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Microsoft has a big year ahead for Xbox as it marks its 25-year milestone. After the tough decision to release more Xbox games on rival consoles two years ago, 2026 is a chance to refocus on the platform and celebrate some of Xbox’s biggest franchises. It’s also an opportunity for Microsoft to define its vision for the future of Xbox, after months of confusion from fans and plummeting Xbox hardware sales.
Xbox kicked off 2026 with its annual Developer Direct last month, a preview of some of the games it’s publishing this year. Microsoft is lining up its “four horsemen” for 2026: Forza, Halo, Fable, and Gears of War. These franchises have been the driving force behind Microsoft’s own Xbox games over the past 25 years, and I’m told there’s a big effort internally to ensure all four games debut on time this year.
Forza Horizon 6 is first up on May 19th, and sources at Microsoft tell me that Halo: Campaign Evolved is tentatively targeting release over the summer. Microsoft is planning to release Fable in the fall, with Gears of War: E-Day also scheduled for the second half of 2026. I understand Microsoft has a good idea of when both should launch, but it’s also keen to avoid being too close to Grand Theft Auto VI’s November 19th date. Rockstar’s modern day Vice City could still slip further, but Take-Two announced this week that marketing for Grand Theft Auto VI is due to start in the summer.
Outside of the big four, I understand Double Fine is also preparing to launch its new Kiln game in April. Bethesda is also working on new content for Starfield that looks set to debut soon. I wouldn’t be surprised if we also hear about a PS5 version of Starfield, years after it was first rumored. Don’t be surprised if any of these game dates slip or change — such is the reality of video game development.
Blizzard is also celebrating 35 years, with a series of showcases for World of Warcraft, Overwatch, Hearthstone, and Diablo. Overwatch 2 is now back to being just Overwatch, and there are plans for 10 new heroes over the course of the year, new maps, and more.
Fallout fans are also desperate for news about the Fallout 3 remaster we heard about in FTC documents from 2023, or news of a Fallout: New Vegas remaster. The Fallout season 2 TV show finale debuted on Tuesday, and many fans were hoping a countdown website was hinting at a Fallout 3 remaster. The game is still in active development, and I understand Bethesda is keen to ensure it’s as well polished as the surprise release of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered last year.
Beyond Xbox games, 2026 is also an important year for Microsoft’s Xbox hardware and software platforms. The release of the Xbox Ally handhelds from Asus last year marked a new effort to bring Windows and Xbox closer together. This model of third-party devices now looks like the future of Xbox hardware and software.
Microsoft is working on several improvements to the Xbox “full screen experience” that powers the Xbox Ally devices. An Automatic Super Resolution (Auto SR) feature, which uses an NPU to upscale games, is set to debut in the coming months for the Xbox Ally X. Microsoft is also planning to use the NPU inside the Xbox Ally X to launch a new highlight reel feature that uses AI models to automatically capture gameplay and make it easy to share the footage on social media.
An improved Xbox PC UI is also being developed. It’s based on the changes Microsoft has been testing in the new desktop mode for Xbox Cloud Gaming. It features a floating Xbox guide interface and smooth animations, and I expect to see this UI unified across Xbox consoles, PC, and cloud.
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