The first major presentation and showcase of the year is the Xbox Developer Direct 2026. Microsoft enters the spotlight to show off its upcoming games and projects, and you can get involved by watching it: Find out its start dates and times, and more.
You simply can’t miss the Xbox Developer Direct 2026 if you’re a fan of the green brand. Big games are set to be shown and talked about, and there will likely be even more reasons to show you why you need an Xbox and Game Pass.
When Is Xbox Developer Direct 2026?
The Xbox Developer Direct 2026 is happening on January 22.
The 2026 Direct is getting the first showcase lick of the year ahead of Nintendo Direct and Sony State of Play presentations. Microsoft has been doing one for a few years now, and you can mark January 22 down in your calendar for the newest show.
Xbox Developer Direct 2026 Times
10 AM PT is the first official time zone start time for the Xbox Developer Direct 2026.
If you want to know what time it starts in your region (if you’re not on PT), then this table should give you an idea.
| Time Zone | Xbox Developer Direct 2026 Start Times & Dates |
|---|---|
| Pacific Time (PT) | 10:00 AM—January 22 |
| Central Time (CT) | 12:00 PM—January 22 |
| Eastern Time (ET) | 1:00 PM—January 22 |
| Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) | 6:00 PM—January 22 |
| Australian Eastern Time (AET) | 5:00 AM—January 23 |
How To Watch Xbox Developer Direct 2026
The main ways to watch the 2026 Xbox Direct are by watching live through various social media platforms, such as YouTube and Twitch.
We’ve listed the three main ways to watch the showcase. Clicking each option will take you directly to the source of the stream:
If you can’t watch the show live, you can always catch the full show at any point, as the stream will likely be left up.
Games Being Shown At Xbox Developer Direct 2026
Playground Games will be in attendance for the Xbox Direct 2026, showing off the Forza Horizon 6 gameplay and new Fable footage. Game Freak will also be showing off its new game—Beast of Reincarnation, and there might be a surprise.
The first Forza Horizon 6 gameplay is reason enough to make sure you’re watching. Everyone’s still looking forward to Fable, so it’s great to finally see more of the game, and, hopefully, learn more about when the game is releasing.
Game Freak has long been associated with the development of Pokémon games for 30 years. So, it’s going to be interesting to see how Beast of Reincarnation is, how it compares and handles to the usual Pokémon formula, and if this could be the start of a new series!
Finally, rumors are flying that there’s a secret 4th game coming during the Xbox Developer Direct. This might be another big reason to catch the action live.
How Long Is The Xbox Developer Direct 2026 Expected To Be?
Insider Gaming expects the Xbox Developer Direct 2026 to be around 45 mins to an hour, as this is how long recent showcases have been.
You don’t have to give up a large chunk of your day, thankfully. It’s a fairly digestible and palatable length.
Will you be watching the Xbox Developer Direct 2026? Which game are you looking forward to seeing the most? Head to the Insider Gaming Discord Server to let everyone know and share your excitement.
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Nothing will be here just 4 games 3 we know so easy pass, and a small title is the fourth title . Bad shows as always Xbox and all this generation