Xbox Devloper Direct 1/22/26 review: new year, new xbox

From the people at Microsoft’s Xbox division, the time has come once again for the yearly January Developer Direct, and with only 4 games to showcase this time, as they show off what they’re gonna do for 2026. So let's get into it and see what they have cooking up.

 

The first game shown off was Forza Horizon 6, a free-roaming racing game from Playground Games, and they have a lot to show off. For starters, they’re gonna set the game in Japan, which has a history of racing, both on the track and street racing on the mountain pass. Jumping into the races as nothing more than a tourist, this game features lots of racing, lots of exploring, and the opportunity to try out a whole lot of cars to race with. Race against rivals, explore the biggest map Forza Horizon has ever done with bonus seasonal weather thrown in there, and prove to be the best of the best. From the busiest of cities to the natural landscape of the land, all the way to exploring iconic landmarks of Japan, you can see and drive it all. Even down to the smallest cherry blossom petals are shown off while you drive down the road. Forza Horizon 6 launches on Xbox Series X/S and Steam on May 19th. 2026

 

Next up, we have a new look at Game Freak’s newest title, Beast of Reincarnation, and this game looks incredible and could be their best game to date. Taking place in the distant future of 4026, Beast of Reincarnation is a tale of blight, friendships, and the ruins of an old, forgotten world, told through the eyes of one character and one dog, kind of like how Final Fantasy XVI handled its characters. Showcasing all the plant-like beasts and mechanical monstrosities you have to get through using intense combos and enlightening magic, the landscape to traverse through using your legs or your plant powers, and the story that slowly unfolds over time to showcase what truly happened to the world.  Beast of Reincarnation, on release, could be regarded as one of Game Freak’s best games to date, even surpassing some of the earlier Pokémon games they have created. Beast of Reincarnation comes out in summer of 2026 on Xbox, PC, and PS5.

Next up, we have the world premiere of Double Fine’s next game, Kiln. Kiln is a 4v4 party brawl game where you play as disembodied spirits inhabiting vases you create, in which you need to extinguish your enemy’s kiln with water. These vases even have different skill sets based on how you craft them. Smaller creations are faster and can distract the enemy, as larger creations could be walking tanks that can store water to win the game. There are no rules on what you can create, so create away with nearly infinite possible creations. Using different amounts of clay to create the perfect pot for you to use in battle is just as fun as battling in-game. A gamer of creation, destruction, and the gameplay balance of the two sides, and it looks super fun to boot. Kiln launches this spring on Xbox Series X/S, PC, and PS5.

The last game to be shown here is the new Fable game, also by Playground Games. Fable here is actually a reboot of the old Fable games from the days of the original Xbox, and it does have alot of potential to explore, given that it’s Playground Games' first open-world role-playing game, especially since the original developers, Lionhead Studios, shut down 10 years ago. In Fable, every choice matters when playing this game. Depending on what you say or do, you could build up your reputation with your fellow citizens in the magical land of Albion. While the main story is to help free innocents from being turned to stone, you also ask yourself, “What does it mean to be a hero. Journeying through Albion, you also see the breathtaking world that you live in, while also dealing with some horrifying monsters and threats along the way. While this game does have some nitpicks over how the world looks and what the characters look like, this new Fable game looks to be a faithful entry to the franchise. The combat here looks pretty well done, and in tune with modern games, from combos to spellcasting, to a combination of them both. Fable launches this fall on Xbox Series x/s, PC, and PS5.

In conclusion, this was a short direct with four uniquely different games to show off, from high-speed races to the ruins of an old world. From making ceramic creations to even building up your reputation as a hero, Microsoft showcased these four titles through intense detailing by some of the forces behind their creative process, and each game having their own fanbase to see if they did well or not. While there have been some complaints online over some of the games, with both legit criticism and blind hatred, I think these games have the potential to be really good. Something Microsoft needed for a very long time, since their reputation has taken a massive hit lately due to world events and Call of Duty not being as good as it once was. Overall, I have hopes for all 4 games, and I cannot wait to give them a play.

 

8/10