Tokyo Game Show 2025 will feature a major Xbox broadcast this September

The 2025 edition of Tokyo Game Show is almost here, and Xbox has confirmed it will once again take part with a dedicated broadcast. Scheduled for September 25, the presentation kicks off at 3 p.m. PT, 6 a.m. ET, 12 p.m. CET, and 7 p.m. JST.

It will be streamed in a dozen languages, including English, Japanese, French, and German, with a full recap posted afterward on Xbox Wire. For years, Tokyo Game Show has been dominated by Japanese publishers such as Capcom, Bandai Namco, and Square Enix, while Xbox has often struggled to find its place.

But things have been shifting recently. Microsoft has been building a more consistent presence at the event, and this year it is returning with another showcase that fans will want to keep an eye on. In fact, executive producer Todd Kaumans has already teased the showcase as something fans “do not want to miss.”

What can players expect this year?

Microsoft has already confirmed that Ninja Gaiden 4 will be playable on the show floor, making it almost certain the game will feature during the broadcast as well. The new entry in the long-running action series is being co-developed by Koei Tecmo’s Team Ninja and PlatinumGames, with Xbox Game Studios serving as publisher. That alone gives Xbox something big to showcase, but speculation suggests there could be even more in store.

Fans have been buzzing about the possibility that Forza Horizon 6 could finally be revealed at TGS, especially since many believe its setting is Japan. Xbox boss Phil Spencer recently confirmed that the next Forza game is planned for 2026, which makes this year’s showcase a prime opportunity for a first look.

Bethesda, which is part of Xbox Game Studios, will also have a big presence at TGS through a co-hosted merchandise booth. Visitors will be able to find official gear from Fallout, Starfield, Doom, and even The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. That merchandising push has some players wondering whether Bethesda might slip in updates about its games during the Xbox broadcast as well.

Game Pass Announcements Likely

As with previous years, Game Pass will almost certainly take center stage. Shadow-drops or surprise additions have become a tradition at Xbox’s TGS broadcast, and it would not be a shock to see a few more games added directly into the subscription service during the event.

Last year at TGS 2024, Microsoft dropped four games straight into Game Pass and announced the arrival of StarCraft Remastered and StarCraft 2 for PC Game Pass later that fall.

But this year, the timing of the event means Xbox's September Wave 2 lineup for Game Pass may feel lighter than usual. In case you're wondering, Xbox usually reveals its Wave 2 Game Pass lineup for September around the third Tuesday of the month, which in 2025 falls on September 16.

Since the date for the Wave 2 Game Pass lineup is close to Xbox's TGS 2025 broadcast, major announcements for Game Pass could be saved for TGS itself. So far, the only confirmed Wave 2 titles are Deep Rock Galactic Survivor on September 17 and the Xbox Series X and S port of Frostpunk 2 on September 18.

Xbox is adding cloud streaming feature to its lower Game Pass tiers

This move signals a shift in strategy, showing that cloud gaming is no longer just an extra perk.

TechloyOluwaseun Bamisile

A Packed Event Beyond Xbox

Of course, Xbox is not the only one in the spotlight. PlayStation will also have a presence at Tokyo Game Show 2025, alongside major publishers like Square Enix, Capcom, Bandai Namco, Koei Tecmo, Konami, EA, and Ubisoft. With so many heavy hitters sharing the stage, fans can expect a packed week of reveals and updates across the board.

For Microsoft, though, this year’s broadcast will be another chance to prove that Xbox can deliver not just in the West, but in Japan too.