Xbox to kick off its 25th anniversary year with a Developer_Direct stream focusing on three upcoming games, including the Fable reboot.

2026 is expected to be a big year for the Xbox brand thanks to a pretty sizable slate of titles it's publishing for Xbox Series X|S, PC, PS5, and, potentially, Nintendo Switch 2. It's also the brand's 25th anniversary, which makes it extra special knowing that several classic Xbox franchises will launch this year. Halo: Campaign Evolved and Gears of War: E-Day are both expected to launch this year, but they won't be the focus of this month's Developer_Direct.

Instead, this showcase will focus on two upcoming projects from Playground Games, and Game Freak's first new IP in more than a decade. The showcase will be streamed on January 22 at 10am PT / 1pm ET.

Fable on the Horizon

To say Playground Games will dominate the Developer_Direct is an understatement. The UK-based developer will showcase not one, but two games on January 22. The first of these titles is the highly anticipated reboot of Fable, which the studio has confirmed will launch this year. During the stream, players will be re-welcomed to the fairytale land of Albion where we'll get our first look at the magic and mischief the developers have in store for us. Expect to see choices, consequences, drama, action, and a trove of British humor. While the game is currently only announced for Xbox Series X|S and PC, we do expect the game to be announced for PS5 too.

The other game Playground Games is showing off is Forza Horizon 6. The much-beloved open world racer returns in 2026 and is taking players to the beautiful landscapes of Japan. The studio will show off the first look at gameplay, including new features. The game is currently announced for Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PS5. However, the PS5 version will launch a little bit after those versions.

We're Not in Kanto Anymore

The final title in the showcase is Game Freak's brand new IP, Beast of Reincarnation. The action-RPG marks the Pokemon creator's first new AAA IP in decades and, notably, is currently not planned to release on Nintendo Switch 2. Game Freak will use this showcase to reveal new details about the protagonist, Emma, and her ability to manipulate plants. It'll also serve to highlight the gameplay around her dog companion, Koo.

Beast of Incarnation is set in a post-apocalyptic Japan and, like the other titles, is scheduled to release sometime this year. The game is currently in development for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Anything Else?

While Xbox has only confirmed the presence of these three games at the Developer_Direct, rumors are heating up about a potential secret fourth game. VGC is reporting that the fourth game is a 'promising indie title' being published by a third-party publisher. Window Central's Jez Corden also suggests that a fourth game will be shown at the Direct, but his hint doesn't suggest an indie title coming from a third-party publisher. We'll just have to wait till January 22 to see what Xbox has in store for us.

The showcase will be streamed on January 22 at 10am PT / 1pm ET.

Xbox's Developer_Direct is the first announced major stream of 2026 from the major console manufacturers, but likely won't be the last. Both PlayStation (State of Play) and Nintendo (Nintendo Direct) typically hold their own streams early in the year to showcase titles launching in the coming months. Expect to hear announcements from both in the coming weeks.