It’s an important moment for Microsoft’s gaming division, which just saw a big upheaval in which longtime Xbox boss Phil Spencer retired with Asha Sharma taking over as CEO. The showcase will be an opportunity to show what the current state of the Xbox platform is. It will be livestreamed but also include an in-person element for fans. “In my first month, I heard clearly that our community values Xbox FanFest,” Sharma wrote on X. “As part of the return of Xbox, we made the decision to bring it back to LA to recognize the players who’ve been with us over the years.”
For this year’s showcase, Microsoft says that it will feature “first gameplay looks and huge news on upcoming titles from our first-party studios across the Xbox family, as well as our third-party partners around the globe – from the biggest franchises to soon-to-be indie darlings.” That includes a separate event immediately afterwards, which will be focused entirely on Gears of War: E-Day, which is expected to launch later this year. Other major Xbox titles expected in 2026 include Fable and Halo: Campaign Evolved, so expect to see them both make an appearance as well.