As per usual, the "Big 3" didn't wait long to get into 2026 before each hosting their own presentation featuring some of the biggest titles to look forward this year (and/or perhaps beyond). Also, as per usual, we are doing are due diligence and rounding up the highlights for ease of consumption. So please continue on below and take a gander at some of the most exciting, soon to be arriving titles that Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony would like for you to start getting pumped about.
- Forza Horizon 6 - Microsoft decided to kick things off, with their Xbox Developer Direct on January 22nd. Like last year's Developer Direct, their presentation was more focused yet much more anemic than Nintendo's or Sony's presentations, and that's kind of saying something because Nintendo didn't really have all that much going on either. In total, the Direct consisted of in-depth looks at a mere 4 titles - - three of which were had already been announced and the last and sole surprise of the show was an absolutely terrible-looking title from their talented yet famously inconsistent first-party studio, Double Fine.
At least the three that were already known were worth learning more about. The Direct began with a look at the newest Playground Games title, Forza Horizon 6. This latest entry in the long-running series will be entirely set in the county of Japan and, as such, will feature a number of fantastic racing locations, disciplines, and locally-sourced rides (and imported ones as well). As one of the best-looking installments yet, gearheads will be happy to know that they won't have to wait long, as Forza Horizon 6 is scheduled to arrive on Xbox Series X and PC on May 19th. - Beast of Reincarnation - The second title featured in the presentation was Game Freak's Beast of Reincarnation. First shown back in 2023, this post-apocalyptic samuai title, from the studio widely known for its Pokemon property, looks better and better, every time we see it. As the first realistic-looking AAA title from the studio, it will be interesting to see how well the rather specialized talents of Game Freak's team can transfer to such a vastly different genre. As many others undoubtedly do, as well, we look forward to finding out when the game releases on Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5, and PC, sometime this summer.
- Fable - The final game to be featured in the Xbox Direct was the other hugely-anticipated title from Playground Games - - the long-awaited reboot of Microsoft's beloved Fable series. Though it's been multiple console generations since the last proper Fable installment, it seems like all the time and effort spent on making this game may just end up being worth it in the end, as the new Fable looks absolutely incredible. If it ends up being even remotely as entertaining as it appeared to be in the presentation, it may just be the greatest Fable title yet. Microsoft still doesn't seem to have settled on an exact launch date for the game but they've at least been good enough to narrow it down to this autumn (and at this point, we'll take what we can get).
- Turok: Origins - As mentioned above, the February 5th Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase wasn't really all that much better than Microsoft presentation, but at least they had more games to show off. Although, not many of them were really worth writing home about. That being said, they did confirm a Switch 2 version of the previously announced upcoming Turok game, Turok: Origins.
That's only fitting for a series that originally got its start (and multiple sequels) as a Nintendo 64 exclusive. The game is also being developed by Saber Interactive, a studio which is coming in still fresh off of their hit 2024 release, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II. If they can manage to bring a similar style of action-packed goodness to the world of Turok, then fans of both Saber and Turok should be looking forward to Origins, which is set to release sometime this fall. - Captain Tsubasa II: World Fighters - Another one to looks forward to, at least for fans of soccer and/or '80s style anime, is a follow-up to the surprisingly compelling Tamsoft-developed 2020 title, Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions. Though the series has actually been around since the early '80s, the new installment, Captain Tsubasa II: World Fighters, will be only the second console title to be released in North America (following the aforementioned Rise of New Champions). Featuring 22 teams and over 100 unique characters, Captain Tsubasa II looks like it will be well worth checking out when it releases for the Switch (1) on a still to be determined date in 2026.
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - Remastered - Though they've both already been out for a while elsewhere, Nintendo loyalists who also happen to be fans of Bethesda games (well who isn't, really?) can rejoice now that it's been announced The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - Remastered is coming to the Switch 2. Following the 2017 port of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim to the original Switch, and the just-released anniversary edition of Fallout 4 on the Switch, the remastered version of the 2006 classic, Oblivion, will be just the third (non-free-to-play) Bethesda-developed title ever to grace a Nintendo console. Actually, given that fact, the Nintendo camp may not have held a whole heck of a lot of Bethesda fans up to this point, but they'll surely be getting a lot more when Oblivion - Remastered comes to the Switch 2, later this very year.
- Kena: Scars of Kosmora - Once again, Sony saved the best for last with their pretty fantastic February 12th PlayStation State of Play presentation. Right off the bat, they dropped an announcement trailer for a sequel to the beautiful, award winning 2021 Ember Labs hit, Kena: Bridge of Spirits. This new installment, titled Kena: Scars of Kosmora, looks to be even deeper and more visually stunning than the original and is set to be released sometime later this year on both PlayStation 5 and PC.
- Control Resonant - Not too long after the Kena trailer, the presentation featured a gameplay trailer of the recently-announced Remedy title, Control Resonant. Follow-up to the award-winning 2019 original (Control title), Control Resonant will follow Dylan Faden, the estranged brother of that game's protagonist, Jesse, as he uses his supernatural abilities to battle hostile cosmic hostiles while searching for her. The trailer for the game featured a lot of superheroic gravity-bending beatdowns and looked like a pretty wild ride that we absolutely can't wait to experience - - when it launches on PlayStation 5, later this year.
- Mina the Hollower - One of the most compelling-looking indie title trailers shown during the presentation was for Mina the Hollower. Notable for being the first non-Shovel Knight title set to be released by developer Yacht Club Games, the new property has actually been in development by them since at least 2022. It may just end up being well worth the wait, however, as the game looks like an absolutely fantastic mash-up of Castlevania and the Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening. Mina the Hollower is set to finally be released, this very spring.
- Castlevania: Belmont's Curse - As if an epic Castlevania homage wasn't enough, during a portion of the State of Play devoted to upcoming Konami titles, an actual, all new, series installment was also announced that will be releasing in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the beloved franchise. Titled Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, the game is being developed by Motion Twin and Evil Empire - - the two studios responsible for the incredibly popular, award-winning 2018 series homage, Dead Cells. While no specific date in 2026 has yet been announced for Belmont's Curse, it's a pretty good bet that that date will end up falling shockingly close to Halloween.
- Star Wars: Galactic Racer - Shortly before the Castlevania announcement, the State of Play also showed off a trailer for the recently-announced Lucasfilm title, Star Wars: Galactic Racer. Looking a great deal like a modern version of the 1999 classic, Star Wars Episode I: Racer, this new title is actually being developed by some of the former talent from famed EA racing studio, Criterion Games. We don't know about you but to us, that sounds like a match that's truly out of this world. Star Wars and/or Criterion fans can look forward to taking Galactic Racer for a spin sometime later this year.
- John Wick - In addition to the trailer for their upcoming Turok game (shown in Nintendo's Partner Showcase), Saber Interactive also released a PlayStation State of Play teaser revealing a John Wick title that they are currently working on as well. Though little (if any) actual gameplay was shown, and the game's official title wasn't yet revealed, the work in progress does appear to effectively capture the violent, action-packed, over the top style of the popular films, in addition to featuring their legendary star, Keanu Reeves. While not even a release year has yet been hinted at, its a pretty safe assumption that many fans will be looking forward to this title with great anticipation.
So that will wrap up our roundup of the first big presentations of 2026. As always, follow the article links to check out each game and/or presentation for yourselves. Also, don't forget to let us know which ones you're looking forward to most.
[Images: Xbox, Ember Labs, Konami]
 | [AJ Amideo] |