Microsoft has announced another Developer Direct, set to take place on the 22nd January. It'll feature Fable, Forza, and Beast of Reincarnation.
It's been another strange, difficult, and yet somehow also brilliant year for video games in 2025. Triple-A releases have been sparse again, compared to the boom times of old, with a great big GTA 6-shaped hole left in the final few months of the year. And yet once again, every gap left by the established order has been filled twice over with something brilliantly new.
2025 has gone by in a flash, hasn't it? Well, apart from the days I've spent tabulating all your Game of the Year votes and presenting the results here - that has felt like an eternity and I think has given me permanent neck pain. But, let's not worry about that. I'm sure you'll agree it was worth the sacrifice.
2026 is going to be an incredible year for Xbox players – you might even call it a… fabled year. To celebrate, we’re kicking it off with the fourth installment of our Developer_Direct broadcast on January 22, bringing you news, new gameplay, and insights directly from the incredible teams working on titles coming this year.
Presented by the game creators themselves, Developer_Direct will once again give you an inside look at not just the games, but the studios working to bring them to life. Fittingly for Xbox’s 25th anniversary year, that includes the return of some of our most legendary franchises, which rub shoulders with a brand new title from one of Japan’s most beloved studios.
The show includes not one but two titles from Playground Games, with the UK studio bringing us a first extended look at Fable, as well as the debut of gameplay for Forza Horizon 6. We’ll also be taking a trip to Tokyo to visit the legendary Game Freak, offering a first in-depth look at Beast of Reincarnation, which we revealed at Xbox Games Showcase last year.
You can tune in at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern / 6pm UK on January 22 to see all the latest on:
Fable – Playground Games welcomes players back to the fairytale land of Albion, with the first in-depth look at Fable – one of 2026’s most anticipated titles. Devs from the Playground team will unveil the magic and mischief that awaits players in this fresh new beginning for the franchise, including a first look at some stunning new gameplay. Of course, the core themes of Fable will all be there – choice, consequence, drama, action, British humor and (of course) chickens, all reimagined for existing fans and new players alike.
Forza Horizon 6 – The Forza team from Playground Games will share a deep-dive on the much-anticipated Forza Horizon 6 as the open world racer takes players to the beautiful and contrasting landscapes of Japan. The segment will deep-dive into a very first look at gameplay, including reveals of new features – and how Japan comes to life in this stunning new installment.
Beast of Reincarnation – Join us as we delve into Game Freak’s intense one-person, one-dog action RPG. For the first time, Game Freak will reveal details of our protagonist Emma’s innovative plant manipulation actions and gameplay with her canine companion, Koo. In Beast of Reincarnation, a profound and dangerous world unfolds in post-apocalyptic Japan. Discover the development secrets behind its creation in Developer_Direct.
Stay tuned to our official social channels for more from Developer_Direct, airing on Thursday, January 22 at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern / 6pm UK.
The post Developer_Direct Returns January 22: Watch Fable, Forza Horizon 6, and Beast of Reincarnation Gameplay, Direct from the Studios appeared first on Xbox Wire.
Publisher Xbox Game Studios and developer Obsidian Entertainment have announced that a PlayStation 5 version of Avowed will launch on February 17. The release will coincide with the “Anniversary Update,” which adds several new features, including New Game Plus, a new Photo Mode, additional character presets, a new weapon type, and more. Pre-orders for the game are now available on the PlayStation Store. A new developer interview has also been released.
The game’s details via the publisher:
Welcome to the Living Lands, a mysterious island filled with adventure and danger.
Set in the fictional world of Eora that was first introduced to players in the Pillars of Eternity franchise, Avowed is a first-person fantasy action RPG from the award-winning team at Obsidian Entertainment.
You are the envoy of Aedyr, a distant land, sent to investigate rumors of a spreading plague throughout the Living Lands—an island full of mysteries and secrets, danger and adventure, and choices and consequences, and untamed wilderness. You discover a personal connection to the Living Lands and an ancient secret that threatens to destroy everything. Can you save this unknown frontier and your soul from the forces threatening to tear them asunder?
The Weird and Wonderful Living Lands
The Living Lands is a place that feels foreign yet somewhat intrinsic to you as it feels the island itself is calling out to you for help. Explore an island home to many different environments and landscapes, each with their own unique ecosystem.
Visceral Combat to Play Your Way
Mix and match swords, spells, guns, and shields to fight your way. Dig into your grimoire for spells to trap, freeze or burn enemies, bash them with your shield, or use range bows to attack from a distance.
