Xbox Developer Direct 2026 Showcase Gets Official Date

Microsoft has confirmed the Xbox Developer Direct 2026 date, setting the Xbox Developer Direct official date for Jan. 22. The Xbox Developer Direct Showcase will stream at 10 am PT, 1 pm ET, and 6 pm GMT, with three confirmed titles leading the broadcast: Fable, Forza Horizon 6, and Beast of Reincarnation.

Microsoft said the event will be “presented by the game creators themselves,” offering an inside look at both the games and the studios behind them. 

The broadcast marks the fourth Developer Direct and serves as the first major Microsoft Xbox showcase of the year, aligning with Xbox’s 25th anniversary and setting early expectations for Xbox’s upcoming games in 2026.

What Games Will Be Shown at Xbox Developer Direct 2026?

Two entries on the Xbox Developer Direct games list come from Playground Games. The studio will share a first extended gameplay look at Fable, returning the franchise to Albion, and debut gameplay for Forza Horizon 6, which takes the open-world racing series to Japan. 

Both titles are slated for release in 2026, placing them at the center of the Xbox Developer Direct 2026 announcements.

The showcase will also feature Beast of Reincarnation, a third-party Xbox Game Pass title developed by Game Freak. 

Set in post-apocalyptic Japan, the action RPG follows protagonist Emma and her canine companion, Koo, and will receive its first in-depth gameplay presentation since being revealed at last year’s Xbox Games Showcase.

Microsoft confirmed the January Xbox Developer Direct will focus on gameplay and development insight, positioning the event as an early roadmap for Xbox’s 2026 release slate.