2025 is here and there’s a new lineup of games for Xbox Series X|S players. If you haven’t kept up with the biggest upcoming releases or need something new to spice up your library, look no further. From popular sequels to interesting projects, there’s something for everyone. Take a look and see what you should be preparing your console for!
Avowed
Release Date: February 13th 2025
Step into the world of Eora from the Pillars of Eternity franchise where you are an envoy of Aedyr. You are investigating a plague in the Living Lands, a place full of adventure and danger. Every choice you make has consequences and the world has many options waiting for you. Dangerous enemies walk among these lands but you have an adaptable combat system open to you. Mix and match various weapons and spells to triumph over your enemies. Journey with companions and make new discoveries as you get to know each of them.
Fable
Release Date: 2025
Fable is another big RPG coming this year though the release date isn’t certain. Journey into the world of Albion as you come back to a world where your reputation precedes you. It’s been a while since you’ve been on an adventure but there’s a dark threat that you just can’t ignore. What does it mean to be a hero? That’s the overall question you must answer and something you decide based on the choices you make.
South of Midnight
Release Date: 2025
Venture into the American Deep South and view the culture in a new light. Step into the shoes of Hazel, a new Weaver who must use her powers in a Southern Gothic world. Journey through the world as Hazel tries to rescue her mother and protect her hometown while learning more about her family identity. Face mythical creatures prominent in American Deep South culture and reweave the Great Tapestry before it’s too late.
The Outer Worlds 2
Release Date: 2025
Return to the colonies years after the first game as you attempt to stop a factional war in Arcadia. You are an Earth Directorate agent trying to save humanity from a threat that could erase everything they worked for. Customise your character and specialise in different abilities depending on your preferences. Find a group of trustworthy companions and band together to stop the threat while learning more about them. Don’t forget that your choices matter and you will see the consequences for yourself.
Doom: The Dark Ages
Release Date: TBA
Step back into the shoes of the DOOM Slayer as you take on the prequel exploring DOOM Slayer’s origins. Before Earth’s invasion and Mars’s chaos, DOOM Slayer was holding back demonic forces elsewhere. Equip a variety of weapons, locate powerups, and fight hordes of enemies as you learn how the DOOM Slayer ended up on Mars. Even though this is a prequel, you still have access to the DOOM Slayer’s powerful arsenal. The demons themselves are also no less threatening than they were in the previous games.
EDENS ZERO
Release Date: 2025
From the creator of Rave Master and Fairy Tail, travel across the universe of EDENS ZERO. Play as iconic characters like Shiki Granbell while you travel from planet to planet, following the storyline of the manga/anime. Fight powerful enemies, travel to new planets, and discover amazing locations as you play. It’s similar to the Fairy Tail games though it doesn’t follow a specific story arc in particular. It helps to be familiar with the manga or anime series before picking this game up.
Gears of War: E-Day
Release Date: TBA
Gears of War: E-Day is a prequel to the series, following Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago at the start of the Locust invasion. As Emergence Day arrives and the Locust emerge from the ground, both soldiers must respond to the new threat. The prequel takes place in Kalona, a new location for players to explore and fight in. There’s no solid release date for Gears of War: E-Day and it might not come out in 2025. However, Checkpoint Gaming editor Luke is confident that this game will drop sometime this year.
Other Xbox News to keep an eye on
It doesn’t seem like there will be a new Xbox console coming out though there will likely be special edition controllers for games. Several games with unconfirmed release dates may be released in 2025 though that isn’t confirmed. The next Call of Duty game will obviously drop in 2025 but there’s no confirmation on what it will be about other than being a Call of Duty game.
Perfect Dark, State of Decay 3 and Forza Horizon 6 are also games that look like they could come out in 2025. However, none of them have solid release dates and it’s purely speculation at this point. An Xbox Developer_Direct Showcase takes place on January 23 and could give us more insight into these games, as well as other releases. Right now, South of Midnight, DOOM: The Dark Ages, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 are the only games listed, but the showcase will cover much more.
Xbox has a lot to prove in 2025, and with some epic RPGs as part of their line-up, it could prove to be a stellar year, with room for some surprises.
About the Author
Victor Tan
He/Him
Victor spends his time trying to help players out of tricky situations and give them the guidance they need to succeed. Outside of the video game world, you can find him training at the gym or doing simple improv activities.
