Xbox at gamescom 2026: The Games and Streams Worth Watching
Xbox is bringing 25 upcoming games, 140 play stations and two days of live broadcasts to Cologne. Here is the useful shortlist before gamescom begins.
Gamescom 2026 is nearly here, and Xbox has published enough detail to plan around the noise. The company says its Cologne booth will include 25 upcoming games across 140 gaming stations, while viewers at home get two official live broadcasts.
This is a preview, not a recap. The details below reflect Xbox's official schedule as of August 20 and may change during the event.
When to watch from home
Xbox's live broadcasts begin at 4:00 p.m. CEST on Wednesday, August 26 and Thursday, August 27. Both shows will stream on the official Xbox YouTube and Twitch channels. Xbox says the broadcasts will include developer interviews, guests, gameplay, trailers and announcements.
The company has also committed to American Sign Language and English audio descriptions for the live show, with selected segments available in additional languages.
The five games at the centre of the booth
The full list is large, but these are the clearest headline attractions:
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 — playable in Core 6v6 multiplayer on Xbox Series X.
- Gears of War: E-Day — the first public hands-on campaign demo before its October 6 release.
- Minecraft Dungeons II — its first public playable showing.
- Fable — a live theatre demo presented by Playground Games rather than an open demo station.
- METRO 2039 — a first hands-on look ahead of its planned February 2027 release.
Halo: Campaign Evolved, Forza Horizon 6 and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 also have dedicated show-floor experiences. In other words, this is not only a trailer event: Xbox is using public demos to make several of its biggest upcoming releases feel concrete.
What is genuinely new here
The most useful distinction is between a first public demo and a familiar game returning with new material. Minecraft Dungeons II and METRO 2039 fall into the first group. Gears of War: E-Day moves from controlled previews into a public campaign demo. Fable remains curated through a live presentation, so expect polished footage rather than unrestricted impressions.
Forza Horizon 6 is expected to show its Drift Attack feature and upcoming collaborations. Halo: Campaign Evolved will demonstrate its modernised combat and expanded options on the show floor.
If you are attending in Cologne
Xbox lists its booth as Hall 7, A-0.61. Public hours run from Thursday, August 27 through Sunday, August 30. The booth will offer adjustable-height stations, Xbox Adaptive Controllers on request, a quiet room, sensory items and interpretation support during selected hours.
The practical plan is simple: choose one first-time demo, one known favourite and one smaller surprise. Trying to queue for every headline game is the fastest route to seeing very little.
The GameBut watchlist
For new information, watch Minecraft Dungeons II and METRO 2039. For a read on launch quality, focus on Gears of War: E-Day. For a glimpse at Xbox's longer-term identity, Fable is still the presentation that matters most.
We will update this article after the broadcasts if dates, platforms or playable details change.
