Xbox Developer Direct 2026 May Feature a Surprise Fourth Game

image via Xbox

Looks like Microsoft’s Xbox Developer Direct 2026 might surprise us with more than what’s been officially announced. They’ve already said there will be three big games at the event, but now a well-known industry insider is hinting at a “secret fourth game” that’ll be unveiled too.

You can catch the digital presentation on Thursday, January 22, starting at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET / 6 PM UK. Xbox has confirmed they’ll be giving us new looks at Forza Horizon 6, Fable, and Beast of Reincarnation, which is coming from the Pokémon creators, Game Freak.

Insider Teases an Unannounced Xbox Game

So, Shinobi602, who's pretty famous for leaking Xbox stuff accurately, has spilled the beans that Microsoft has a surprise up its sleeve. Aside from the three games we already know about, there’s going to be a fourth game announcement. This was shared on the ResetEra forums.

Shinobi602 didn’t spill the details on what this mystery game is, but hinted it’s not really their cup of tea. This might mean it’s not your usual blockbuster or a fan-favorite type of game. That’s all they said, though—no extra info was given.

What’s Confirmed for Xbox Developer Direct 2026

Microsoft's got three big projects lined up for the January showcase:

• Forza Horizon 6 – Playground Games is bringing the next installment of this open-world racing series to Japan. They've hinted that the new setting and game size are going to "blow fans away," so it sounds like they're planning a big leap forward for the series.

  
  

• Fable – Also from Playground Games, this is the much-anticipated reboot of the classic RPG. It's been in the works for about seven years. It was originally supposed to come out in 2025, but now it's pushed back to 2026, and some say it might even slip to 2027.

  
  

• Beast of Reincarnation – This is a fresh title from Game Freak, the folks behind Pokémon. It's a big change from what they usually do, making it one of the most exciting announcements of the event.

A Big Moment for Xbox in 2026

If the buzz about a fourth game turns out to be true, it could really amp up the excitement for the Developer Direct. Xbox is aiming to beef up its first-party games for 2026 and beyond, so a surprise reveal would be a big deal. Fans are definitely going to be tuning in to see if Microsoft has any unexpected announcements up its sleeve.

The Xbox Developer Direct 2026 is going live on January 22, and with all the chatter about a secret reveal, it's looking like one of the most hyped Xbox events of the year.