After a Relatively Quiet The Game Awards, Microsoft Says It Has a Packed Xbox Developer Direct Coming in January 2026

Microsoft has confirmed plans for a important Xbox Developer Direct showcase successful January 2026 aft a comparatively quiescent The Game Awards.

While Microsoft-owned Blizzard announced the adjacent Diablo 4 expansion, and we got quality that South of Midnight is coming to PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2, fans saw thing of the caller Fable, Forza, Gears of War, oregon Halo games confirmed to beryllium coming retired successful 2026.

But successful an interrogation with Variety, Microsoft president of crippled contented and studios Matt Booty promised large things are coming adjacent month.

“I can’t stock precisely what’s there, but we’ve got a batch of worldly that we’re shipping adjacent year. In fact, usually Dev Direct is astir highlighting what’s coming up for the twelvemonth ahead. This year, we’ve got much worldly coming up than we tin acceptable successful 1 show,” Booty teased.

“So I volition archer you that Playground Games is going to beryllium successful the Dev Direct, but we’ll person much worldly adjacent twelvemonth to vessel than we tin acceptable into 1 Dev Direct amusement successful January, which is simply a bully spot to be.”

So, what tin we expect? If Playground Games is successful the Dev Direct, it seems apt we’ll get a person look astatine Forza Horizon 6 and, potentially, the adjacent Fable game, some of which are successful the works astatine the UK studio. Beyond that, possibly we’ll spot much of Gears of War: E-Day and Halo: Campaign Evolved, some of which are confirmed 2026 releases.

But, besides based connected Booty’s comments, possibly Microsoft volition travel up January’s Dev Direct with showcases that absorption connected idiosyncratic games, conscionable to marque definite they get capable clip successful the spotlight.

“It’s going to beryllium a existent banner twelvemonth for the marque and a banner twelvemonth for immoderate of our biggest franchises to amusement up crossed the industry,” Booty continued.

Perhaps we’ll besides perceive much connected Microsoft’s hardware plans, which see a next-gen console that sounds a batch similar a PC.

Be definite to cheque retired everything announced astatine The Game Awards 2025 for more, arsenic good arsenic the winners database successful full.

Wesley is Director, News astatine IGN. Find him connected Twitter astatine @wyp100. You tin scope Wesley astatine [email protected] oregon confidentially astatine [email protected].