Xbox Developer Direct 2026 Recap: Fable, Forza Horizon 6, and Beast of Reincarnation

Four titles were presented during Xbox’s first Developer_Direct of 2026.

Update: Jan 22nd, 2026 19:49 CET

A promise is a promise, and we have the first gaming presentation of 2026. Xbox kicks off the year celebrating its 25th anniversary by giving us a glimpse of several titles in development for this year. Two from Playground Games, Fable and Forza Horizon 6, and another from Game Freak, Beast of Reincarnation. That’s all they revealed during today’s Developer Direct.

Forza Horizon 6

You start as a tourist in Japan who joins the Horizon Festival, changing the structure of how this title always began. As you earn wristbands, you work your way up to a gold wristband, which is the real challenge of the game. Outside the Horizon Festival, you can explore Japan at your leisure. The contrasts of Japan are integrated to deliver a game that is as authentic as possible and highlights Japan’s car culture.

The team traveled to Japan to capture in detail everything that makes Japan what it is. The driving experience is different, trying to capture all the details to make driving feel just like in real life. The changing seasons and how they affect the country are also captured.

550 cars will be available from launch, with the customization options that have characterized the series. All cars are affected by the roads, so you’ll have to be careful with your tires. The cover car, the GR GT, showcases one of the most modern iterations. Customization will not be limited to cars; garages will also provide a space that is uniquely ours.

Forza Horizon 6 launches on May 19 on Xbox Series and PC, a PlayStation 5 edition will arrive later.

Beast of Reincarnation

Shigeru Ohmori, producer at Game Freak, appeared to welcome us to the Beast of Reincarnation block. This new experience takes us to a distant, post-apocalyptic future Japan. Unlike Pokémon, here the studio sought to provide the experience of traveling the world accompanied by just one friend. The game presents a closeness to nature, something they have also learned from Pokémon.

Emma and Koo travel through a unique Japan in the year 4026, but their developers see them traveling around the world. Emma has a special ability that allows her to fight against the “blight” that has taken over the world. On her journey, Emma will have to eliminate the “Nushi” to obtain her powers and defeat the Beast of Reincarnation.

Emma and Koo will have a skill tree that will allow them to improve their abilities, and as time progresses, improve the relationship between the two characters.

Beast of Reincarnation will be available in summer 2026 for Xbox Series, PlayStation, and PC.

Kiln

Double Fine snuck into Developer_Direct to present a new title, Kiln. Tim Schafer was there to present his multiplayer party game where you battle with pots. The title shows a creative way in which players mold their characters to generate chaos and battle against other players.

The game aims to be a game that combines the simplicity of a title for everyone while maintaining the unique feature of being able to be a pot or vase capable of being a warrior.

Kiln will arrive in Spring 2026 and will have an open beta coming soon.

Fable

What does being a hero mean to you? That’s the theme of this new installment of Fable. Like other games, you’ll start out as a child, at a time when you discover that you are Albion’s first hero in a generation. Alone, you’ll set out on an adventure, arriving at the Hero Guild and traveling to various familiar places in this world.

In Fable, you can customize your hero to represent you. Just like in the original trilogy, you will have a series of skills and stats that will define your character, as well as your decisions.

As in previous titles, you can buy houses, get married, have a job, buy businesses, and play games within the game. And, as you might expect, you can talk to each of the NPCs you encounter along the way. Everything you do will affect your reputation with all these characters. Morality will continue to be an essential foundation, although this time it will be different: it will no longer be black and white, but rather subjective. Your decisions will also change the world, literally.

Fable will be available on Xbox, PC, and PlayStation in fall 2026.