Xbox Direct 2026, Dragon Ball, & Switch 2: Gaming’s Massive January Explodes
2026 kicks off with a bang! From Forza Horizon 6’s reveal to Dragon Ball’s 40th Anniversary and Deadlock’s massive update, we break down the biggest news.
Welcome to 2026, gamers. If you thought the industry was going to take a nap after the holiday rush, you were dead wrong. The last week of January has turned into an absolute battleground of announcements, reveals, and shadow drops that have the ModVC team glued to our screens. We are witnessing a pivotal moment in gaming history where platform barriers are eroding, legendary anime franchises are entering new eras, and the looming shadow of the Nintendo Switch 2 is finally taking form.
From Microsoft’s aggressive Developer Direct to the impending 40th Anniversary of Dragon Ball, the news cycle is spinning at terminal velocity. We’ve sifted through the noise, the trailers, and the press releases to bring you the definitive breakdown of what is happening this week. Grab your controllers; it’s going to be a wild year.
Xbox Developer Direct 2026: The Green Brand Goes Global
Microsoft held its annual Xbox Developer Direct yesterday, and to say they came out swinging would be an understatement. Following a monumental 2025 that gave us DOOM: The Dark Ages, the tech giant is doubling down on transparency and, surprisingly, platform agnosticism.
The headline act? Forza Horizon 6.
Playground Games has officially lifted the hood on the next entry in the open-world racing titan. Set for release on May 19, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S and PC, the game looks visually staggering. The demo showcased a level of photorealism that blurs the line between game and broadcast. But the real bombshell wasn't the graphics—it was the distribution strategy.
In a move that confirms the rumors swirling for months, Microsoft announced that a PlayStation 5 version will arrive "later this year." This marks a significant shift in the console war dynamic, moving toward a software-first ecosystem. While Xbox owners get the exclusive launch window, the gates are opening.
Xbox Developer Direct Recap
Here is the quick-hit breakdown of the major confirmations from yesterday’s show:
| Game Title | Developer | Release Date | Key Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forza Horizon 6 | Playground Games | May 19, 2026 | New location, PlayStation port confirmed for late 2026. |
| Clockwork Revolution | inXile | Q3 2026 | Deep dive into time-bending mechanics; narrative focus. |
| Project: Mara | Ninja Theory | Halloween 2026 | Psychological horror confirmed; short, hyper-realistic experience. |
| State of Decay 3 | Undead Labs | Summer 2026 | Multiplayer overhaul revealed; persistent world mechanics. |
For a full visual breakdown, check out IGN's coverage of the biggest games coming this year below:
The Biggest Games Coming in 2026 - IGN
Dragon Ball’s 40th Anniversary: A New Challenger Approaches
If you are an anime fan, clear your schedule for this weekend. The Genkida Matsuri event in Japan is celebrating the 40th anniversary of Dragon Ball, and the hype train has no brakes. According to reports from Polygon and Insider Gaming, we are less than 24 hours away from a major new game announcement.
The event streams live on January 25, 2026. What can we expect? The rumor mill suggests this isn't just another arena fighter. With the success of Sparking! ZERO in previous years, Bandai Namco is allegedly aiming for something more expansive—perhaps an open-world RPG that spans the entirety of the Z and Super sagas, or a completely new IP within the Dragon Ball multiverse.
Insider Gaming has corroborated that the unveil will happen during the English-language stream, which will cover anime, manga, and gaming news. This is a "Code Red" for Shonen Jump fans.
The Nintendo Switch 2 and the 2026 Landscape
While Microsoft is showing its hand, Nintendo remains the silent titan in the room. However, the cracks in the dam are appearing. Reports from GameSpot regarding the 2026 release schedule heavily imply that third-party developers are gearing up for the "Switch 2" hardware launch.
The header image from Digitec’s weekly roundup (seen above) and discussions from Gameranx point toward a mid-year release for Nintendo's successor. Developers are quietly updating their portfolios to include "next-gen Nintendo platforms." With games like Assassin's Creed Hexe and Crimson Desert pushing graphical boundaries, the Switch 2 will need the horsepower to keep up. We expect a formal reveal before the end of Q1.
The 2026 heavyweight Roster
The calendar is already filling up fast. Here is what we are tracking for the first half of the year:
| Month | Game / Event | Platform | Hype Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Extraction (Launch) | PC/Console | High |
| January | Dragon Ball Reveal | Global Stream | Super Saiyan |
| February | Highguard Showcase | Stream | Cautious |
| May | Forza Horizon 6 | Xbox/PC | Maximum |
| TBA | Switch 2 Reveal | Nintendo | Breaking |
Deadlock: Old Gods, New Blood
Just when we thought the hero shooter genre had settled, Deadlock has thrown a wrench in the gears. The January 2026 update, ominously titled "Old Gods New Blood," has just dropped, and it is absolutely massive.
According to the patch notes analyzed by EGamersWorld, the update introduces six new heroes simultaneously. That is unheard of in modern live-service balancing. Alongside the roster expansion, a new mode called "Street Brawl" has been added, which appears to strip away the lane-pushing mechanics for pure, chaotic team deathmatch combat.
This update signals that the developers are not afraid to break their own meta. If you haven't logged in since the holidays, now is the time to jump back in.
The Return of the Phantom Horses: Highguard Lives
Remember Highguard? The team-based shooter featuring phantom horses that debuted at The Game Awards and then vanished into the ether? PC Gamer reports that the silence is finally breaking.
After weeks of "frankly kinda weird silence," the Highguard social channels have sputtered to life. A showcase featuring a gameplay deep dive and year-one plans is scheduled for next week. The distinct art style and unique mobility mechanics (hello, spectral equestrian combat) caught everyone’s eye initially, but the lack of follow-up was concerning. We are hoping this showcase proves the game is more than just a cool concept trailer.
Indie Corner & Industry Whispers
It’s not all AAA blockbusters. The indie scene and AA market are making moves this week:
- Extraction: This shooter officially released on January 20th. With a new lower price point and free post-launch content promised (including "Siege" content), it's aiming to capture the tactical audience.
- House on Wheels: A teaser has dropped for a new psychological horror game where you play a "traveler with a cracked soul and a house on wheels." The premise is incredibly unique—mixing resource management with horror on the road.
- New World: Aeternum: Amazon's MMO might be getting a second wind. VICE reports that Alistair McFarlane, the director of Rust, has his eye on the game. Could a survival-crafting pivot save the franchise? It’s a long shot, but an intriguing one.
- Amazon Luna: For the cloud gamers, Amazon has expanded its January 2026 lineup, unlocking five new games this week alone.
Final Thoughts: The Year of Momentum
January is usually a time for the industry to catch its breath, but 2026 has no interest in slowing down. With Microsoft breaking down walls with Forza Horizon 6, Deadlock reinventing itself, and Dragon Ball celebrating four decades of dominance, we are in for a historic run.
Keep it locked to ModVC. We will be covering the Dragon Ball event live this weekend and breaking down the Highguard showcase the moment it airs.
What are you most excited for? The return of Forza, or the mystery of the Switch 2? Let us know in the comments!
Sources: GameSpot, Newsweek, Digitec, PC Gamer, Polygon, VICE, Wccftech, Insider Gaming, EGamersWorld, Notebookcheck.