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.
We’ll probably hear more about Xbox PC plans and further hints at the direction of Xbox consoles at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) next month. Microsoft has used GDC in the past to detail key developer changes to Xbox, as well as next-gen Xbox development plans. While I’m not expecting to hear full details about the next Xbox, I’d expect the various sessions will shed further light on the plans to merge Xbox and Windows, as well as more of Microsoft’s AI work in gaming.
We won’t be seeing a next-gen Xbox release this year, though. AMD CEO Lisa Su hinted this week that Microsoft could launch its next-gen Xbox in 2027. “Development of Microsoft’s next-gen Xbox, featuring an AMD semi-custom SoC, is progressing well to support a launch in 2027,” said Su in an earnings call on Tuesday. Microsoft has only vaguely teased its next-gen Xbox plans so far, and I’m hoping that a bigger teaser is set for later this year.
Xbox fans will get a new controller this year, though. I’m hearing that Microsoft has greenlit next-gen Xbox controllers that include Wi-Fi connectivity to reduce Xbox Cloud Gaming latency. A new Xbox controller was originally planned for 2024, alongside a canceled Xbox Series X refresh. Windows Central also expects an Xbox Elite Controller Series 3 debut in 2026, which would align with a rollout of next-gen Xbox controllers.
New Xbox controllers that connect directly to Xbox Cloud Gaming could help boost Microsoft’s Game Pass numbers and complement plans for free ad-supported access to cloud games. I understand Microsoft is getting close to testing free Xbox Cloud Gaming streaming with Xbox Insiders, ahead of a broader rollout this year.
While the free Xbox Cloud Gaming won’t be a new Game Pass tier, sources tell me Microsoft is in the early stages of exploring ways to expand its Game Pass subscription lineup. After a Game Pass Ultimate price hike in October, I understand that Microsoft is looking at ways to bundle third-party services with Game Pass subscriptions and potentially even merge Xbox Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass together. I wouldn’t expect to see any major changes to Game Pass this year, though.
6 Likes
https://xcancel.com/wario64/status/2019457329180336584
The Verge on Xbox releases: theverge.com/tech/874303/mic…
- Halo: Campaign Evolved tentatively targeting Summer 2026
- Gears of War: E-Day in 2nd half 2026
- Kiln in April
- new Starfield content soon
- Fallout 3 remaster in active dev
- new Xbox controller this year (next-gen Xbox controller with Wi-Fi to reduce cloud latency)
Ty @Sparda3g
5 Likes
So it’s going to be really bad then? Guess I’m skipping FO3R.
Everything else sounds good though.
1 Like