Companions as Part of Your Journey
Companions from a spread of species will fight alongside you, with their own unique set of abilities. From a former mercenary to an eccentric wizard, they will be part of your journey with your choices shaping them as you help them with their quests.
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The post Avowed PlayStation 5 Release Date Announced Alongside A New Update appeared first on Gaming Instincts - Next-Generation of Video Game Journalism.
If you forget about the New Game+ Showcase, then the Xbox Developer_Direct looks to be the first major “Direct” style presentation for the year, as is tradition. Microsoft has already confirmed the presence of Fable, Forza Horizon 6 and Beast of Reincarnation, but there are rumors of a “secret” fourth title. Which is par for the course, honestly – remember when Hi-Fi Rush exploded into the world?
Insider Shinobi602 initially reported this, noting that he was “not very excited” based on his personal tastes, without mentioning any further details. VGC’s Andy Robinson followed up by alleging that it would be a third-party title. However, the site has since posted a correction. “This is a smaller original game from a first-party studio, and not a third-party game.”
Let the speculation run wild, especially considering rumors of Obsidian Entertainment working on four new games. Perhaps a sequel to Pentiment is on the cards? Of course, there’s also Double Fine Productions, which released Keeper last year but could have another project, this one directed by Tim Schafer, to showcase.
Could we perhaps see something from Ninja Theory? Hellblade 3 doesn’t seem all that likely, especially given how long ago the studio’s next project was allegedly greenlit. However, there is Project: Mara, which the studio has been quietly working on in the background since 2020.
With the Developer_Direct set for January 22nd, the wait is excruciating. Interestingly, we may get some other bombshell announcements, including Fable allegedly launching day and date on PS5 alongside Xbox Series X/S and PC.
CORRECTION: VGC has since been told this is a smaller original game from a first-party studio, and not a third-party game, as first reported. Apologies for the mix-up. https://t.co/VO3Zt03ipE
— Andy Robinson (@Andy_VGC) January 9, 2026
Microsoft has confirmed that a pair of RPGs will be the next Xbox games to release on the PS5, and both of them will be out on the platform in February 2026. Obsidian Entertainment‘s Avowed will launch on PS5 first, followed by Stoic’s Towerborne.
Action RPG Avowed will be available on PS5 on February 17, along with its Anniversary Update. The update will add New Game Plus, Photo Mode, new character appearance, new weapon, new character options, and more.
“You are the envoy of Aedyr, a distant land, sent to investigate rumors of a spreading plague throughout the Living Lands — an island full of mysteries and secrets, danger and adventure, and choices and consequences, and untamed wilderness,” reads an official overview. “Can you save this unknown frontier and your soul from the forces threatening to tear them asunder?”
Stoic’s Towerborne is a side-scrolling action RPG that’s currently in early access. The full game will launch on PS5 on February 26.
“Rise again as an Ace, an immortal warrior reborn to defend the Belfry against the darkness beyond its walls,” a description reads. “Journey across a crumbling world, uncover the mystery of the fallen City of Numbers, and push back the corruption threatening humanity’s survival.”
Check out a trailer below:
The post PS5 Gets More Xbox Games in February 2026, RPG Fans Rejoice appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.
2025 had video games. 2026 will have video games. GTA 6 might be one of those video games. However, it’s currently only pencilled in for console next year. Not that I considered writing about it in this sort of article two years running, just for a laugh. That’d be hackish and beneath the level I hold myself to. Well, by about three millimeters.
Avowed won't be getting the final update devs Obsidian had planned for this year. Instead the studio have opted to save putting out the new game plus mode they'd planned for this autumn for a big update to make the RPG's first birthday in February. To make up the extra wait, the anniversary update'll be adding some mystery extra bits alongside the already announced features.
The autumn patch was originally set to be the third update delivered to the nature-rific blunderbuss adventure this year. The last one to arrive was the summer update, which aimed to round out the fighting skills of non-magic users so that wizards weren't having all of the fun.
Obsidian Entertainment, one of gaming's busiest developers, has announced a delay for this year's remaining Avowed update. This was to include a Photo mode and New Game Plus mode, among other things, and it will now be held back - as well as enlarged - for the game's anniversary on 18th February 2026.
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The price of RAM, the quick access source of memory in a computer, is currently soaring. Prices have more than doubled in two months and show no sign of slowing down. They've risen so sharply, in fact, that some shops have stopped printing price labels so they can alter the prices daily, as though they were market traders selling freshly caught fish.
Just Cause developer Avalanche has closed its Liverpool studio, following the cancellation of Xbox exclusive Contraband earlier this year.
