Summary
Xboxhas confirmed that it has no plans to shadow drop any of the games set to be shown off at its upcoming Developer Direct. Having recently confirmed its second Developer Direct for January 18,Xboxis prepared to showcase new trailers and info for several of its most anticipated titles, like Oxide Games’Ara: History Untold, Obsidian Entertainment’sAvowed, Ninja Theory’sSenua’s Saga: Hellblade 2, and even MachineGames’Indiana Jones.
After several years of trying different formats, Xbox finally nailed it a year ago when it debuted its first ever Developer Direct. The purpose of the Direct was to inform Xbox fans of some of the major first-party titles that were ready to launch throughout 2023, giving some of the developers behind the games the spotlight as they share the info. Xbox games likeForza Motorsport, Redfall,andMinecraft Legendsall received deeper looks and new info regarding their release dates, but theshadow drop of Tango Gameworks' never before seenHi-Fi Rushis what made Xbox’s first Developer Direct a smash hit. The game’s colorful art style, rhythm-based action combat, and enticing musical world helpedHi-Fi Rushbecome a critical darling and the first of 2023’s many Game of the Year-caliber experiences.
This year, with Xbox’s second Developer Direct right around the corner, fans expecting asimilar shadow drop splash a laHi-Fi Rushmay be disappointed. Xbox confirmed that all four of the games set to be shown during the event will launch later, essentially indicating that there are no plans for a first-party shadow release this year. With that said, there’s still a chance that a new unknown Xbox game could be revealed for the first time at the Direct, though fans would do well to keep their expectations in check.
While this confirmation from Xbox may be disappointing for many fans who enjoyedHi-Fi Rush’s surprise release a year ago, this year’s Direct is still likely to be a great show with deeper looks and, hopefully, release dates for some of Xbox’s most promising first party games. It would be hard to imaginemajor titles such asSenua’s Saga: Hellblade 2orIndiana Jonesbeing shadow dropped anyway, as the practice is usually reserved for smaller projects. That said, there’s a very good chance that all four games confirmed for the Direct are planning to release in 2024 if last year’s show is any indication.
Xbox’s Developer Direct is set to go live on January 18, and will likely lay out Xbox’s calendar of first-party game releases for 2024. However, it’s not the only event Xbox has going on, as it’s sandwiched between aDiablo 4Developer Update Livestreamhappening earlier and will be followed by ZeniMax Online Studios’The Elder Scrolls OnlineGlobal Reveal 2024 event.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2
WHERE TO PLAY
The sequel to the award winning Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, Senua returns in a brutal journey of survival through the myth and torment of Viking Iceland. Intent on saving those who have fallen victim to the horrors of tyranny, Senua faces a battle of overcoming the darkness within and without.A crafted experience of cinematic immersion:Sink deep into Senua’s world and story, with beautifully realized visuals and encapsulating sound.Senua’s unique perspective:Experience the world through Senua’s eyes and ears, as a Celtic warrior who experiences psychosis.A journey into Viking Iceland:An epic journey across 10th century Iceland, recreated from real locations in stunning detail.Every fight tells a story:Brutal and visceral combat as Senua battles for survival.
