Following multiple reports that Xbox Developer Direct showcase 2024 date is imminent, Team Green has finally officially dished out the deets on when fans will have the chance to check out some of the Xbox Series X|S games that will define the year ahead – for better or for worse. The really good news is that we won’t have to wait long. According to a fresh blog post, the 2024 Xbox Developer Direct will take place on Thursday, January 18 at 12:00 PT / 15:00 ET / 20:00 GMT.
Just in case you’re wondering what you can look forward to, the headline act (in our view, anyways) is MachineGames’ upcoming Indiana Jones title – yes, we’re finally going to hear more about this intriguing project. Alongside Indy, we’ll also get fresh looks at some other confirmed Xbox exclusives – Avowed, Ara: History Untold, and the highly-anticipated Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 will all be featured.
It’s certainly been a hot minute since we’ve heard anything from MachineGames about Indiana Jones – not since its official unveiling in 2021. The studio promises “more than 10 minutes of game and developer insights, including details about the game’s setting and story, how fans will actually play as Indy, additional details from his next globe-trotting adventure, and the premiere of the first gameplay trailer.” That’s right, we’re getting all the bells and whistles and we can’t wait.
While we know much more about the other new Xbox games getting screen time in the Direct, that’s not to say we aren’t licking our chops at the prospect of Avowed’s gameplay deep dive, fresh Ara footage, and major insights from the Ninja Theory team into the “ambition and meticulous care involved in creating Senua’s journey of survival.” We’ve been clawing for more Xbox exclusives since the arrival of the Series X|S, so now’s the perfect time for Xbox to show us what it’s got.
Last year’s Xbox & Bethesda Developer Direct showcase proved a treat for players, with the studios showing off extended gameplay and juicy info on some of the year’s best games including Forza Motorsport – racing game of the year at The Game Awards 2023 – and Hi-Fi Rush – “surprise of the year” at The Loadout Awards 2023. Hopefully, this year’s showcase will be devoid of disappointments like Redfall – another game that received an in-depth look during 2023’s showcase.
Following the main showcase, ZeniMax Online Studios will show off what it’s got in store for The Elder Scrolls Online, promising “2024’s biggest update”. Perhaps more notably, we won’t be hearing from Activision Blizzard’s upcoming projects this time around – news on those will arrive “later this year.”
As studios are looking to start 2024 off with a bang, we can’t think of a better way to get players hyped for the year ahead than a big ol’ showcase. It paid dividends for Xbox last year, so hopefully we’ll also get to see many of these titles join the ranks of the best Xbox games this time around.