After Xbox Game Studios boss Matt Booty teased the return of Microsoft’s now-annual Xbox Developer Direct showcase last month, the publisher has now confirmed the details. The 2026 Dev Direct will air live on Thursday, January 22 at 10am PT. You can watch it live here on IGN or on IGN’s YouTube channel.
Booty had already confirmed the presence of accomplished Xbox Game Studios developer Playground Games at the event, and now we know for certain that both its upcoming blockbusters will be shown: Forza Horizon 6 and Fable.
Given that both are expected to release this year and they are two of Xbox’s biggest first-party offerings – and that we’ve yet to see proper gameplay from either one – we’re due a proper look at gameplay. And that, according to Microsoft’s announcement this morning, is exactly what we’ll get.
Also featured in the showcase will be Beast of Reincarnation, the upcoming action RPG from Pokémon developer Game Freak that was announced during the Xbox Showcase event in June last year.
There’s no confirmation of any other games under the Microsoft umbrella being included, such as Gears of War: E-Day, the prequel that’s bringing back Delta Squad to the time period before Emergence Day; or Halo: Campaign Evolved, the Unreal Engine 5-based remake of the original Halo’s campaign. I played it, if you’d like to read or watch my first impressions.
Typically Microsoft does include at least one surprise title, however. Could this be where we get a glimpse at the newly-leaked Life is Strange: Reunion? It’s perhaps worth noting that the franchise’s previous game Life is Strange: Double Exposure was unveiled back during the Xbox Showcase in June 2024.
For more on what stands to be a very busy year for Microsoft, check out my What to Expect From Xbox in 2026 piece, and join us every Thursday for a new episode of Podcast Unlocked.
Ryan McCaffrey is IGN’s executive editor of previews and host of both IGN’s weekly Xbox show, Podcast Unlocked, as well as our monthly(-ish) interview show, IGN Unfiltered. He’s a North Jersey guy, so it’s “Taylor ham,” not “pork roll.” Debate it with him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan.
