Soapbox: 'Xbox Developer Direct' Needs To Return In Early 2024

TGA is good, but Dev Direct is better

by Ben Kerry Mon 27th Nov 2023

Soapbox: 'Xbox Developer Direct' Needs To Return In Early 2024

The Game Awards 2023 is right around the corner at this point, with Geoff Keighley's big show landing on December 7th this year. While I enjoy what TGA brings to the table most years, it is a bit bloated these days, and its impending arrival is making me yearn for another Xbox Developer Direct event ASAP.

Like, sure, we'll probably get Xbox reveals in some fashion at TGA, even if they're third-party games, but January's Developer Direct was such a breath of fresh air as an Xbox fan. We've all been asking for a solely Xbox-focused event for years now, and it was great to see some of the Xbox teams communicate directly with us at the January event.

As we'll soon be ringing in 2024, I'd love for Microsoft to come out and announce another dev direct in the coming weeks. This year's livestream was sprung upon us somewhat, so I'm still holding out hope that another one is already in the works. The question is, what games should be shown off at the for-now hypothetical 2024 event?

We've got the likes of Hellblade 2 and Avowed that seem the furthest along within Xbox Games Studios, but projects like State of Decay 3 and Fable should be getting proper gameplay reveals soon as well. That's not to mention Bethesda and even Activision Blizzard - there's so much to highlight that another first-party Xbox event seems inevitable at some stage.

I quite like that January slot as well. Things start to calm down after the holiday releases / The Game Awards storm, and for Xbox to come out this year and just shadow drop Hi-Fi RUSH was such a big statement. More surprises like that please - it made for an amazing start to the year as an Xbox fan!

The format was pretty good too I thought. Yeah, we only got to see a few games in action but it was nice to harken back to the old E3 days where longer stage demos were the norm, and we actually got to see proper chunks of pre-release games in action. Whatever the lineup may be, I want to see real extended gameplay like we did this year - and none of that sizzle reel trailer nonsense!

Anyway, while The Game Awards is always an exciting time for new reveals, Xbox has so many games already revealed that I just want to see some of them in action. I reckon Developer Direct is a great way to show them off, and I sincerely hope the event makes its grand return this coming January.

What do you think? Do you hope that Xbox Developer Direct becomes a yearly tradition? Drop your thoughts down below.

Ben is a News Writer at Pure Xbox, and is a fan of action, racing and straight-up shootin' in any Xbox game he can get his hands on. When he's not clutching an Xbox controller like his life depends on it, Ben spends his time listening to music that's far too old for him, watching football on the telly and probably eating somewhere.

1
Techno92LFC
Mon 27th Nov 2023

I would also love for Xbox to do another Developer Direct. Actually can’t believe that was back in January. Be nice for them to do one every year.

2
BacklogBrad
Mon 27th Nov 2023

They will probably have one and it will probably have the same focus as the last one where a small number of soon to be released games get their deep dive. If I had to guess I would say avowed, hellblade, flight sim 2024, and one or two others are the focus.

Not expecting another shadow drop like hi fi rush.

3
InterceptorAlpha
Mon 27th Nov 2023

Seems like everyone by Micorosft does it with regularly. Nintendo Direct, State of the Play, Microsoft really needs to get on board and do this regularly as well.

4
NintendoByNature
Mon 27th Nov 2023

I saw the headline and thought one got announced 🤣

5
AlwaysPlaying
Mon 27th Nov 2023

It would be nice to see another event as all the drama with ABK really did nothing but potentially distract focus away from a really great 2023… so 2024 needs a boom of excitement of a DD show!
Edit scratch out potentially and add incredibly

6
HonestHick
Mon 27th Nov 2023

Yeah i agree this needs to happen. It’s a great roadmap to get excited for and see some gameplay. I wish we would get to see some Fable, but i think that might take a little longer before the next reveal. Avowed and HellBlade 2 would be a strong showing. On a side note i am hugely awaiting the official announcement of the new controller with haptic feedback. The leak showed May 2024, i am hoping it get’s bumped up a month and hit’s in April. This will be a nice addition to the 2024 games. I have a PS5 and like that function of the controller.

7
BAMozzy
Mon 27th Nov 2023

I wouldn't be surprised if we do get another Developer Direct this coming year to highlight the games coming in the next 6 months or so before the 'E3' time that kicks off the run to the Holiday season...

The last one went down really well and MS has not really given us any release dates yet for 2024. Therefore it makes sense that 'maybe' they'll use the Game Awards for any 'new' trailers/reveals etc, but then give us a Dev Direct show to let the Devs themselves to tell you about their game.

Whether we get a 'stealth' drop like Hifi Rush, I don't know (or think so - other than maybe an ABK drop? Diablo 4 maybe...) but I'm sure they'll do 'something' to kickstart the year and let people know what they've got in store for the first half of 2024...

8
OldGamer999
Mon 27th Nov 2023

Yes they have something good going there and need to repeat.
It was very well done without any fluff.

9
abe_hikura
Mon 27th Nov 2023

I want some transparency on what's coming and roughly when, I don't even need dates or quarters just a general "x game, y game, and Z game are next"

10
themightyant
Tue 28th Nov 2023

The one at the start of the year was almost perfect. They set expectations and then smashed them, not least with a surprise reveal of Hi-Fi Rush. Need more like this!