When is the Xbox Developer Direct? UK time and how to watch

Though Microsoft’s consoles are not selling particularly well and Game Pass price hikes have ruffled many feathers, the games getting developed are quite often certified bangers and so many of us are looking forward to the Xbox Developer Direct. But when is it, and how does one go about watching it?

We’ve got all that answered and more, including what we can expect to see, including a potential surprise…

We’ll also go over when to watch it here in the UK, which, for once, isn’t at 13 o’clock or something ridiculous.

With the games being shown, however, we’re not entirely sure you’ll be actually be able to play it on your Xbox Ally, unless you own the X version, which is significantly more powerful.

But as for when the Xbox Developer Direct is and more, read on!

When is the Xbox Developer Direct?

The Xbox Developer Direct will take place Thursday 22nd January 2026.

As Developer Directs are prerecorded, it’s not taking place anywhere specific, so folks in Europe don’t have to accommodate late-evening awards shows or anything of the sort.

Mercifully, seeing as it is a prerecorded affair, it doesn’t have to be hosted live in the evening somewhere that is not Europe timezone friendly, and as for the exact time, read on!

What is the UK start time for the Xbox Developer Direct?

The UK start time for the Xbox Developer Direct is 6PM GMT.

Perfect then for watching it as you get home from work, or were worried sick you wouldn’t have anything to watch during dinner – perish the thought!

Xbox Developer Direct’s are typically under an hour, so you won’t need to pull an all-nighter to watch it, unlike shows such as The Game Awards.

Be sure to set an alarm so you don’t miss it!

How to watch the Xbox Developer Direct?

You can watch the Xbox Developer Direct on YouTube.

There isn’t a waiting room for the video yet, but there should be one that goes up at least a few days before the direct is scheduled to go live.

In the meantime, you can check out all the upcoming games in 2026 and beyond to see what else there is to look forward to!

What to expect from the Xbox Developer Direct

Microsoft has revealed that we can expect to see Fable, Forza Horizon 6 and Beast of Reincarnation during the January 2026 Xbox Developer Direct.

There is also supposedly a fourth, secret game that is going to be shown, according to Shinobi602 on the Reset Era forums.

VGC has also corroborated this, stating that is a “smaller-scale original game from one of Xbox Game Studios’ first-party developers”.

Probably not Gears of War E-Day, then…

But as for what we do know, we’ll no doubt get a proper in-depth look at Fable, with the greatest hits of a quest for players to complete. We should also get actual gameplay of Forza Horizon 6 and see how Playground Games has translated Japan into a game-friendly facsimile.

The real wild card is Beasts of Reincarnation from Game Freak, yes, that Game Freak that makes Pokémon games.

To see Game Freak create a game that is visually stunning is certainly something. It’s amazing what one can achieve when not beholden to strict deadlines!

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