you look at sales and engagement of Gears 5, it was quite dissapointing. It scored an 84 on mc. Which is good for most games, but not for tent pole titles, which Gears is supposed to be for Xbox. I'm not sure how big an IP Gears is outside of Xbox players over 30. It's been a while since it's been relevant

I've only ever played 1 and 5. 5 didn't suck because of the cover shooter mechanic it was the boring open world-esque ice wind sail bit that had me drop it. It was just dull.

 

[mayham2199]

Easy enough to reinvent a single player game that has no strong multiplayer component with a dedicated fanbase tacked on.

I actually don't think it's easy to reinvent any series. You have to balance delivering a great game in general but also not upsetting fans of the past. I actually thought the RTS was a good idea it's just RTS games are very niche these days.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

And it doesn’t matter one bit for their hardware. Fate is a cruel ass bitch.

Doom: Dark Ages - third party title, would have been multiplat anyways all the other Doom games were
Ninja Gaiden 4 - third party, multiplat, may or may not have been made depending on whether there were competing publishers, but kudos to MS for publishing it at least
Avowed - unknown, I'm personally not excited for it

Would this be considered a turnaround year for them? Ehh...it's probably on par with their 2024 which had Indy (swap Indy and Doom).

Still lacking genuine Xbox Games Studios titles from their home grown efforts. I am not confident Gears or Fable is 2025. Perfect Dark will now be in development for nearly 8 years at this point. We got some tangible footage last year, but this has 2026 at the earliest written all over it. Everwild, same story - I don't expect it to maybe even come out at all since it hasn't been discussed one bit.

 

[rofif]

Gears E day trailer made me cry.
That's the only game I am looking forward from microsoft.
Oblivion remake could be great too. Better than skyrim

 

[Chuck Berry]

I VOTED A FOR ADAM

 

[Ozriel]

Doom: Dark Ages - third party title, would have been multiplat anyways all the other Doom games were
Ninja Gaiden 4 - third party, multiplat, may or may not have been made depending on whether there were competing publishers, but kudos to MS for publishing it at least
Avowed - unknown, I'm personally not excited for it

Would this be considered a turnaround year for them? Ehh...it's probably on par with their 2024 which had Indy (swap Indy and Doom).

Still lacking genuine Xbox Games Studios titles from their home grown efforts. I am not confident Gears or Fable is 2025. Perfect Dark will now be in development for nearly 8 years at this point. We got some tangible footage last year, but this has 2026 at the earliest written all over it. Everwild, same story - I don't expect it to maybe even come out at all since it hasn't been discussed one bit.

We already know NG4 wouldn’t have been made without MS, it’s irrelevant if you’re excited about Avowed and there’s no sense in making a distinction about ‘home grown’. First party is first party. Last official word for Fable is 2025, and you’re unable to cite a single reason for your belief in a delay.

They promised to hit a cadence of a first party title every quarter, and it looks like they’re set to exceed that significantly this year. Somehow, that grieves you.

 

[Kacho]

Doom: Dark Ages - third party title, would have been multiplat anyways all the other Doom games were
Ninja Gaiden 4 - third party, multiplat, may or may not have been made depending on whether there were competing publishers, but kudos to MS for publishing it at least
Avowed - unknown, I'm personally not excited for it

Would this be considered a turnaround year for them? Ehh...it's probably on par with their 2024 which had Indy (swap Indy and Doom).

Still lacking genuine Xbox Games Studios titles from their home grown efforts. I am not confident Gears or Fable is 2025. Perfect Dark will now be in development for nearly 8 years at this point. We got some tangible footage last year, but this has 2026 at the earliest written all over it. Everwild, same story - I don't expect it to maybe even come out at all since it hasn't been discussed one bit.

If Fable, Gears and the Oblivion remake dropped in addition to what you listed, 2025 would absolutely be a turnaround year.

 

[coachmcguirk91]

I've only ever played 1 and 5. 5 didn't suck because of the cover shooter mechanic it was the boring open world-esque ice wind sail bit that had me drop it. It was just dull.

I think the cover based shooter is pretty much dead. Shooting an enemy, get hit by enemy, wait to heal behind cover, and then repeat is terrible, imo. I feel the same way about the Uncharted games. Space Marine 2 didn't need it and it sold incredibly well

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

If Fable, Gears and the Oblivion remake dropped in addition to what you listed, 2025 would absolutely be a turnaround year.

For sure, it would be a solid year for them. Their best since the Xbox 360 era, assuming the quality of those games is there. I personally don't care about an Oblivion remake (I hate Todd Howard with every ounce of energy), but Fable and Gears look good. Although it's funny how much hate other apparently "ugly female" games get when Fable has about the ugliest I've ever seen, intentionally so.

But I don't think Fable or Gears are going to land in 2025. I could be wrong, but MS games usually have a much longer runway and we can generally tell when they are going to release. We had far more substantial gameplay info on Indy a year ago than we do for Fable or Gears.

 

[Golgo 13]

Are we finally going to get a good gears of wars for once?

Likely not. The fact that they're bringing back some of the original cast gives me a bit of hope, though.

 

[Kacho]

Although it's funny how much hate other apparently "ugly female" games get when Fable has about the ugliest I've ever seen, intentionally so.

Don’t even start with the Intergalactic persecution complex. Fable has been raked over the coals for the butt-ugly female protagonist. The game looks like absolute Netflix-tier woke trash.

Reminds me… is Bodycount still at it on Twitter? Dude was going viral trashing Fable.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

Fable has been raked over the coals for the butt-ugly female protagonist. The game looks like absolute Netflix-tier woke trash.

Fable?

I don't get the hate. it's intentionally british and cheeky. Graphically it looks pretty outstanding to me, and I don't doubt Playground games will deliver in spite of that.

I don't see how you can say that Fable is part of their "great 2025" and then call it woke trash in the next sentence....like, what?

 

[Kacho]

Fable?

I don't get the hate. it's intentionally british and cheeky. Graphically it looks pretty outstanding to me, and I don't doubt Playground games will deliver in spite of that.

I don't see how you can say that Fable is part of their "great 2025" and then call it woke trash in the next sentence....like, what?

I don’t have to like the game for it to count. Notice how I didn’t bring up Love Letter to the South? That game will be totally irrelevant.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

I don’t have to like the game for it to count. Notice how I didn’t bring up Love Letter to the South? That game will be totally irrelevant.

OK - so you think Fable will be quality even if it isn't for you?

The love letter to the south game just looks downright mid, and the other elements don't help it's case. It'll get Hellbladed quickly into irrelevance.

 

[Banjo64]

Are we finally going to get a good gears of wars for once?

It’ll be a safe imitation of Epic’s trilogy. An 8/10 that won’t maintain any significant player base. Hopefully they get some based writers for the campaign.