The next 12 months are shaping up to be some of the best for Microsoft and the Xbox Series X|S systems since they launched in 2020. While there have been some great games over the last four years — Forza Horizon 5 and STALKER 2, just to name a couple — for the latest Microsoft consoles, it’s been a bit hit or miss for the most part of this generation. In 2025, that appears to be changing. So, let’s look at the biggest Xbox games expected to release in 2025.
Whether it’s an Xbox exclusive or an anticipated multiplatform title, there’s no shortage of games coming that will leave you wondering how you are going to find the time (and money) for everything.
RELATED: 8 Biggest PlayStation Games Coming in 2025
Biggest Xbox Exclusives Of 2025
Avowed
Avowed is the upcoming first-person RPG developed by Obsidian Entertainment, set in the high-fantasy world of Eora, the same universe Pillars of Eternity. The game was originally scheduled to release in October 2024, but was pushed to February 18, 2025 by Xbox Game Studios in order to let the game breath more rather than releasing it so close to Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.
The game will feel familiar to fans of Skyrim and other fantasy RPGs, with various abilities and skills to help you experience the world how you like. For those concerned about the game being first-person, fear not. Avowed will have the option to play in third person. It will also be available day one on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
South of Midnight
From the developers of We Happy Few and Contrast, South of Midnight takes players to the deep south of the United States. The game sees you play Hazel who becomes a Weaver after a storm hits her home of Prospero. According to Compulsion Games, a Weaver is a “magical mender of broken bonds and spirits”.
“Imbued with these new abilities, Hazel will confront and subdue dangerous creatures, untangle the webs of her own family’s shared past and -if she’s lucky – find her way to a place that feels like home,” the game’s description reads.
No release date has been announced, but the game is planned to release in 2025.
Fable
Officially announced in 2020, Fable has been in development for nearly a decade. Not only is it the fourth main installment of the series, but it’s also serving as a reboot for the franchise.
Developer Playground Games has released a couple trailers for the game so far, each more promising than the last. The game also features Richard Ayoade as a giant who doesn’t seem too fond of the main character, or heroes in general.
Fable is scheduled for 2025 — rumors have it scheduled for late 2025 — and will be available on day one on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Gears of War: E-Day
A prequel set 14 years before the original game, Gears of War: E-Day centers around young versions of Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago. The game’s story — that we know so far — has players deal with the locust horde during Emergence Day. Not much else is known about the game’s features, but that should be coming over the coming months.
Gears of War: E-Day hasn’t been confirmed for a 2025 release, but the latest rumors are pointing to the possibility. This is one Xbox exclusive, however, that could be come in 2026 instead.
Biggest Xbox Games Of 2025
Grand Theft Auto (GTA) 6
Did you think this would be a list of biggest games and not include GTA 6? The most anticipated game of the year — and likely the last decade or more — GTA 6 is currently planned for a 2025 despite countless rumors of an eventual delay to 2026.
It’s been nearly 12 years since the last game in the series was released, and, based on the reveal trailer alone, GTA 6 could go down as the biggest launch in video game history. The anticipation for the game isn’t just with fans, either. Even those in the industry are making decisions about their releases around what Rockstar decides to do
DOOM: The Dark Ages
First revealed by Insider Gaming, DOOM: The Dark Ages is a prequel to 2016’s DOOM. A single-player game, DOOM: The Dark Ages “tells the epic cinematic origin story of the DOOM Slayer’s rage.” According to developer id Software, the game sees you control DOOM Slayer as he tries to protect a kingdom against the demons from Hell.
Not much else is known about the game at the moment, but that should be coming over the next few months. And for those on PlayStation 5 who were worried about not getting the next DOOM game, it should be noted that the game will launch on PS5 the same day.
The Outer Worlds 2
Another game from Obsidian Entertainment coming in 2025, The Outer Worlds 2 was first announced at E3 2021. At the time, the developers bluntly stated that there was nothing else ready to be shown to players. Three years later, and fans got a new trailer at The Game Awards 2024 along with a confirmed 2025 release window.
The game took “three times longer to make” and will be at least “two times bigger” according to the fun gameplay reveal trailer. Like the first, The Outer Worlds 2 will be a first-person RPG that takes players to the new Arcadia colony where a factional war has broken out that you have to navigate. In addition to launching on Xbox, the game will be available on PS5 and Xbox Game Pass.
Borderlands 4
By the time it launches in 2025, it’ll have been six years since Borderlands 3 was released. While fans have gotten Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands and New Tales from the Borderlands in between, it still felt like something was missing. With Borderlands 4, players will explore a brand new location with four new vault hunters along with a cast of returning characters.
A first look at gameplay was shown at The Game Awards 2024 that should quench the thirst for Borderlands content until Gearbox starts giving more deep dives into the game. One thing to expect is less “toilet humor” this time around, according to one of the game’s developers. Borderlands 4 is set to release in 2025, and Take-Two has already said that it won’t release around GTA 6.
Which game are you most excited to play on Xbox Series X|S in 2025? Let us know below, and join more discussions in the official Insider Gaming forums.
Where’s Contraband? What happened to the wu tang game you guys said gameplay was ready? State of decay 3? I expected those before outer worlds 2. People were even saying a new Killer instinct and Banjo remake were happening where are those?
You left out what I consider one of the best sequels to come out in a very long time. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2. I haven’t been this excited for a game in a really long time.
Xbox has nothing really to be fair same with PS5.
Only they can fumble this hard they own Vicarious Visions now Blizzard NY just give them Banjo and other old IP to remake. Killer Instinct tho forget that they messed up after Double Helix went under after that it was downhill. I’d say hope for Kakuto Chojin instead since the creator is looking to get back on game development he’s also the creator of Tekken and hope for Itagaki coming back to Dead Or Alive that’s more likely those were true Xbox fighting games. A ton of stuff Microsoft could be doing but doesn’t looking back OG Xbox was such a great console and they just ignore that library.
Xbox needs to buy Take2 next
Fable looks like dog water, what even is that character!?
Fable looks like Voncord, Dragonage Veilguard and all the other weirdo new titles coming out. Hard pass on that garbage
The Fable girl is the same thing from Dragon Age Veilguard
The hate on this site is absolutely ridiculous. There’s at least 3 games on this list that got me excited. I didn’t even know Outer Worlds was getting a sequel. Also, Borderlands 4? Yall trying to hate on that?! You gotta be kidding me?