Author: Game Infliction

Xbox Developer Direct 2026 Announced for Next Week, Featuring Fable and Forza Horizon 6

After Xbox Game Studios boss Matt Booty teased the return of Microsoft’s now-annual Xbox Developer Direct showcase last month, the publisher has now confirmed the details. The 2026 Dev Direct will air live on Thursday, January 22 at 10am PT. You can watch it live here on IGN or on IGN’s YouTube channel.

Booty had already confirmed the presence of accomplished Xbox Game Studios developer Playground Games at the event, and now we know for certain that both its upcoming blockbusters will be shown: Forza Horizon 6 and Fable.

Given that both are expected to release this year and they are two of Xbox’s biggest first-party offerings – and that we’ve yet to see proper gameplay from either one – we’re due a proper look at gameplay. And that, according to Microsoft’s announcement this morning, is exactly what we’ll get.

Also featured in the showcase will be Beast of Reincarnation, the upcoming action RPG from Pokémon developer Game Freak that was announced during the Xbox Showcase event in June last year.

There’s no confirmation of any other games under the Microsoft umbrella being included, such as Gears of War: E-Day, the prequel that’s bringing back Delta Squad to the time period before Emergence Day; or Halo: Campaign Evolved, the Unreal Engine 5-based remake of the original Halo’s campaign. I played it, if you’d like to read or watch my first impressions.

Typically Microsoft does include at least one surprise title, however. Could this be where we get a glimpse at the newly-leaked Life is Strange: Reunion? It’s perhaps worth noting that the franchise’s previous game Life is Strange: Double Exposure was unveiled back during the Xbox Showcase in June 2024.

For more on what stands to be a very busy year for Microsoft, check out my What to Expect From Xbox in 2026 piece, and join us every Thursday for a new episode of Podcast Unlocked.

Ryan McCaffrey is IGN’s executive editor of previews and host of both IGN’s weekly Xbox show, Podcast Unlocked, as well as our monthly(-ish) interview show, IGN Unfiltered. He’s a North Jersey guy, so it’s “Taylor ham,” not “pork roll.” Debate it with him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan.

A new StarCraft shooter’s reportedly set to be revealed this year, possibly as a BlizzCon headliner

Right, so, Starcraft. A new shooter in the series is reportedly set to be revealed this year, possibly as the big headline act of Blizzcon in September.

The existence of such a secret shootery thing in the works at Blizzard was first reported by Jason Schreier last year, being one of the revelations to come out of his book on the publisher, titled Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future of Blizzard Entertainment.

Read more

The Witcher 3 Expansion Reports Continue, Now With Discussion of A Possible ‘Dune-Style’ Location

Evidence of an under-wraps third expansion for The Witcher 3 continues to mount, with one report now pointing to a possible ‘Dune-style’ location for the new adventure.

Word of a fresh DLC for the beloved 2015 blockbuster RPG began bubbling up in earnest last month, fuelled by a set of reports from insiders and apparent teases by developer CD Projekt that it had something secret in the works.

Now, a report by IGN Poland has said its local sources have been aware of potential plans for several years, and that — initially at least — its developers had expressed a keen interest in exploring Zerrikania, an exotic desert region to the far east of The Witcher 3’s current map.

While IGN Poland cautions that this information dates back several years, it also goes on to list a string of reasons why Zerrikania makes a lot of sense for the expansion, due to various hints at a Zerrikanian Manticore School in previous expansion Blood and Wine, and references to the region made by other characters. The same school is also a part of The Witcher’s tabletop RPG — as seen in the artwork above.

Separately, a Eurogamer report has given a more black-and-white reason why this expansion is likely real and expected to launch in 2026: because there’s currently a gap in CD Projekt’s employee incentive program target indicative of the company launching something expected to earn significant money.

