The end of a great gaming year marks the start of another, and Xbox is ringing in 2026 with a new Developer Direct showcase that offers an extended early look at some of its biggest upcoming releases.
Making a highly anticipated appearance is the oft-delayed Fable reboot, joining its previously announced counterparts Forza Horizon 6 and Beast of Reincarnation, the fantasy action RPG from Pokémon maker Game Freak. Double Fine, meanwhile, delivered a surprise in the form of Kiln, which pits sentient pottery against one another in multiplayer battles.
Here’s a recap of the highlights for all four titles.
Forza Horizon 6
For the first time in the series, Forza Horizon 6 will put the pedal to the metal in Japan, a destination that has long been on the wishlist. Fans can look forward to racing through iconic locations such as Tokyo, Hokkaido, and Mount Fuji, as well as on a track featuring a hulking Gundam, as a rookie racer on vacation, accompanied by two close friends: Jordy, a passionate motorsports enthusiast, and Mei, an experienced local car builder.
It’s also going big in more ways than one, with the largest map to date and over 550 cars at launch, including the 2025 GR GT Prototype and 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser. Car Meets – inspired by the Daikoku car meets in real-life Japan – and the Estate are new additions, allowing players to check out vehicles, download custom paint jobs, and purchase their own variations, as well as place buildings and roads on a large plot of land, respectively.
The game is set to launch on Xbox Series X|S and PC on 19 May 2026, and on PS5 later this year.
Beast of Reincarnation
Marking a departure from Game Freak’s usual fare, Beast of Reincarnation is billed as a “one-person, one-dog action RPG” set in post-apocalyptic Japan that blends two distinct gameplay styles: protagonist Emma’s fast-paced katana action, and a command-based system for her canine companion Koo, who can activate support skills.
The former’s plant manipulation powers don’t just come in handy during combat, as the vine-like ability serves as the primary way to traverse the world, filled with Malefacts, a hybrid of plantlife and animals, the deadly Nushi, and mechanical Golems. While the game features parrying mechanics, its focus on accessibility offers three difficulty settings: Story, Normal, and Hard Mode.
The upcoming title is due out this summer across Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PS5, and will be playable on Day One for Game Pass subscribers.
Kiln
Hailing from the creative minds behind Psychonauts 2 and Keeper, Kiln promises a delightful and entertaining time that involves players creating clay warriors using a magical pottery wheel and leading their team to victory. A variety of crafting tools will be available at their disposal, ranging from sponges and shapers to scrapers and, of course, hands.
Once moulded, each pot boasts varying capabilities, movement, attacks, and special moves – be it a heavy tank or a fleet-footed scuttler. Other notable features include different game modes and stage designs inspired by Greek mythology.
The Game Pass Day-One brawler releases in Spring 2026 for Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC, with a beta available before launch.
Fable
It’s been 14 years since the last Fable instalment, so it only stands to reason that the Xbox Developer Direct 2026 saved the best for last. In this long-awaited return, which won’t be a direct sequel to the original trilogy, players will find themselves back in the magical world of Albion, where every choice comes with consequences.
As it features a “true open-world” design, unrestrained exploration can be expected from the start, with combat rooted in the pillars of the classic games – melee, ranged, and magic – and a mix of them all, making it possible to chain sword attacks and spells, or build a loadout that suits a particular playstyle. Customisation is a treat for those who want to flesh out their personality, while the morality system now enters grey territory, and can trigger long-term ramifications that change the world of Albion for the rest of the game.
In between moments of combat and adventuring, you can get a job, buy a house or two (and more!), and get married – or interact with the Living Population at large, comprising over 1,000 NPCs, each with a role, personality, and routine.
The new Fable, a Game Pass Day-One title, is coming to Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PS5 sometime in the fall.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
