While Microsoft has already confirmed that we will get to see some highly-anticipated titles during its upcoming Xbox Developer Direct, a new report indicates that the company also has a secret announcement planned. Alongside games like Fable, Forza Horizon 6 and Beast of Reincarnation, industry insider Shinobi602 has taken to the ResetEra forums to claim that “there is a ‘secret’ fourth game” planned for the event.
While they didn’t reveal more details about what this secret fourth game might be, Shinobi602 did go on to state that they weren’t particularly excited for the announcement because it wasn’t a game suited to their taste. “For my personal tastes, not very excited lol. That’s not to rain on anyone’s parade, to be clear. Just in terms of the games I like,” they wrote.
The hints being this vague makes it borderline impossible to guess what the title might be. However, a rumour from earlier this week has indicated that developer MachineGames has been working on a new game in the Wolfenstein series. According to the report, this new entry will apparently capitalize on a TV show adaptation in the works at Amazon. The studio is also “thought to be working” on a new multiplayer game that has been compared to Ubisoft’s competitive shooter Rainbow Six Siege. Other possibilities for this announcement include games like State of Decay 3, which rumours have indicated is set for release this year.
A secret announcement wouldn’t be too hard to believe, since Xbox Developer Direct presentations have typically featured some surprises in the past. Hi-Fi Rush by Tango Gameworks, for example, was unveiled and shadow-dropped during one such showcase back in 2023. The following year similarly saw the announcement and release of Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, as well as the unveiling of Ninja Gaiden 4.
As for games that have been confirmed to be making an appearance, art work announcing Xbox Developer Direct 2026—slated to take place on January 22 at 10 AM PT—included screenshots from Playground Games’ Fable and Forza Horizon 6, along with Game Freak’s Beast of Reincarnation. While Fable and Beast of Reincarnation have gotten lengthier trailers before, this will be the first look at the next entry in the open-world racing franchise since it was unveiled back in September with a short teaser trailer confirming its Japan setting.
Fable has been in development for an incredibly long time, having been announced all the way back in 2020. There have been plenty of reported development issues with the title, with the final official word coming last year stating that it was slated for release in 2026. A report from July 2025, however, indicated that Fable might miss its 2026 window as well, slipping into 2027. This potential delay has been attributed to the fact that developer Playground Games seemingly needs more time to work on it.
Beast of Reincarnation was unveiled back in June 2025 with a trailer that gave us a look at its fantasy setting. The game will involve players taking on the role of a young girl exploring various locales, including Japanese villages with rice paddies alongside a wolf companion. Its overall themes, according to the trailer, seem to revolve around reviving nature.