As Eurogamer notes, CD Projekt doesn’t really have anything else expected to fit the bill, with The Witcher 4 not set for launch until 2027 at the earliest, and Cyberpunk 2 after that. Work on a new IP is also ongoing, but even further off.

There’s a possibility still that this could relate to some other, smaller Witcher spinoff, but with all the smoke around a Witcher 3 expansion now rising, everything looks to be pointing in the same direction.

As “full production” on The Witcher 4 continues, CD Projekt has cautioned fans not to expect its launch in 2026, as the company plans an ambitious six-year roadmap in which it will also launch The Witcher 5 and The Witcher 6. Before all of that, there’s a window this year for even more Witcher, and a fresh slice of content that could potentially help bridge the gap.

A new DLC feels like a smart idea to reawaken lapsed interest ahead of the series’ next chapter, via extra content sold to The Witcher 3’s existing audience of more than 60 million players. This content could be used as a reason to sell the game anew, to bring fresh fans to the decade-old role-player, and potentially set up plot points to be expanded upon in the franchise’s eventual sequels.

Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

New Life is Strange Game Spotted, And Yes, This One Will Finally Bring Back Chloe

A ratings board leak has detailed Life is Strange: Reunion, a new game in the narrative adventure series that focuses on the return of fan-favorite character Chloe.

Details of Life is Strange: Reunion have now been made public by the European ratings board PEGI, which published a now-deleted plot summary for the game online last night.

Reunion’s existance had long been rumored among Life is Strange fans clued into the franchise’s ongoing development at troubled studio Deck Nine Games. The expectation is that Reunion will be made official in the imminent future, and launch not long after.

Life is Strange: Reunion is particularly notable as it appears to revive (or return) the character of Chloe, the original game’s blue-haired best friend (or love interest) that you could sacrifice (or save) depending on your choices.

Deck Nine’s most recent Life is Strange game, Double Exposure, received a negative reaction from many core fans of the series for returning to the story of original main character Max Caulfield in a reality in which Chloe survived the events of the franchise’s first game but did not appear in person. Fans of the pair’s romantic relationship option were particularly upset, as Double Exposure explained that the two characters were now broken up, seemingly permanently.

Purported leaks from within Deck Nine Games amid this backlash painted a picture of a troubled development, but also mentioned a further game being in the works that did feature Chloe. Reunion certainly seems to be this project — and it will be interesting to see whether its final version feels like it has been shaped by feedback to Double Exposure.

“Chloe Price was Max Caulfield’s partner in time,” reads a description of the game published by PEGI. “Losing her is Max’s greatest regret. Now Chloe has come to Caledon University. Haunted by nightmares and impossible memories, Chloe needs Max’s help. But Max is already in crisis: in three days, a deadly inferno will destroy the campus.”

Other plot details include a character hallucinating on mushrooms, and a scene where a building is on fire with people trapped inside. The game will reportedly begin with a recap of previous Life is Strange entries, in which it sounds like we’ll see Chloe during the events of the first game.

A digital deluxe version of the game will also be offered, containing additional outfits.

Life is Strange: Reunion is yet to be officially announced by publisher Square Enix, but it likely won’t be long now. We’ve contacted the company for more.

Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social

Star Wars Outlaws for PS5 and Xbox Series X Is Back to $20 at Amazon

Amazon has been dropping some very nice gaming deals recently to start off 2026. The latest offer to catch our eye is on Star Wars Outlaws for PS5 and Xbox Series X, which have both dropped to $19.99 for a limited time. This marks a return to the lowest price for both PS5 and Xbox Series X versions at Amazon, so this is a great opportunity to grab it. And why not spend these next few winter months journeying to a galaxy far, far away?

Star Wars Outlaws (PS5 and Xbox Series X) for $20

This Amazon Exclusive limited edition release of Star Wars Outlaws comes with some extras alongside the game. This version will set you up with The Rogue Infiltrator Character Pack, which features cosmetics for Kay and Nix that you can use in the game.

