It has become a tradition for Xbox to open each year with deep dives into some upcoming games. The Xbox Developer Direct 2026 continues this tradition in fine fashion, delivering looks at four games that sound great and are all coming in 2026. Forza Horizon 6, Beast of Reincarnation, and Fable were known quantities.
But the show also delivers a surprise look at an upcoming game from Double Fine. And as is the norm, everything showcased at the event is day one on Game Pass. Also, they are all compatible with Xbox Anywhere. Now, let’s go over everything that was revealed.
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Forza Horizon 6
Developer: Playground Games
Opening the Xbox Developer Direct 2026 was the highly anticipated Forza Horizon 6. Playground Games’ open-world arcade driving series always looks great, and this entry is no exception. From the beautiful scenic backroads of the Japanese countryside to the bustling streets of Tokyo, everything we saw here looks phenomenal.
Tons of detail from terrain to environmental effects were showcased. A team of developers traveled to Japan to get lots of reference materials. Making sure that everything, from how Tokyo looks right down to how cherry blossom petals move, feel reals and authentic.
The team also dove into the lengths they went to accurately represent Japanese car culture. Loads of details were shown, highlighting the continued push for authenticity. This attention to detail extends down to the numbers on the players’ houses and the symbolic meanings they hold.
While quality is a key component of the Forza Horizon franchise, quantity is as well. Forza Horizon 6 is promising tons of areas to explore as players race across the series’ largest map yet. The game’s representation of Tokyo alone was promised to be 5-times larger than any previous city in the franchise. And as the seasons change, the world will change drastically with it. Creating even more variety in players’ driving experiences.
Along with the increase in map size, Playground Games also promised tons of verticality. Not only will players be driving up and down mountains, but the video shown also highlights looping highways that promise long drift opportunities as players go down Corkscrew-style roads from the sky to the earth.
Forza Horizon 6 promises 550 cars at launch, at the Xbox Developer Direct 2026.
There is also an added leg to the player’s story journey this time around. Rather than simply starting as part of the Horizon Festival, players must now earn their way into the event. Completing races and participating in the new Rush Events can allow players to gain access to the festival.
Giving players freedom to choose their own rides, Forza Horizon 6 promises 550 cars at launch. The biggest in the franchise to date. Loads of customization options, both mechanical and costmetic were shown, promising lots of ways for players to express their individuality. Players can also find customized, aftermarket cars out in the world, which they can purchase as well.
The Developers also promised improved audio quality through various design aspects. Everything from the sounds of nature and the city environment looks to help bring the world to life. Players were also promised a lot of unique songs to listen to while they cruise, focusing on Japanese music for added local color.
They are also expanding the creation suite in Forza Horizon 6. Build anywhere, and collaborative creation options were the big highlights shown. And it looks like even more players will get to enjoy both these features and the core game, thanks to promised improvements to the game’s accessibility functions.
As the deep dive came to a close, a final shot hinted at the presence of some form of large mecha construct, possibly a Gundam, within the game. Luckily, players won’t have to wait too long to find out.
Forza Horizon 6 will release May 19th on Xbox Series X|S and PC.
Beast of Reincarnation
Developer: Game Freak
Stepping outside their usual Pokémon offerings, developer Game Freak showed up at the Xbox Developer Direct 2026 to highlight their post-apocalyptic action RPG, Beast of Reincarnation. Despite the post-apocalyptic setting, this game showcased some gorgeous, if deadly, environments.
With the world overrun by blighted plants in the year 4026, Emma and her canine companion Koo must drive back animal/plant hybrids to protect what remains of humanity. Due to Emma’s special nature, only she can complete the task set before. But there’ll be plenty of challenges along the way.
The thing that stood out most from this deep dive was the game’s combat. While it features the kind of light and heavy attacking combos players expect from the genre, it also allows players to step back and take a more purposeful approach.
When selecting special combat abilities, the gameplay slows to a crawl, allowing players to pick the right skills and targets without the rush of the action. This function instantly feels reminiscent of the Final Fantasy VII remake games.
Beast of Reincarnation showed off a range of enemy types at the Xbox Developer Direct 2026.
To utilize this mix of action and strategy are a bevy of ways to customize Emma. Equipment, as well as special Spirit Stones, allows for what looks like lots of customization, enabling players to craft their own particular playstyle.
