Fable, Forza Horizon 6, and More: Highlights from Xbox’s 2026 Showcase

Today, January 22, Xbox hosted another Developer Direct showcase, highlighting a selection of games from its first-party studios and partners. This time, we got our first glimpse of Fable, an in-depth look at the next installment in the Forza Horizon series, and an exciting reveal from Game Freak, the studio known for the mainline Pokémon RPGs. If you missed the live stream, you can catch the VOD below, but here are the key takeaways.

Kicking things off, Playground Games and Turn 10 unveiled Forza Horizon 6, the latest entry in the beloved open-world racing franchise. Set in Japan, players will embark on a journey through a racing tournament, starting as a tourist racer and ultimately aiming for professional status.

The game will allow players to explore vibrant Japanese cities and traverse the scenic mountains and countryside, featuring a whopping 550 cars at launch. You’ll also have the opportunity to create your own base that other players can visit, where you can showcase your cars, meet up with friends and strangers, and engage in spontaneous races—all within the expansive open world.

Forza Horizon 6 is set to launch on May 19 for PC and Xbox, with a PS5 version scheduled for release later this year.

Next, we were introduced to Game Freak’s Beast of Reincarnation, which is still surprising to see in an Xbox showcase. This action RPG retains some of the developer’s signature elements of human-animal companionship, featuring a samurai heroine named Emma and her wolf companion Koo, who fights alongside her. Set in a post-apocalyptic Japan, the game blends fantasy and sci-fi aesthetics as Emma hunts corrupted monsters in a fast-paced hack-and-slash experience. Players can issue commands to Koo, utilizing his unique abilities in battle. The game is expected to launch in the summer.

Then, we were treated to a surprise segment from Double Fine. Studio head Tim Schaefer introduced the company’s annual Amnesia Fortnight tradition, which involves a two-week prototyping session. Kiln, a pottery brawler that originated as one of these prototypes, is now being developed into a full game. Schaefer describes it as an “online multiplayer pottery party brawler.” Players can create various pottery items on the game’s wheel, decorate them, and then use these creations as characters in multiplayer battles. It looks charming and is set to release on PC, PS5, and Xbox in the spring.

Finally, we returned to Playground Games for an update on Fable. This highly anticipated return to Albion will begin, as is tradition, with players starting as a child who discovers heroic powers following a tragic backstory. The game will be open world, which is expected in 2026, but it appears to maintain the fairytale-like visual style of previous Fable titles. Combat looks impactful, reminiscent of The Witcher, while still incorporating melee, magic, and ranged weapons as seen in earlier games.

Fable will also bring back the series’ life simulation elements, allowing players to marry, purchase homes, work jobs, and interact with the inhabitants of Albion. The game will feature hundreds of NPCs who respond to your choices and reputation. Unlike previous titles, the morality system here is more nuanced; an action that may tarnish your reputation with some characters could enhance it with others.

Fable is set to launch on PC, PS5, and Xbox this fall.