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| The Xbox Developer_Direct 2026 showcase highlighted Forza Horizon 6, Fable, Beast of Reincarnation, and Kiln, outlining Xbox’s major releases for the year ahead. |
By Jon Scarr
Xbox’s first Developer_Direct of 2026 did what these showcases do best. It slowed things down and let the games speak for themselves. Instead of rapid-fire announcements, the focus stayed on gameplay, systems, and how each project is shaping up ahead of release.
Four games took centre stage, with Playground Games leading the show alongside Game Freak and Double Fine. Here’s how everything looked coming out of the presentation.
Forza Horizon 6 Puts the Spotlight on Japan
The show opened with an extended look at Forza Horizon 6, confirming Japan as the setting for the next entry in the series. It’s a location fans have been asking for for years, and Playground Games is clearly treating it as more than just a visual backdrop.
This is the most ambitious Horizon map the studio has built so far. The world blends dense city streets with open countryside, mountain roads, and long coastal highways, all designed around Japan’s driving culture. You’ll move naturally between packed urban areas and wide-open stretches of road, with each location offering a different driving rhythm.
Tokyo is the centrepiece of the map and the largest city the series has featured to date. It’s packed with narrow streets, layered roadways, neon-lit districts, and race events built specifically for urban driving. Outside the city, the tone shifts toward quieter regions inspired by real-world landscapes, including mountain routes and rural roads.
Seasonal changes return, but they play a bigger role this time. Weather and lighting affect how roads feel and how races unfold, while increased elevation and layered routes add more variety to how the world flows. Progression is tied to Horizon wristbands, earned by completing races and challenges, which unlock new events, faster cars, and access to Legend Island, the game’s endgame area.
At launch, Forza Horizon 6 will feature more than 550 vehicles, ranging from modern performance cars to off-road builds and classic models. Customization has also been expanded with deeper tuning, visual upgrades, and personalised garages. The game launches May 19, 2026, on Xbox Series X|S and PC, with day-one support on Xbox Game Pass. A PlayStation 5 version is planned for later in the year.
Fable Brings Choice and Consequence Back
Playground Games also returned with a longer look at Fable, offering a better sense of how the reboot is approaching its world and systems. Set in a reimagined Albion, the game sticks closely to what made the original trilogy memorable while modernising its structure.
Your decisions shape how characters respond to you, how the story unfolds, and even how parts of the world change over time. Instead of simple good-or-evil decisions, the game focuses on consequences that build gradually, making your choices feel more personal.
Combat blends melee attacks, ranged weapons, and magic, giving you room to experiment with different playstyles. Character customization and gear progression play a bigger role as well, allowing you to define how your hero looks and fights.
Albion itself looks more alive than ever. NPCs follow routines, react to your reputation, and remember how you’ve treated them. Over time, those interactions shape the tone of your journey in ways that feel more natural than scripted.
Fable is set to launch in Autumn 2026 for Xbox Series X|S, PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and PlayStation 5, with day-one availability through Xbox Game Pass.
Beast of Reincarnation Shows a Different Side of Game Freak
One of the more surprising reveals came from Game Freak with Beast of Reincarnation, a darker action RPG set in a post-apocalyptic version of Japan.
You play as Emma, who is affected by a mysterious condition known as blight, alongside her companion Koo. Combat mixes fast-paced action with slower, more deliberate decision-making, allowing you to pause and plan out abilities when situations get intense.
What stands out most is how closely the gameplay ties into the game’s tone. Exploration, combat, and progression all feed into the atmosphere, with much of the story told through the world itself rather than long cutscenes. Difficulty options also let you adjust the experience depending on how hands-on you want the combat to be.
It’s a clear departure from what Game Freak is best known for, and one of the more interesting risks shown during the event. Beast of Reincarnation launches in Summer 2026 and will be available day one on Xbox Game Pass.
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| Key art from Beast of Reincarnation, showcasing the game’s moody forest setting and atmospheric tone. |
Kiln Turns Creativity Into a Competitive Advantage
Double Fine closed out the showcase with Kiln, a multiplayer-focused game that blends creativity with rowdy competitive play.
In Kiln, you create your character by sculpting it out of clay on a pottery wheel. The shape you make directly affects how your character moves and fights, turning customization into a core gameplay mechanic rather than a cosmetic one.
Matches are built around 4v4 team-based battles, with different builds favouring speed, power, or durability. The emphasis is on experimenting, whether you’re working together with friends or competing head-to-head. Double Fine also confirmed that the game will continue to evolve after launch with additional content and updates.
A closed beta is planned ahead of release, with Kiln launching in Spring 2026.
A Strong Start to Xbox’s 2026 Lineup
The Developer_Direct made it clear that this showcase was only the beginning of Xbox’s plans for the year. With the platform celebrating its 25th anniversary, more announcements are expected in the months ahead.
Titles like Gears of War: E-Day and Halo: Campaign Evolved are still on the way, alongside new projects from both first-party and third-party studios. With releases spread throughout the year and continued support through Game Pass, 2026 is shaping up to be a busy year for Xbox.
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