Microsoft Sets Xbox Partner Preview for March 26 With Third-Party Updates and World Premieres

Microsoft is hosting an Xbox Partner Preview showcase this Thursday, March 26, featuring updates on several third-party games along with brand-new world premieres.

The event kicks off at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. UK time and will run for roughly 30 minutes.

• Los Angeles (PT) - 10:00 AM, Mar 26

• New York (ET) - 1:00 PM, Mar 26

• London (UK) - 5:00 PM, Mar 26

• Paris (CET) - 6:00 PM, Mar 26

• Dubai (GST) - 9:00 PM, Mar 26

• New Delhi (IST) - 10:30 PM, Mar 26

• Singapore (SGT) - 1:00 AM, Mar 27

• Tokyo (JST) - 2:00 AM, Mar 27

• Sydney (AEDT) - 4:00 AM, Mar 27

It will be broadcast live on Xbox's official YouTube channel.

As always, this is a Partner Preview, meaning it focuses entirely on third-party developers and publishers. So do not expect any announcements from Microsoft's first-party studios.

Here is a quick look at what has been confirmed for the showcase:

• Stranger Than Heaven (Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio / Sega) - An in-depth look at the upcoming third-person action game

• S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl (GSC Game World) - A fresh update on the game

• The Expanse: Osiris Reborn (Owlcat Games) - A new look at the sci-fi RPG

• Brand-new reveals and world premieres - Unannounced games yet to be disclosed

• Xbox Game Pass announcements - Details on upcoming day-one additions

Of everything confirmed, Stranger Than Heaven is probably the most anticipated update. The game is developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, the team behind the beloved Yakuza and Like a Dragon series. It was first revealed at The Game Awards in December 2024 under the working title Project Century. Since then, details have been fairly scarce. What we do know is that it is a third-person action game set in an open city environment in Japan, taking players back to 1915. Whether it ties into the Like a Dragon universe or stands as a completely separate IP has not been officially confirmed yet.

Also on the list is The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, developed by Owlcat Games, the studio known for Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader. According to reports, it is described as a Mass Effect-style sci-fi RPG set within the universe of author James S.A. Corey's book series. Fans of story-driven space RPGs will want to keep an eye on this one.

GSC Game World's S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 also makes an appearance, with Microsoft promising a new update on the title during the showcase.

The showcase comes at an interesting time for Xbox. The company recently underwent a notable management shake-up. Phil Spencer retired, Sarah Bond resigned, and Asha Sharma has since been named as Microsoft's new gaming boss.

Additionally, the Partner Preview follows closely on the heels of Microsoft's GDC 2026 keynote, during which the company shared new details about its next-gen Xbox console, currently codenamed Project Helix.