Near the end of the Xbox Games Showcase 2025 stream, and just before passing the baton to the Obsidian Direct dedicated to The Outer Worlds 2 and Grounded 2, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer made an appearance to comment on the first-party lineup that fans will get next year. He not only confirmed a new Forza game for 2026 but also seemed to tease something Halo-related. Here's the exact quote:
Looking ahead, next year marks 25 years of Xbox. It's a big milestone for the platform and franchises that you helped build and make popular. We couldn't have done this without everyone who's been with us on this journey. As we think about bringing a new generation of players to these iconic franchises, I'm excited to share that players will get to celebrate 25 years of Xbox with a new Fable, the next Forza, Gears of War: E-Day, and the return of a classic that's been with us since the beginning.
Gears of War: E-Day and Fable were known quantities, of course. As for the new Forza game, we don't know yet for sure whether it is a new installment in the mainline simulation series developed by Turn 10 or a new Forza Horizon open world game. Logic would suggest the latter, as Forza Horizon 5 launched in 2021, whereas the latest Forza Motorsport was released in 2023.
Xbox fans are most excited about Spencer's final tease, though. Most of them think he's referring to a Halo game, since that was the flagship game when the original Xbox debuted in 2001. It could be a remaster or remake of the first game, Halo: Combat Evolved. Of course, there's also a chance it's something else entirely. Another option could be the return of Project Gotham Racing, which was the other major Xbox exclusive when Microsoft's first console debuted on the market. At the same time, it's unlikely Spencer would be boasting so much about another racing game when already announced that a new Forza is arriving in 2026.
We may know more before the end of the year. Meanwhile, we'll make sure to report on any rumors or leaks on the subject.
About the author: With over two decades of experience in gaming journalism, Alessio Palumbo has led the gaming vertical at Wccftech since August 2015. He started working at a young age for Italian websites like Everyeye.it, Gamestar.it, Nextgame.it, and Multiplayer.it before kickstarting the indie English-language publication Worlds Factory as its founder and Editor in Chief. In the last decade, he has coordinated the overall output of Wccftech's gaming section, managed PR relations, assigned reviews, produced daily news coverage, edited gaming content as needed, and delivered game reviews. Arguably, his trademark content is the long series of exclusive developer interviews that have been cited by Wikipedia and by the biggest news media and gaming publications. His passion for technology also makes him knowledgeable when it comes to gaming hardware and tech. His favorite genres include RPGs, MMORPGs, and action/adventure games.
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