Still wondering if this is the game for you? Our review from IGN’s Tristan Ogilvie called it a “fun intergalactic heist adventure with great exploration,” though he noted at the time that it was “hindered by simple stealth, repetitive combat, and a few too many bugs at launch.” However, since launch, it’s received updates to give it a bit of a boost.

As mentioned before, this isn’t the only video game deal to cross our radar over at Amazon. The retailer has had quite a few surprises up its sleeve recently, including a very big discount on Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and Astro Bot. Outside of Amazon, Walmart’s even offering a great deal at the moment on Battlefield 6, if you’ve been waiting for a good time to add that to your library. For even more discounts on games, have a look at our roundup of the best deals of the day.

Hannah Hoolihan is a freelancer who writes with the guides and commerce teams here at IGN.

Rumour: Bethesda Is Reportedly Reviving Two More Fallout Games

Fallout 4 arrives on Switch 2 this year.

Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition is on its way to the Switch 2 this year, and it might not be the only Fallout game returning in the future. This information comes from the same Windows Central report about “what to expect” from Xbox “this year, and beyond”.

According to the site’s executive editor Jez Corden, Fallout fans can “eventually” expect to see a “Fallout 3 remake in the vein of Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered“, with Fallout New Vegas to also apparently receive the same treatment.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Final Fantasy Tactics: Ivalice Chronicles Dev Considering Future Game Updates

Sales success has motivated the team.

Square Enix’s Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles recently surpassed one million sales worldwide, and thanks to this success, future updates for the title are now being considered.

This information comes from the game’s director Kazutoyo Maehiro in a press release (shared via Gematsu):

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Wolfenstein 3 Is Reportedly “In The Works” At MachineGames

It’s bringing Indiana Jones to Switch 2 this year.

The Wolfenstein series could be making a return in the future, according to a new report about “what to expect” from Xbox this year, and beyond”.

Windows Central Jez Corden says he’s heard Wolfenstein III is “on the cards” to coincide with Amazon’s new Wolfenstein television series. Although nothing else about this game is mentioned in the report, Kotaku has confirmed “it’s true”:

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

(For Southeast Asia) Revealing the Hyperpop Collection with three new designs for PS5 accessories, launching this March

Today, we’re sharing the first look at the Hyperpop Collection, featuring three new striking designs for DualSense wireless controllers and PS5 console covers. With glossy blacks shifting into vivid neons, each finish introduces an all-new aesthetic into your gaming setup. 

With the vibrant Hyperpop Collection, players can choose their track between Techno, Remix, or Rhythm:

(For Southeast Asia) Revealing the Hyperpop Collection with three new designs for PS5 accessories, launching this March

Turn up the beat with Techno Red.  

Stand out with Remix Green. 

Stay locked in with Rhythm Blue.  

To share more about the Hyperpop Collection’s design and creative process, here’s Leo Cardoso and Sae Kobayashi from our Color, Material, and Finish design team:

We’re cranking the volume all the way up with a collection that doesn’t just stand out, it takes over the room. Inspired by the glow of the RGB lights of your impressive gaming setups, these new colors go LOUD in the best possible way.

– Leo Cardoso

A seamless gradient wraps around the front and back of the DualSense, finished in a high-gloss coat that makes the colors POP more than ever. The console covers are also getting the same glow-up, featuring a subtle hint of transparency.

– Sae Kobayashi

The Hyperpop DualSense wireless controllers will be available for a recommended retail price (RRP) of SGD 119 / MYR 419 / IDR 1,549,000 / THB 2,890 / PHP 4,890 / VND 2,399,000.* The matching PS5 console covers will be available in limited quantities in select markets for a RRP of SGD 107 / MYR 369 / IDR 1,359,000 / THB 2,590 / PHP 4,290 / VND 2,099,000.*

The Hyperpop Collection launches starting on March 12, 2026.

*Actual retailer prices and availability may vary.