Beast of Reincarnation also showed off what looked like a wide range of enemy types to battle. From the plant/animal hybrids that seem to come in numerous shapes and sizes, to Golems powered by human souls, it looks like a solid range of opponents will be present in the game.
Further building up the plant focus of the game is Emma’s traversal options. The protagonist sports vinelike hair, which she uses to navigate the overgrown terrain of her world. Koo also seems to have some plant based abilties as well, although these were less clear in their function.
Beast of Reincarnation presented an impressive array of elements that, if they come together, could create a memorable experience. Its post-apocalyptic world looks striking, and its gameplay could be different enough to give players a new experience in the action RPG genre.
Beast of Reincarnation is slated to release this summer to Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5.
Kiln
Developer: Double Fine
With their previous release only months behind us, no one expected Double Fine to be the surprise reveal of the Xbox Developer_Direct 2026. They showed up, though, delivering a world reveal of their upcoming online multiplayer pottery party brawler, Kiln.
In Kiln, players craft their own pottery characters and send them out to battle. The goal of these fights is to transport water to their opponent’s kiln to extinguish it. Plenty of pottery will be smashed along the way, as different pottery stylers boast special attacks and powers.
Seeing this game in action invoked nothing but smiles. The Double Fine personality is all over this one. Every element of the game is imbued with a sense of fun and goofiness. As well as a surprising amount of choice.
Kiln promises post-launch content to keep the fun growing.
While pottery type determines special abilities, size and design matter too. Smaller pottery is harder to hit, but can carry less water. Also, maps will include elements that favor pottery size or style, making design choices even more important.
While battling foes is the central element of Kiln, the design options are robust enough that Double Fine has taken the game lobbies and designed them to function like shared art studios. Groups of people can chill and just create art. Given how intricate designs can become, I can easily see players picking up the game just to sculpt, never intending to actually battle with their creations.
All of the creativity and fun are promised to grow as post-launch content was announced as well. Giving players an ever-increasing number of reasons to return to the game as the months pass.
Kiln is set to release in Spring 2026.
Fable
Developer: Double Fine
Easily the most anticipated game of the Xbox Developer Direct 2026, this deep dive provided lots of answers to questions that have been brewing since the project was first announced. The open-world action RPG aims to build on the core concepts that made the original trilogy classic while expanding on creativity and customization.
With so many modern fantasy video game offerings exploring dark, gritty worlds, Fable‘s tongue-in-cheek approach to a brighter, more classical fairytale setting feels like a breath of fresh air. While they craft a new beginning, the developers expressed their shared love for the original games and emphasized their commitment to staying true to the vision.
Despite the overly cheerful look of much of the game, the developers emphasized that there would be a lot of moral gray in the game’s choices. Explaining that one of their core precepts for the game was the question, “What does it mean to be a hero?” the developers want to let players fully explore their own version of their answers, as well as face the consequences of them.
Fable promises a massively customizable experience.
As the first hero born in Albion in a generation, Fable (2026)’s initial narrative setup feels as classic as its setting. An unknown individual is sent off on a grand adventure after their village is attacked, and they are the only one to escape.
What awaits the new hero as they set out looks to be one of the most customizable worlds gaming has produced. To start, combat feels deep and varied. With numerous weapon types that are interchangeable during combat, and enemies bearing unique properties, every battle looks to have the potential to play out quite differently.
Beyond adventuring, the world itself, the inhabitants that populate it, and what you can do when not adventuring are also promised to bring variety to players. The hero can buy property, get a job, fall in love, and start a family. Everything the player does is claimed to have an impact on the world. Buying property may kick someone out of their home, leaving them on the street. And if the player meets this individual, they will have some choice things to say to them.
Fable is a living world with over 1,000 NPCs.
The devs explained that Fable is a “living world” where every player action can impact the over 1,000 NPCs. Furthermore, every interaction with each will be fully voiced and seemingly adapted to the current conditions within the game. This led to the only obvious concern from Fable‘s showing.
This much dialogue, customized dialogue no less, feels impossible without the use of generative AI. While the developers didn’t comment on the technology’s presence, it will be something many gamers will undoubtedly want to know about, given what a hot-button issue the tech has become.
A grogeous fantays setting, deep combat, and a world waiting to be molded by player choices all seem to await in Fable.
Fable will arrive on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5 at last in Fall 2026.
And that is what we learned at the Xbox Developer_Direct 2026. Are you excited? From huge open worlds to small, pottery-inspired brawls, there was a lot to get hyped over at this latest Xbox showing.
