When is the Xbox Developer Direct? UK time and how to watch

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Okay, so Xbox console sales haven’t been amazing lately, and a lot of fans were annoyed by the Game Pass price increase. But honestly, the games Microsoft is making are incredible! I, for one, am super hyped for the Xbox Developer Direct. I’m trying to figure out when it’s happening and the best way to watch it, and I bet a lot of other people are too!

We’ll also tell you when you can watch it in the UK, and thankfully, it won’t be at an inconvenient time like 1 PM!

Even though we’re seeing gameplay footage, it’s unclear if you’ll be able to play the game on the Xbox Ally unless you have the more powerful ‘X’ version.

But as for when the Xbox Developer Direct is and more, read on!

When is the Xbox Developer Direct?

The Xbox Developer Direct will take place Thursday 22nd January 2026.

Because Developer Direct is a prerecorded event, there isn’t a specific time or location people need to tune in. This means viewers in Europe don’t have to stay up late to watch it.

Luckily, because the event is prerecorded, it doesn’t need to be broadcast live at a time inconvenient for viewers in Europe. Keep reading to find out the exact time!

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What is the UK start time for the Xbox Developer Direct?

The UK start time for the Xbox Developer Direct is 6PM GMT.

It’s seriously perfect for unwinding after a long day at work, or if you were stressing about having nothing to watch with dinner – I mean, can you imagine? It solves that problem right away.

Xbox Developer Directs are usually short – typically less than an hour – so you can watch them without having to stay up all night, unlike longer events like The Game Awards.

Be sure to set an alarm so you don’t miss it!

How to watch the Xbox Developer Direct?

You can watch the Xbox Developer Direct on YouTube.

The video isn’t available to watch yet, but a preview page should appear a few days before it officially launches.

While you wait, feel free to browse our list of games scheduled for 2026 and the years following to discover even more exciting titles!

What to expect from the Xbox Developer Direct

As a huge Xbox fan, I’m so excited to hear that Microsoft is planning to show off Fable, Forza Horizon 6, and a game called Beast of Reincarnation during their January 2026 Xbox Developer Direct! It sounds like we’re finally going to get a good look at what’s coming, and I can’t wait!

A fourth, unannounced game may also be revealed, as reported by Shinobi602 on the Reset Era forums.

Video Game Chronicle (VGC) confirmed this, describing the game as a “smaller, original title developed by one of Xbox’s in-house studios.”

We’re likely to get a detailed preview of the new Fable game, including the quests players will be able to experience. We can also expect to see actual gameplay footage of Forza Horizon 6 and how the developers have recreated Japan in the game.

Okay, so I’m really excited about Beasts of Reincarnation – it’s coming from Game Freak, which is wild because that’s the team behind Pokémon! I honestly didn’t expect them to be working on something completely different, and it makes it a total wildcard – you just don’t know what to expect!

As a long-time Pokémon fan, it’s just incredible to finally see Game Freak make a game that looks really beautiful. It really shows what they can do when they aren’t rushed by tight deadlines, doesn’t it?

Authors

Cole LukeFreelance Writer
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2026-01-14 19:10