Since 2023, the Xbox Developer Direct has been a showcase of upcoming first-party Xbox video games.
That is the place video games like Hello-Fi Rush and Ninja Gaiden 2 Black made their shadow drop. These occasions, that are primarily the Xbox model of a Nintendo Direct or Sony State of Play, are additionally the place we noticed gameplay reveals and deep dives for Doom: The Darkish Ages, Ninja Gaiden 4, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, amongst others.
9 Upcoming Xbox Video games We Hope Do not Get Cancelled
Here is to hoping that these anticipated Xbox video games survive Microsoft’s current layoffs and cancellations.
After a beefy Developer Direct final 12 months, that includes a complete of 5 video games, we had been questioning what Xbox would have in retailer this 12 months. 2026 is a pivotal 12 months for the Xbox model. Following a tumultuous 2025, which was headlined by layoffs and studio closures, 2026 is the 12 months Xbox goals to carry again main franchises, reminiscent of Gears of Conflict and Fable.
Solely a type of will likely be making an look on the upcoming 2026 Developer Direct, although. Microsoft announced this morning that Fable, Forza Horizon 6, and Beast of Reincarnation will likely be seeing gameplay reveals on January twenty second at 1:00 PM Japanese.
That is the Smallest Xbox Developer Direct to Date
Earlier than this 12 months, each Xbox Developer Direct has featured 5 video games:
- 2023: Minecraft Legends, Forza Motorsport, Hello-Fi Rush, The Elder Scrolls On-line: Necrom, Redfall
- 2024: Avowed, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, Visions of Mana, Ara: Historical past Untold, Indiana Jones and the Nice Circle
- 2025: Ninja Gaiden 4, Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, South of Midnight, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Doom: The Darkish Ages
Every Developer Direct has additionally run for at the least 44 minutes (2023 was 44 minutes, 2024 was 48 minutes and 42 seconds, and 2025 was 52 minutes and 29 seconds). Now, I am certain that you could simply get 45 minutes of footage from these three video games, however it’s a curious choice to go away out some notable deliberate 2026 titles from Xbox Video games Studios.
Along with the three video games talked about, 2026 will see the discharge of Halo: Marketing campaign Developed, Gears of Conflict: E-Day, and World of Warcraft Midnight (Blizzard Leisure, however Microsoft owns them). There are additionally a number of video games with no launch date, notably Clockwork Revolution, State of Decay 3, and the untitled Toys for Bob game.
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The truth that these video games, significantly these with no launch date, is not going to be a part of the upcoming Developer Direct will undoubtedly gasoline hypothesis about their present standing. You’ll be able to excuse the Toys for Bob recreation, because it hasn’t been formally introduced but. As for the opposite two, that is a distinct story.
Clockwork Revolution was introduced in 2023 and noticed a five-minute gameplay trailer ultimately 12 months’s Xbox Video games Showcase. State of Decay 3 was introduced in July 2020, however has been lacking in motion since. We had assumed that perhaps 2026 can be the 12 months we might be taught extra about these video games, probably even getting a launch date for certainly one of them. As of now, nonetheless, that doesn’t appear to be the case.
After all, Microsoft and Group Xbox may have some surprises up their sleeve, as they did final 12 months with the shock announcement of Ninja Gaiden 4 and Ninja Gaiden 2 Black. That was teased beforehand, although. This 12 months, we’ll all discover out collectively what Xbox is prepared to disclose firstly of 2026.
All Xbox Bulletins In The 2025 Tokyo Recreation Present
Ninja Gaiden 4, Sudden Strike 5, Forza Horizon 6, Black Ops 7 in Japan, and extra.
