Microsoft's annual Xbox Games Showcase has delivered a comprehensive look at its upcoming slate of games, featuring a mix of new intellectual property, sequels, and significant updates to existing titles. The presentation concluded with a dedicated "Gears of War E-Day Direct," offering an in-depth look at the series' latest installment.
Gears of War Returns with E-Day
The showcase kicked off and concluded with a focus on Gears of War E-Day. The game is set 14 years before the original Gears of War and follows Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago during Emergence Day, the Locust Horde's initial invasion of the planet Sera. Trailers showcased visceral combat, including chainsaw executions, and highlighted the game's narrative focus. Gears of War E-Day is slated for release on October 6, 2026, for Xbox Series X/S and PC, and will be available on Game Pass from day one.
Fable and Halo Set for New Adventures
Playground Games' Fable, a reboot of the beloved RPG series, received a new trailer and a revised release window of February 23, 2027. The game, coming to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, emphasizes player choice and consequence within the world of Albion. Meanwhile, Halo: Campaign Evolved was announced, offering a prequel experience set before Halo: Combat Evolved. This new entry, featuring three new missions, is scheduled for release on July 28, 2026, for Xbox Series X/S, PC, and PlayStation 5, also launching day one on Game Pass.
New Franchises and Returning Series
Several new games and expansions were revealed. Resonance: A Plague Legacy, a prequel to A Plague Tale: Requiem, will launch on August 27, 2026, for Xbox Series X/S, PC, and PlayStation 5. State of Decay 3 is set to release in 2027, featuring a more dynamic zombie threat. Bad Magpie, a chaotic adventure game reminiscent of Untitled Goose Game, is also slated for 2027 on Xbox Series X/S and PC. Wo Long 2: Wings of Ember, a fantasy RPG from Koei Tecmo, will arrive in early 2027 for multiple platforms, including Nintendo Switch 2.
Metro 2039, the latest installment in the post-apocalyptic shooter series, will feature the franchise's first fully voiced protagonist, the Stranger, as he navigates a Moscow Metro system under the control of the Novoreich regime. It is scheduled for release in February 2027 for Xbox Series S/X, PlayStation 5, and PC.
RPGs and Action Games
Persona 4 Revival, a remake of the classic RPG, was confirmed for release on February 18, 2027, for Xbox Series X/S, PC, and PlayStation 5. The showcase also featured a teaser for Persona 6, indicating a potential shift toward a more horror-centric tone. Senua, the next entry in the Hellblade series, is being rebranded as a full action-adventure game with expanded combat and exploration options, targeting a 2027 release across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, a 2D action-exploration game celebrating the series' 40th anniversary, is set to release on October 15, 2026, for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC.
Valor Mortis, a first-person soulslike developed by Ghostrunner's creators, places players in the role of a former Napoleonic soldier with supernatural powers, launching September 24th for Xbox Series X/S, PC, and PlayStation 5. Magicians: The Devil's Deal, a new title where players seek revenge after being sacrificed for power, is set for a 2027 release on Xbox Series X/S, PC, and PlayStation 5. Spyro: A Realm Beyond, the first new Spyro game since 2008, will launch in Spring 2027 for Xbox Series X/S, PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Clockwork Revolution, an Xbox console exclusive, will allow players to manipulate timelines for heists and combat clockwork monsters, arriving in 2027. The Elder Scrolls Online will receive a new Thieves Guild expansion on July 8, 2026, bringing fantasy heists to the MMORPG. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 will receive a "World Update 22: National Parks" on July 4, 2026, adding numerous US national parks. Where Winds Meet's "Hidden Mountain" expansion is set for July 2026.
Updates and Surprises
Updates were also provided for live service games. Sea of Thieves' "Custom Seas" update, allowing players to create custom game modes, will arrive on June 18, 2026. Fallout 76's "Infestations" update is available now. Age of Empires IV: Raiders of the North expansion, featuring Vikings and Scots, will launch in Autumn 2026. Minecraft Dungeons II will be released on September 29, 2026.
Other titles announced include Join Us, a cult simulation game releasing in March 2027, and Vivarium, a hand-drawn anime-style life-sim adventure coming in 2027. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is set to release on October 23, 2026, with a focus on its DMZ extraction mode featuring a new Korean map. Finally, to celebrate its 25th anniversary, Microsoft announced the Xbox Series X25, a limited edition console with a transparent green case, launching in November 2026.