Mark your calendars, because XBOX is packing its bags for Cologne again. The team just confirmed it’s returning to gamescom 2026 to celebrate a massive milestone: 25 years of play. This year’s show is shaping up to be one of the biggest yet, with a booth stacked full of playable games, developer meet-and-greets, and nostalgia-fueled experiences that look back at nearly three decades of gaming history.
According to the official XBOX Wire announcement, XBOX will connect with players from around the world in Cologne, Germany, spotlighting a huge lineup of upcoming titles before they officially launch. If you’ve been waiting to get your hands on some of the year’s biggest games early, this is your shot.
So what’s actually at the booth? A lot. XBOX says it’s bringing 25 upcoming games and 140 gaming stations to the show floor, meaning there will be plenty of room for fans to line up and go hands-on before these titles hit shelves.
The Games You’ll Be Able to Play Early
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 takes center stage, letting attendees jump into the franchise’s signature Core 6v6 Multiplayer on XBOX Series X.
- Gears of War: E-Day gets its first-ever public playable campaign demo ahead of its October 6, 2026 release.
- Minecraft Dungeons II will be playable for the first time ever.
- Fable gets a live demo theater presentation from Playground Games for the first time.
- STRANGER THAN HEAVEN debuts its playable demo across three of the game’s five cities and eras.
- METRO 2039 goes hands-on for the first time ahead of its February 2027 release.
- Halo: Campaign Evolved offers hands-on time with the remade classic campaign.
- Forza Horizon 6 brings a new Drift Attack feature to try in Japan.
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 gives the first public playable look at the National Championship Air Races.
Also on hand: Alien Deathstorm, Alien: Isolation 2, Bad Magpie, The Blood of Dawnwalker, Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, Crowsworn, Genigods: Nezha, Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, STAR WARS Zero Company, Terrible Lizards, Turok: Origins, and Valor Mortis.
A 25th Anniversary Celebration Built for the Community
Attendees can revisit iconic moments, games, and innovations from every generation of XBOX through interactive experiences, and the celebration continues with the return of XBOX FanFest, bringing together the global XBOX community for exclusive experiences.
Can’t Make It to Cologne?
XBOX is streaming live on YouTube and Twitch starting at 4pm CEST on Wednesday, August 26, and Thursday, August 27, with developer interviews, gameplay reveals, and trailers. ASL interpretation and English Audio Descriptions will be available, with select content in additional languages.
Booth Location, Dates, and Hours
Hall 7, booth A-0.61:
- Thursday, August 27 – 10am to 8pm CEST
- Friday, August 28 – 10am to 8pm CEST
- Saturday, August 29 – 9am to 8pm CEST
- Sunday, August 30 – 9am to 8pm CEST
The booth is wheelchair accessible with XBOX Adaptive Controllers on request, adjustable-height demo stations, a Quiet Room, and ASL/BSL/DGS interpreters plus English- and German-language Audio Descriptions from 12–5pm daily.
FanFest Sweepstakes
XBOX FanFest hits Cologne on Wednesday, August 26, from 8–11pm CEST at the booth. Check official XBOX social channels and the FanFest website for sweepstakes entry details.
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