Last updated on January 22, 2026
Welcome to Xbox Developer Direct January 2026. Today January 22 2026, I’ll be watching the show and updating this article in real time as announcements drop: trailers, gameplay reveals, release windows, and the key takeaways as they happen. If you’re tracking xbox developer direct january 2026 games, keep this page open for quick, clean updates.
The event’s confirmed highlights include dedicated segments for Fable, Forza Horizon 6, and Beast of Reincarnation (from Game Freak), with developers sharing deeper looks and new details.
Xbox Developer Direct January 2026 – Everything announced
Forza Horizon 6
Forza Horizon 6 finally heads to Japan and the first reveal set the tone right away: you’re not a superstar from the start, you’re a tourist who has to earn a name the hard way. The devs talked about why Japan was the right next step for Horizon, and teased fresh activities and event ideas built around the new setting.
Content-wise, it’s stacked: 550+ cars at launch, plus aftermarket builds you can actually stumble on out in the world, parked and waiting to be claimed. The release date is on May 19 2026, with early access from 15 May. And yes we have a PS5 release later this year.
Beast of Reincarnation
Game Freak the Pokemon studio is stepping way outside its comfort zone with Beast of Reincarnation. You play as Emma, a Sealer, fighting alongside her dog Koo through a post-apocalyptic Japan as they push to reclaim what’s left of the country. The latest showing offered a better look at moment-to-moment gameplay, the atmosphere of the world, and a clearer sense of what Emma can do in combat.
It’s set to launch this summer on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC, and it will be available on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass day one.
Kiln
Double Fine’s curveball reveal was Kiln, an online multiplayer pottery party brawler, which is exactly as chaotic as it sounds. It’s built for quick matches, loud moments, and the kind of friendly sabotage that turns a “relaxing” craft into a full-on scrap.
Kiln is slated for Spring 2026 on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC, and a closed beta is also planned, with more details coming soon.
Fable
Microsoft saved the headline act for last: Fable. This reboot is being built by Playground Games, the Forza Horizon studio which has spun up a dedicated team to tackle its first open-world action RPG, picking up the torch after Lionhead’s era (the original studio was closed in 2016).
You start out as a kid in a quiet rural village, then step into Albion as the first true hero in a generation. Playground calls it a “true” open world, meaning you can head off in any direction right from the jump. The deep dive showed off character creation, a better look at combat, and yes, the series’ favorite bad habit: booting chickens. Fighting blends melee and ranged options with big flashy spells that look made for improvising on the fly.
Fable launches in Fall 2026 on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC.
I write for Need4Games, mostly keeping track of what’s coming next. I cover showcases and release updates, put together quick lists when you just want the highlights, and I’ll post Steam deal roundups when the sales get wild. I play a lot of games, so I tend to look at games through that lens. No overthinking, just: what it is, why it’s interesting, and if it’s actually worth your time. I also stream now and then on Twitch.
