Xbox's Fourth Annual Developer Direct Event: A Look at What's to Come in 2026
On January 22, Xbox will host its fourth installment of the now-traditional Developer Direct showcase. Fans can catch the live event starting at 1 PM ET on YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, and Steam, with simultaneous broadcasts available across regional channels and exclusive streaming partner Bilibili.
For gamers eager to stay up-to-date on Microsoft's latest projects, this year's event promises to be exciting. With three titles set to be showcased – Fable, Forza Horizon 6 from Playground Games, and Beast of Reincarnation from Game Freak – attendees can expect developer interviews, gameplay footage, and possibly even a release date announcement.
Fables are long overdue for a modern revival, with Microsoft's upcoming title expected to bring the classic RPG series into the 21st century. Meanwhile, Forza Horizon 6 will likely showcase more of Playground Games' signature racing and open-world gameplay, setting the stage for another electrifying installment in the beloved franchise.
Beast of Reincarnation from Game Freak is perhaps an unexpected entry on this list – best known for its work on Pokémon games, this title has generated significant curiosity among fans. Whether or not it will live up to expectations remains to be seen, but Xbox's commitment to showcasing lesser-known titles suggests that the event may hold some pleasant surprises.
Given the Developer Direct series' track record of featuring a diverse range of titles, there's reason to believe that at least one more game will be announced alongside these three. With the first event in 2022 kicking off with Hi-Fi Rush – released on the same day as its showcase debut – it seems likely that this year's event will also reveal another surprise hit.
As fans eagerly await their turn to shine, it's clear that Microsoft has something special in store for Xbox enthusiasts at this year's Developer Direct. With a packed schedule of games and developers ready to share more about the latest happenings within the world of gaming – tune in on January 22 to find out what's next for your favorite Xbox franchises!
On January 22, Xbox will host its fourth installment of the now-traditional Developer Direct showcase. Fans can catch the live event starting at 1 PM ET on YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, and Steam, with simultaneous broadcasts available across regional channels and exclusive streaming partner Bilibili.
For gamers eager to stay up-to-date on Microsoft's latest projects, this year's event promises to be exciting. With three titles set to be showcased – Fable, Forza Horizon 6 from Playground Games, and Beast of Reincarnation from Game Freak – attendees can expect developer interviews, gameplay footage, and possibly even a release date announcement.
Fables are long overdue for a modern revival, with Microsoft's upcoming title expected to bring the classic RPG series into the 21st century. Meanwhile, Forza Horizon 6 will likely showcase more of Playground Games' signature racing and open-world gameplay, setting the stage for another electrifying installment in the beloved franchise.
Beast of Reincarnation from Game Freak is perhaps an unexpected entry on this list – best known for its work on Pokémon games, this title has generated significant curiosity among fans. Whether or not it will live up to expectations remains to be seen, but Xbox's commitment to showcasing lesser-known titles suggests that the event may hold some pleasant surprises.
Given the Developer Direct series' track record of featuring a diverse range of titles, there's reason to believe that at least one more game will be announced alongside these three. With the first event in 2022 kicking off with Hi-Fi Rush – released on the same day as its showcase debut – it seems likely that this year's event will also reveal another surprise hit.
As fans eagerly await their turn to shine, it's clear that Microsoft has something special in store for Xbox enthusiasts at this year's Developer Direct. With a packed schedule of games and developers ready to share more about the latest happenings within the world of gaming – tune in on January 22 to find out what's next for your favorite Xbox franchises!
! im so hyped for fable and forza horizon 6, those are always so much fun. but beast of reincarnation is a total wild card, hope its gonna be awesome 
. i love how microsoft is trying to show off some lesser-known games too, might just discover something new & amazing 
. fingers crossed we get another surprise hit like hi-fi rush 
!
]
and fables is like totally overdue for a modern revival i mean who doesnt love a good rpg? 
also forza horizon 6 is always going to be fire 
but beast of reincarnation from game freak is like what are they working on here lol its interesting to see them venturing out of pokemon territory 
. but im still waitin for a release date for Forza Horizon 6 
️. and what if they just show gameplay vids again? 
cant we get some actual developer insights or somethin? 
Xbox has been super quiet with new announcements lately, but now we're getting three actual games to look forward to... Fable has been a classic RPG series forever, can't wait to see what they do with it. Forza Horizon 6 is always a treat, I need that racing action in my life! 
And Beast of Reincarnation from Game Freak? That's a wild card, but fingers crossed it turns out awesome! 
. Three games, developer interviews, and possibly even release dates? That sounds like too much excitement to handle all at once 
. I mean, I love Fable and Forza Horizon as much as the next guy, but Beast of Reincarnation from Game Freak is a wild card – it's gotta be a bit of a risk for Microsoft 
. Either way, January 22 can't come soon enough – bring on the Xbox goodness! 
Xbox is all about showing love to the lesser-known titles too, so fingers crossed for some hidden gems in 2026. They really are building up something big here... 
And that Pokémon game... I mean, who expects Game Freak to make an RPG? 
but i'm down to try anything once 
