Xbox Developer Direct 2026: Everything announced

Fable! Forza Horizon 6! Beast of Reincarnation!

The Xbox Developer Direct has returned for 2026! While Microsoft kindly gave us all an early heads up on some of the games appearing - Fable (finally!), Forza Horizon 6 and Beast of Reincarnation. The showcase has given us an excellent look at the gameplay for each game and the new features you can expect to enjoy in returning titles like Forza Horizon 6.

Whether you missed the showcase or simply looking for a refresh, you'll find all of the games featured in the Xbox Developer Direct 2026 down below.

Forza Horizon 6

Forza Horizon 6 raced into the first spot during this Developer Direct! It's the latest installment in this long running race game series. This time you'll take to the beautiful roads of Japan; driving through locations like Tokyo, Hokkaido and Mount Fuji. Just to avoid being too distracted by the lovely scenery! You wouldn't want to lose the race... But don't worry too much, you'll be able to explore Japan outside of the Horizon festival.

Forza Horizon 6 will be an open world racer, so you'll be able to enjoy some freedom and watch as the weather changes to match the season. You'll begin your journey as a tourist in Japan, but quickly find yourself absorbed into the world of racing where you'll have to earn wristbands to progress through the ranks. Eventually you'll unlock Legend Island where you'll find events, new tracks and special areas to evolve. There's also going to be over 550 cars - both new and old - for you to collect at launch!

The trailer below not only gives you a great look at the gameplay in Forza Horizon 6, but it also takes an in-depth look at how the developers recreated Japan. The highlight of their creation looks to be Tokyo - also called the biggest map ever created for a Forza Horizon game. We also got a look at some of the new accessibility features, the multiplayer building tool and the new car meets.

Forza Horizon 6 will be released on 19th May 2026 on Xbox Series X / S. It will be available on Game Pass and Xbox Play Anywhere from Day One. It will be released on PlayStation 5 later this year.

Beast of Reincarnation

When you hear the name 'Game Freak' you wouldn't be amiss of instantly thinking about Pokémon, but don't box them in! Beast of Reincarnation sees the developers try something new (even if it still involves having a beastly companion).

Set in a post-apocalyptic Japan, Beast of Reincarnation follows Emma and her canine friend, Koo. Together they must traverse the dangerous landscape overcome with the Blight - parasitic plants - and deal with any foe who crosses their path. Emma also has some nifty plant manipulation powers which I wouldn't be surprised are helpful both inside and outside of combat.

The trailer gave us an excellent look at how these powers, and plants themselves, are going to play a part in the game. Emma has vinelike powers she can use to traverse the world and Koo also has his own set of powers too!We also got a look at some of the new creatures Game Freak have created for the game. Known as Malefacts, they're a mixture of plantlife and animals. Emma is sure to encounter many of these, including the dangerous Nushi and mechanical Golems, on her quest to defeat the Beast of Reincarnation.

Beast of Reincarnation will be released in Summer 2026 on Xbox Series X / S, PC and PlayStation 5. It will be available on Game Pass and Xbox Play Anywhere from Dat One.

More to come...