Since 2023, Xbox Developer Direct has been a showcase for upcoming first-party Xbox video games.
That is the place video games like Hello-Fi Rush and Ninjagaiden 2 Black have been overshadowed. These occasions are basically the Xbox model of a Nintendo Direct or Sony State of Play, and are additionally the place gameplay reveals and deep dives have taken place for Doom: The Darkish Ages, Ninjagaiden 4, and Claire Obscur: Expedition 33, amongst others.
After final yr’s strong Developer Direct, which featured a complete of 5 video games, we had been questioning what Xbox had in retailer for us this yr. 2026 can be a pivotal yr for the Xbox model. Following a turbulent 2025 that noticed layoffs and studio closures, 2026 is the yr Xbox goals to convey again main collection like Gears of Warfare and Fable.
Nonetheless, solely one in all them will seem within the upcoming 2026 Developer Direct. Microsoft introduced this morning: Fable, Forza Horizon 6, and Beast of Re Incarnation gameplay can be launched on January twenty second at 1pm ET..
That is the smallest Xbox Developer Direct ever
Up to now this yr, Xbox Developer Direct has featured 5 video games:
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2023: Minecraft Legends, Forza Motorsport, Hello-Fi Rush, Elder Scrolls On-line: Necrom, Redfall
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2024: Avowed, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, Visions of Mana, Ara: Historical past Untold, Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle
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2025: Ninjagaiden 4, Ninjagaiden 2 Black, South of Midnight, Claire Obscur: Expedition 33, Doom: The Darkish Ages
Every Developer Direct additionally ran for a minimum of 44 minutes (44 minutes in 2023, 48 minutes 42 seconds in 2024, and 52 minutes 29 seconds in 2025). Now, I suppose we may simply get 45 minutes of footage from these three video games, nevertheless it’s an odd determination to go away out a few of the notable titles Xbox Video games Studios has developing in 2026.
Along with the three aforementioned video games, 2026 will see the discharge of Halo: Marketing campaign Advanced, Gears of Warfare: E-Day, and World of Warcraft Midnight (Blizzard Leisure, however owned by Microsoft). There are additionally a number of video games with out launch dates, most notably Clockwork Revolution, State of Decay 3, and the untitled Toys for Bob recreation.
The truth that these video games, particularly these with out launch dates, is not going to be included within the upcoming Developer Direct is certain to gas hypothesis concerning the present scenario. Please bear with us because the Toys for Bob recreation has not been formally introduced but. The opposite two are one other story.
Clockwork Revolution was introduced in 2023, with a five-minute gameplay trailer launched ultimately yr’s Xbox Video games Showcase. State of Decay 3 was introduced in July 2020, however has been inactive since then. We thought that maybe in 2026 we’d study extra about these video games and even resolve on a launch date for one in all them. However up to now, that does not appear to be the case.
After all, Microsoft and Crew Xbox could have some surprises in retailer, as they did with the shock bulletins of Ninjagaiden 4 and Ninjagaiden 2 Black final yr. Nonetheless, it was teased beforehand. This yr, we’ll discover out collectively what Xbox plans to announce in early 2026.