Peter Moore is one executive who can probably claim to have done it all. Having recently fulfilled a lifelong dream of being CEO of Liverpool Football Club, this Liverpudlian businessman also spent decades working in video games, leading EA, helping Sega launch the Dreamcast and, of course, making a real contender of Microsoft's gaming business with the launch of Xbox 360. Whenever the Xbox 360 made a move, Moore was the person on stage announcing it, literally rolling up his sleeves to display Halo and Grand Theft Auto tattoos, taking the fight to Sony and PlayStation.
There are some features that devalue Forza Horizon 5, but they are not major factors. First, what about the map? Mexico is not a backdrop; it is a character. Biomes come alive, from the blistering sun deserts to the jungles teeming with life. The rocky cliffs have a rawness, while the coastal roads have an uncontrolled elegance. Over hours, every drive still feels fresh. One minute, you slide through dusty trails, the next you're sliding down the highway with the ocean in your peripheral.
But what struck me the most is how Mexico caters to every playstyle. How about drifting in a socked-up Nissan Silvia through volcanic ash? The map is beyond size; it is intentional. Forza Horizon 5 caters to every gearhead and casual racer.
Forza Horizon 5 shifts focus to the handling and performance of the many cars it features and attempts to find the right balance between arcade and simulation gameplay, an aspect it does remarkably well. As an arcade racer, there are changes made in every car to give it a distinct personality. I especially like the Rear Wheel Drive vintage Mustang and a McLaren 720S, and the difference in the feeling I get when I drive them. It's an overt feeling. It's great to see a game where the cars are not a collection of pixels but rather considerately designed and made to feel alive.
It is made even more interesting with the new rally differentials and the semi-slick tires. These two additions for racing guys who buy PS5 racing games single-handedly provide the sense of satisfaction I get from constructing and customising a rally Subaru WRX STI to tsunami my way through a jungle or a Lamborghini Urus to the endless sand dunes.
Forza Horizon 5's visuals and graphics are breathtaking. Every detail is beautifully designed. Everything, including how the sunlight peeks through the trees and the shine on a polished hood, is perfectly created. The feeling of driving while it is pouring rain, while oppressive, is also enjoyable, and if you get cheap PS5 games in the racing category, here you have it. The world at sunset is mesmerizing, with its bright golden glow and warmth. The glow of the sunset almost makes one want to stop the car and simply exist.
The sound design is a mixed bag, but mostly good. The authenticity of the engines makes the players feel the car with its growl, roar, and purr. Some of the cars do sound way too synthetic, and it is also common to hear an engine not match with the car it is supposed to be. Forza's sound design is impressive, but it has a few minor faults in the scope of the whole game.
For me, it is collecting and customizing cars that is the heart of Forza Horizon 5. There is something deeply satisfying, almost meditative, in hunting down the right car, perfecting the tweaks on every performance parameter, and then going on a test drive. My garage is an assortment of modern and classic cars — a sleek, futuristic Porsche Taycan stands next to a 1969 Dodge Charger that rumbles like an earthquake.
Forza is different from the rest of the games in the creativity and imagination that it allows. Want to customize a little Mazda Miata and drop in a V12? Go right ahead. Want to customize a Toyota Supra into a glow-in-the-dark spectacle with neon vinyls covering it and other light-up accessories? A custom-built Ford Bronco that is made for off-road driving is, in my opinion, the peak of my achievements in the game, and I must admit, it is a beast, and I have gotten a little too attached to it.
If you've been playing Forza Horizon 4, you will see just how much has changed — for better or worse. One of the impacts that has been somewhat changed is the tuning menu, which has lots of options for tires, gearing, and the like. But honestly? It's not a bad thing. It is like seeing a close friend who has learned some brand new tricks. And that brand new tricks like the rally differentials are just enough to add some engagement to the experience.
One of the interesting additions is the hint at possible future DLCs. Two enigmatic empty spaces are located on the main menu, hinting at what is to come. If we are to judge based on previous expansions, we are in for a massive treat. New cars, new maps, new gameplay modes, we are guaranteed that new content will be added.
It may not reinvent the wheel, and quite frankly, it doesn't have to. It, in essence, takes everything we cherished in the previous iterations and improves upon it while placing it in what can only be considered one of the most gorgeous landscapes on the planet. Whether you are a mere casual player or have the most serious of passions for cars, there is something for you. To me, Forza Horizon 5 is an entire universe where I can unleash my love for cars, build them, drive them, and let my imagination run wild. Because, why not? That is what gaming truly is.
