Xbox Game Studios in 2026: Every Game in Development Right Now

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We recently reviewed Sony’s upcoming games for 2026, and now we’re doing the same for Xbox Game Studios. While 2026 might be a challenging year for the Xbox Series S and X consoles, Microsoft clearly has many skilled game development teams working for them.

What are Microsoft and Nintendo planning, and will their new games and consoles be competitive with the PlayStation 5? More importantly, can they revitalize the console market? We’ll break down what you need to know.

Let’s explore what Xbox Game Studios has in store for the coming year – it’s looking like another fantastic year for gaming! This year is especially significant as Xbox celebrates its 25th anniversary, promising lots of exciting news for longtime fans. Let’s dive in!

The Coalition

The creators of the Gears of War series are revisiting the story’s origins with a new prequel, Gears of War: E-Day. This game will feature Marcus and Dom and explore their complicated past, including Marcus’s difficult relationship with his commanding officers and the beginnings of the Locust threat that plunged their world into war. Fans are eager to learn more about these early events.

Looking back on 2025, Mike Crump, head of The Coalition, highlighted that E-Day is their most ambitious game to date. He also confirmed the game is still on schedule for release later this year, with support from Polish studio People Can Fly.

We’re eagerly awaiting news about when the game will be released, and we know fans of Gears of War are just as excited as we are.

Compulsion Games

The team behind South of Midnight is thrilled with how well the game has been received and wants to thank players for their support. They’ve already started working on a new project, and they’re using what they learned while making South of Midnight to create something even better.

The studio will probably prioritize releasing South of Midnight on multiple platforms this year, meaning their next new project isn’t expected to appear until after 2026.

Double Fine

It’s been quiet from the studio since their game, Keeper, came out last year. With no recent news about what they’re working on next, it seems the team is taking a break and brainstorming ideas for their next project.

I’m still holding out hope we’ll get some news from the studio this year! Their last game didn’t even have dialogue, but it was so good, it totally hooked me, so I’m really excited to see what fresh and interesting ideas they come up with next.

Halo Studios

This year, it appears Halo is following a similar path as Gears of War by releasing a revamped version of the original game. Halo: Campaign Evolved is scheduled to launch for PlayStation 5, PC, and Xbox, and it’s a remake of the beloved classic. Players can expect several upgrades to the original gameplay, including the ability to steal vehicles, zoom in with weapons, a redesigned Warthog, and both online (up to 4 players) and couch co-op (2 players). There are many other improvements planned as well.

The game is looking better than ever thanks to the powerful Unreal Engine 5. It’s disappointing that the classic multiplayer mode isn’t being updated, but we’re really looking forward to experiencing the campaign with improved graphics. We’re also intrigued by the new bonus missions, which tell a story leading up to the main game.

InXile Entertainment

We’ve been excited about Clockwork Revolution ever since inXile Entertainment announced it in 2023. After getting a good preview of the gameplay last year, and with rumors suggesting a possible release this year (though those rumors should be viewed cautiously), it’s a game to keep an eye on.

I recently discovered this game, and the story is seriously cool! It’s all about time travel and facing off against a really clever villain who’s trying to take control of everything. You even get to create your own character, which is awesome. I’m really hoping the buzz about a release later this year is true, but I’m trying not to get too excited just yet!

Mojang Studios

If you enjoy playing Minecraft, you’ll be happy to hear that Mojang is adding eight new baby animal mobs to the game – and they’re incredibly cute! These changes are still being tested, so it may take some time before they’re officially available.

That’s still positive news, and we’ll share an update with you as soon as we know if anything changes.

Ninja Theory

According to Jez Corden of Windows Central, the creators of Hellblade are developing a new game. This one will have more action and interaction than their previous titles, but will still maintain the high-quality cinematic feel they’re famous for.

People are guessing the next game from Ninja Theory might be Hellblade 3, but it could also be a completely new game. Even if 2026 is a slow year for the studio, that could easily change as we learn more in the months ahead.

Obsidian Entertainment

Rumors suggest four new projects are in the works, and many believe a remake of Fallout: New Vegas similar to last year’s Oblivion remake could be announced this year. While this isn’t confirmed yet, we might learn more at the upcoming Xbox Direct event.

But if you happen to miss it, fret not, since we’re definitely going to have your back on that one!

Playground Games

Xbox Game Studios’ popular franchises, Fable and Forza Horizon 6, will be highlighted at the upcoming Developer_Direct event, hinting at an exciting year for the studio.

Since we haven’t been able to play either game yet, we’re expecting a detailed reveal of what each one offers soon. The new Fable will be a fresh start for the series, updated for today’s gamers, while Forza Horizon 6 is heading to Japan. It promises the largest map in the Forza Horizon series and plenty of exciting features.

We plan to announce the release date later this month, but it might be delayed slightly. Both games are still on track to come out in 2026.

Rare

The cancellation of Everwild was likely disappointing for the team at Sea of Thieves, but the new role of Louise O’Connor as Chief of Staff for Xbox Game Studios could help them navigate this setback, along with recent staff reductions.

This year seems to be focused on planning the studio’s future direction, and we’re hoping to get some insight into what that plan will be.

Turn 10 Studios

The team that makes Forza Motorsport is pausing updates on that game to focus on developing Forza Horizon 6. It’s a little disappointing to hear, but overall it’s great to see the studio doing well after a difficult year.

We might hear about a new project sometime in the future, but right now it seems like things will be pretty calm for this project this year.

Undead Labs

It’s been quiet since Undead Labs released a mysterious teaser for State of Decay 3 before Summer Games Fest 2025. Combined with the studio’s layoffs last year, we’re starting to wonder how development on the game is progressing.

We’re still optimistic and looking forward to hearing positive updates at the Developer_Direct event later this month. We’re hoping for good news!

World’s Edge

Last year, job listings from the studio led many to believe they were becoming more directly involved with the Age of Empires series, potentially developing a new game using the Unreal Engine. Although nothing has been officially announced yet, we might hear confirmation later this year.

The studio should likely release a new game in its most popular series soon, and we’d be thrilled if they announced it this year. While it’s best to stay realistic, we’re still hoping for good news!

That concludes the major game announcements and releases planned from Xbox Game Studios as they prepare for a huge year for the console. We’re excited to play these upcoming titles and share the experience with you all as these talented studios deliver a year of fantastic games.

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2026-01-15 17:44