Xbox is preparing for one of its biggest showcases of 2026, confirming two live broadcasts from Gamescom in Cologne with a packed mix of first-party heavyweights, third-party releases, gameplay reveals and developer interviews.
The Xbox @ Gamescom broadcasts will take place on Wednesday 26 August and Thursday 27 August at 3pm BST, streaming live from the Xbox booth. Microsoft says viewers can expect gameplay reveals, new trailers, interviews and special guests across both days.
Xbox brings its biggest games to Gamescom
Microsoft’s official Gamescom plans put some of the most anticipated upcoming Xbox releases at the centre of the event. The wider Xbox booth will feature 25 upcoming games across 140 gaming stations, while the two broadcasts give players at home a closer look at what is coming next.
Wednesday’s broadcast is set to feature Minecraft Dungeons II, Gears of War: E-Day, Forza Horizon 6 and Fable alongside a substantial selection of partner titles.
Thursday then shifts the spotlight towards games including Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, Turok: Origins and Stranger Than Heaven.
Gears of War: E-Day could be one of the highlights
Gears of War: E-Day is particularly important for Xbox. Gamescom attendees will get the first public playable hands-on experience with its campaign ahead of the game’s 6 October 2026 release.
Tech Torque Media has already spent time with the multiplayer side of the game. In our Gears of War: E-Day multiplayer beta review, the return to heavier movement, close-range combat and the series’ brutal identity left a strong impression. Gamescom should now tell us considerably more about how that philosophy translates into the campaign.
Fable and Forza Horizon 6 give Playground Games a major presence
Playground Games will also have plenty of attention on it. Fable is getting a live demo theatre presentation at Gamescom, with gameplay designed to show its combination of melee, ranged and magical combat.
Forza Horizon 6 is also part of the Xbox presence, with Microsoft promising more from its Japan-set open-world racer. Having both projects represented makes this an unusually significant Gamescom for Playground Games.
Modern Warfare 4 returns to the spotlight
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is another major attraction. The game will be playable on Xbox Series X at the show, focusing on its Core 6v6 multiplayer.
That makes its Gamescom appearance particularly interesting after the early testing period. We recently looked at why the Modern Warfare 4 beta could be one of Call of Duty’s most important tests in years, and the next round of gameplay should offer a clearer indication of how feedback is shaping the final experience.
When can you watch Xbox at Gamescom 2026?
- Wednesday 26 August: 3pm BST / 4pm CEST
- Thursday 27 August: 3pm BST / 4pm CEST
Both broadcasts will stream through Xbox’s official YouTube and Twitch channels. Xbox says American Sign Language and English audio-description versions will also be available, with selected content offered in additional languages.
Full event and accessibility details are available from Xbox Wire’s official Gamescom 2026 guide. The wider Gamescom website also carries information about the Cologne event.
Tech Torque Verdict
Xbox is treating Gamescom as much more than a stop-gap between its summer showcase and the autumn release schedule. Two dedicated broadcasts, a 25-game booth and major appearances from Gears of War: E-Day, Fable, Forza Horizon 6 and Modern Warfare 4 give Microsoft plenty of opportunities to keep momentum building.
The most interesting part may be the emphasis on actual gameplay. Several of these games have already had major trailers or showcases, so Gamescom now needs to show how they play rather than simply remind us that they exist.
Tech Torque Media will be following Gamescom throughout the week and covering the biggest Xbox announcements as they happen.
