Everything Announced at the Xbox Developer Direct January 2026, New Gameplay and Release Dates
It’s time for Xbox’s first Developer Direct of 2026, and it’s promising to be a big one. We got a deeper look into some awesome upcoming games, including Fable, Forza Horizon 6 and Game Freak's mysterious Beast of Reincarnation, as well as a lot of surprise details and information.
2026 is shaping up to be a huge year for Xbox, for better or worse. With its parent company, Microsoft pushing harder for AI and rising prices of Xbox Game Pass, it’s fair to say there's a job to do in getting fans back on board.
Can the Developer Direct be a first step towards repairing that relationship? Let's find out!
This is a developing story, and we'll be updating as the night goes on!
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Forza Horizon 6 Comes to PlayStation
We got our first look at Forza Horizon 6, coming to Japan and soon to be PS5! That's a surprise. We had some beautiful cinematics to kick us off, and the cars look as good as ever.
Horizon Rush events are a new game mode, which lets you work your way up the authentic Japanese car culture in Japan, all the way to Legend Island, as a tourist. I'm somewhat disappointed you're not a local, but incredible care has been put into making the country's car scene as accurate as possible. Big shout out to Yokohama in the trailer, I'm hyped.
The team confirmed that Horizon 6 will have the largest map in series history, as well as customisable... Everything, almost. Garages, car meets, even your own estate.
The deep dive ended with a mysterious tease of Gundam in Forza Horizon 6. I'm so here for it.
Forza Horizon 6 launches 19 May on Xbox and PC, with a later release date coming for PlayStation.
First Gameplay Look of Beast of Reincarnation
And yes, it looks like Beast of Reincarnation runs a bit better than OTHER Game Freak games.
It's been six years in the making, and this action RPG is set in post-apocalyptic Japan. It releases this Summer on PS5, PC and Xbox in Summer. No Switch, but who can be shocked at that.
It's also a Day one Xbox Game Pass title! Huge news for fans of freebies, I'll definitely be checking it out.
We got a first look at Emma, our protagonist, who has fun vine hair you can use to swing around. You've got real-time and turn based combat, that definitely has me interested. Check back for gameplay soon!
Psychonauts Devs Reveal 'Kiln', a Online Multiplayer Pottery Party Brawler
Our first surprise reveal of the night! It's giving Gang Beasts, of course published by Double Fine. This game looks like the definition of "sure why the heck not', and I love Double Fine for that.
You play as a... Pot? Of course. It's the product of their 'anyone can pitch a game' ethos called Amnesia Fortnight - an internal two week game jam - which I really admire. It's been a decade in the making, here's the blurb:
"Kiln is a multiplayer, team-based brawler with a focus on creating unique player sculpted characters. It's packed with customisation options, where you sculpt your playable pot as you progress. In Kiln you play as a Mountain Spirit, supernatural beings forever at war on the summit. You’ll use an ancient pottery wheel to create warrior golems called Vessels, inhabiting them and enabling you to interact with the physical realm to do battle. Created during the match, extremely diverse character shapes and sizes are possible each exhibiting unique attributes and controls that leverage the possibilities in procedural animation."
It's coming to Xbox, (obviously), PlayStation and PC in Spring 2026, with a closed beta coming soon!
First Look at Fable Gameplay, Release Window is Fall 2026
Rounding out the show was Fable, giving us a look at Albion for the first time. It looks gorgeous. Classic Fable, you start as a kid, growing up in a huge city, full of contrasts. Rich and poor, old and young, peasants and royalty. It's the first 'true' open world in Fable history, which you, as the first hero of Albion in a generation, can explore without limits as soon as you boot up the game. New enemies, including a ferocious fire-breathing chicken, but with all the unique tools in your inventory, how you take them down is up to you.
If you just want to check out Fable gameplay, click here!
What an event for Xbox. I'm genuinely really surprised and delighted by Kiln, it'll be a house party classic for sure. Something different than Jackbox, for once. I'm our team's resident Japan expert, and even checked out a few car spots while in Yokohama last year, so very excited to live my dreams in Forza Horizon. Fable and Beast of Reincarnation have me hyped too.
Topics: Xbox, Xbox Game Pass