Microsoft will kick off 2026 with an Xbox Developer_Direct, showcasing key games for the first half of the year. The company traditionally demonstrates gameplay and gives developers the floor.
Xbox Dev Direct will take place in January, with Playground Games confirming participation. Although Microsoft is not disclosing details, Fable and Forza Horizon 6 are likely to be shown, or at least one of the studio's projects. Leaks have previously surfaced about the imminent release of Forza Horizon 6 - the game is expected to be released in early 2026.
Matt Booty, head of Xbox Game Studios, noted:
Playground Games will be participating in Dev Direct, but next year we'll have more new things than we can fit into one January Dev Direct show, and that's a good thing.
Phil Spencer previously announced that 2026 will bring Gears of War: E-Day and Halo: Campaign Evolved, with the latter also coming to PlayStation. The year will be an anniversary year: Xbox - 25 years, Bethesda - 40, Blizzard - 35, and the Diablo series - 30 years. Microsoft is preparing new projects and collections.
