Xbox Developer Direct 2026 Unveils Fable, Forza Horizon 6, and Beast of Reincarnation Release Windows
- Sagar Mankar
- 3 minutes ago
- 3 min read
The Xbox Developer Direct 2026 is back, delivering an exciting mix of highly anticipated games and unexpected reveals. Microsoft highlighted four standout titles: Forza Horizon 6, Beast of Reincarnation, Kiln, and the much-anticipated Fable reboot.
Each game brought fresh gameplay clips, new features, and confirmed release windows, giving fans a lot to be excited about in the coming months.
Forza Horizon 6
The showcase opened with Forza Horizon 6, the latest instalment in Playground Games’ celebrated racing franchise. This time, the Horizon festival heads to Japan, a location fans have been requesting for years.
Players will be able to race through Tokyo’s bustling streets, explore the scenic landscapes of Hokkaido, and even take on the challenge of Mount Fuji. The developers emphasized that Tokyo will be the largest urban map ever created for the series, promising a mix of verticality and intricate detail.
Beyond racing, Forza Horizon 6 introduces new social features such as car meets, multiplayer building tools, and customizable garages. With over 550 cars available at launch, ranging from classics to modern prototypes, the game is shaping up to be the most expansive entry yet.
The title is set to release on May 19, 2026, for Xbox Series X/S and PC, with PlayStation 5 players receiving access later in the year.
Beast of Reincarnation
Game Freak unveiled Beast of Reincarnation, a project that takes a bold step away from their traditional Pokémon formula.
Set in a post-apocalyptic Japan in the year 4026, the game follows Emma, a young woman burdened with the ability to absorb a destructive force known as the Blight. Accompanied by her wolf companion, Koo, Emma embarks on a journey to defeat the legendary Beast of Reincarnation.
The gameplay blends real-time action with tactical elements, introducing mechanics like Blooming Arts, which slow down combat to allow players to select special moves. The world itself is filled with Malefacts, creatures that fuse plant life with animals, as well as mechanical golems that once housed human souls.
Traversal is another highlight, with Emma’s vine-like powers enabling her to swing across ruins and create bridges.
Beast of Reincarnation will release in Summer 2026 across Xbox Series X/S, PC, and PlayStation 5, with Game Pass availability from day one.
Kiln
Double Fine’s Kiln is a vibrant and whimsical multiplayer brawler with a unique focus on pottery. Players take on the role of tiny spirits who craft clay pots using a magical pottery wheel before inhabiting them to battle in team-based modes.
The shape and size of each pot directly influence abilities, with smaller pots offering speed and larger ones providing durability. Kiln also features eight distinct pot shapes, each with unique attacks, and customization options such as glazes, patterns, and stickers.
The social hub, known as The Wedge, allows players to interact, decorate their creations, and prepare for matches. At launch, the primary mode will be Quench, where teams compete to extinguish each other’s kilns while protecting their own.
Kiln is scheduled for release in Spring 2026 on Xbox Series X/S, PC, and PlayStation 5, with a beta planned before launch.
Fable
Closing the showcase was the long-awaited return of Fable, developed by Playground Games. After years of speculation and delays, fans finally have a release window: Autumn 2026.
The reboot promises to stay true to the series’ roots while introducing modern mechanics and a more nuanced morality system.
Players begin their journey as a child in a rural village, only to see tragedy strike when the residents are turned to stone. From there, the adventure expands into the open world of Albion, featuring iconic locations like Bowerstone and Bloodstone.
Combat retains the classic Strength, Skill, and Will system, offering melee, ranged, and magical options. Outside of battle, players can buy houses, run businesses, marry NPCs, and even raise families.
The Living Population system ensures that Albion feels alive, with over 1,000 fully voiced NPCs who react to the player’s choices. Reputation plays a key role, as wealth and actions influence how different characters perceive the hero. The new morality system avoids simple good-versus-evil decisions, instead presenting consequences that ripple across Albion.