Microsoft has announced that it will be holding an Xbox Developer Direct in January 2026, a similar timeframe to which they held a developer direct last year. This announcement comes shortly after Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty teased that the annual event would return this year. The event is set to be held next week on January 22 at 10 am PT / 1 Pm ET and will be viewable on Microsoft’s official YouTube channel.
The biggest news about this event, which Booty had confirmed last month, is the inclusion of developer Playground Games at the event. The studio has been developing a reboot of the beloved Xbox RPG Fable, originally from Lionhead Studios, which is planned to be released this year, but has had little showcased of it up to this point, with some reports suggesting that Playground Games, not familiar with developing RPGs, has had some struggles developing the new title. We know now that it will be showcased in some capacity here, though Developer directs can range in how much gameplay they show.
Playground Games will also be showcasing the next entry in the Forza Horizon series, Forza Horizon 6, which they are best known for. This newest entry received a teaser trailer during Xbox’s showcase at the Tokyo Games Show, revealing that the titular festival is headed to Japan in the next entry. While not much has been confirmed about the game, we do know it will feature the return of seasons from the 4th entry, which is to be expected of a game set in Japan, with both Assassin’s Creed: Shadows and Ghost of Tsushima making use of the temperamental seasons of the island nation as part of the core mechanics. Both games are set for a 2026 release, but have yet to be given a timeframe.
Also set to be shown during the Developer Direct is Beast of Reincarnation, a Monster Hunter-like RPG game being developed by the team behind Pokémon, Game Freak, in a rare break from their highly successful series. It was first showcased last year during Xbox’s June Game Showcase, during the period that used to be E3. There are no other titles confirmed beyond these, with Microsoft having a few to choose from, with Gears of War: E-Day, the prequel to the popular third-person shooter series, or the Halo: Combat Evolved remake being obvious choices given the timing. Personally, I would like to see more of Clockwork Revolution, another RPG title set for a 2026 release with no specific window.
The Developer Direct events are also known for having at least one announcement that is new, or at least unexpected, with last year’s Ninja Gaiden 4 being announced during a Developer Direct, introducing the first new entry in the series since 2012. Rumors have suggested that a new Life is Strange game is close to announcement as well, with the previous entry, Double Exposure, also being announced during an Xbox event.
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