PSA: No shadow drop game at Xbox Developer Direct, or is there?

It is official: no shadow drop game will be unveiled during the Xbox Developer Direct 2024. Or at least that appears to be the case. Let’s talk about this news.

Xbox Developer Direct: Is there really no shadow drop game?

Thanks to the now infamous Xbox Wire piece called, “How to Watch the Xbox Developer_Direct 2024 on Thursday, January 18,” the internet is going wild. Author Joe Skrebels — Xbox Wire editor-in-chief — responds to a question by stating:

All the games in this year’s Developer_Direct will be arriving later, with more details to be shared in the program.

Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief

Many sites have been reporting that this is basically confirming Microsoft will not shadow-drop any game during the Xbox Developer Direct, just like they did with Hi-Fi Rush last year. Now, I don’t know about you guys, but if I were about to shadow-drop a game, the last thing I would say is that I am dropping the game. That’s the whole idea of a shadow drop, right?

Well, while I might not be very knowledgeable about future-telling and I recently lost my crystal ball after witnessing the Eye of Sauron and almost going mad, I do know that saying no before a huge event is not final. After all, let’s remember Andrew Garfield and all the Spider-Man mumbo-jumbo leading to his inclusion in the MCU.

I mean, the whole conversation regarding this Xbox Developer Direct — other than the unveiling of games such as Avowed, Hellblade II, or even the new Indiana Jones gaming venture — is the extreme anticipation and expectation that Xbox will shadow-drop another game. Why would you waste such an opportunity and not release something?

I know I’m sounding ridiculous and completely ignorant of game development. I’m aware of how much time, resources, and people game studios need to transform an idea into an interactive experience. However, have you stopped to think about the sheer volume, size, and power that Microsoft has thanks to all the studios that are under its belt?

Related: Xbox and Bethesda ‘Developer Direct’ showcase confirmed for January, Starfield event is later

To sum up, I am skeptical of Xbox not releasing a shadow-drop game this year. But I guess we will have to wait for the Direct to take place. Then we can laugh at each other or lose our entire credibility. And by “we,” I mean “me.”

If you love shadow-dropped games, be sure to check out our Hi-Fi Rush review.