Xbox Partner Preview showcase March 2026 – here’s everything announced
It’s (third) party time!
What better way to celebrate a Thursday than another Xbox Partner Preview showcase? Yes, it’s that time again when Microsoft turns to its chums and offers them the spotlight; a chance to show the world what they’ve been working on. As usually, that likely means a mix of bigger third-party games and some smaller, but no less enticing indie treats. We’ll be charting the news as it arrives, so ready yourself for the reveals below.
Hunter: The Reckoning – Deathwish
First up we’ve had a brand-new game in the Hunter: The Reckoning series. It’s been over two decades since the tabletop RPG series got a video game adaptation, but here we are weih Hunter: The Reckoning – Deathwish, which is being published by Nacon and is heading to Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC in summer 2027.
Wuthering Waves is coming to Xbox
Need more wuthering in your life? Well you’re luck’s in, because developer Kuro Games’ free-to-play, open-world action-RPG Wuthering Waves is finally making its way to Xbox following its earlier PlayStation 5 and PC release. If you’re in the mood for a bit of gacha, keep your eyes trained on Xbox Series X/S this July, which is when the double-doubleyoo is scheduled to arrive.
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn gets a release window and beta
Perhaps you’ve already have heard of developer Owlcat’s promising The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, a Mass Effect-style take on the popular sci-fi TV show and novel series. Well, if your interest is piqued, we now know it’s launching in spring 2027, and impatient sorts can get involved even earlier, in a closed beta demo releasing next month – but you’ll need to have pre-purchased one of the more expensive editions to play it. Bit of a rollercoaster announcement, then, but at least you can look at the new trailer for free.
Cosy farming sims go serial killer in Grave Seasons
What do you get if you upend the usual cosy farming sim rhythms by shoving a supernatural serial killer into the mix? Well, that’ll be Grave Seasons. It promises your usual farm and relationship building, but – what will all the murdering and all – some investigating thrown in too. If you think you’ve got what it takes to make it in the eerie town of Ashenridge, Grave Seasons – which is the work of developer Perfect Garbage and publisher Blumhouse Games – comes to Xbox Series X/S on 14th August this year.
Serious Sam is back in the Shatterverse!
It’s been four years since developer Croteam’s ludicrous action hero Serious Sam last graced our screens in Serious Sam 4’s standalone expansion Siberian Mayhem. But he’s finally back for more frenzied first-person shooting action in Serious Sam: Shatterverse. Officially a “co-op roguelite FPS”, it blasts one to five players through shifting universes, where they’ll juggle boons and modifiers as they hunt Mental’s deadliest forces. It’s coming to Xbox Series X/S later this year.
Stranger than Heaven is coming to Xbox Series X/S
Like a Dragon developer Ryu Ga Gotoku’s Stranger Than Heaven has looked marvelous ever since its initial reveal, when it was being referred to as Project Century, back 2024. When it finally got a proper unveiling (and a proper name) last June, we had a bit of a time jump from 1915 in its early teaser to 1943. And now we’ve got an explantion for that: as its codename suggested, Stranger than Heaven tells its story across a significant stretch of time, promising an “epic saga of men battling through five eras and five cities”. Beyond that, it looks to share at least a few similarities with earlier Like a Dragon entries, with its open-world locations and real-time combat. But we might have to wait awhile before we learn more – there’s still no release date, but it is coming to Xbox Series X/S, we now know.
Super Meat Boy 3D gets a release date
16 years after Super Meat Boy first made his entrance, turning everyone slightly insensible with his punishingly difficult debut game, the platform series is venturing into 3D. That much we already knew, but developer Team Meat has now slapped its latest wetly meaty adventure with a release date. It’s coming to PC, PlayStation 5, Switch 2, and, of course, Xbox Series X/S, on 31st March this year – so incredibly soon!
Annapurna unveils road trip adventure Forever Ago
Annapurna Interactive – the publisher behind the critically acclaimed likes of Stray, Outer Wilds, and Sayonara Wild Hearts – has unveiled “heartfelt” road trip adventure Forever Ago, the debut title from narrative-focused German indie studio Third Shift. It charts the journey of protagonist Alfred as he travels north following a personal tragedy, where he’ll use his instant camera to “to help him understand his surroundings and the people who came before.” It’s got a soundtrack by Slay the Spire 2 composer Clark Aboud, and is launching this autumn on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Switch 2, and PC.
Hack-and-slash roguelike Ascend to Zero arrives in July
“Have you ever wondered what it feels like to stop time?”, asks Ascend to Zero’s promotional material, to which I reply, “I dunno.” The whole gimmick of developer Flyway Games’ “time-bending” hack-and-slash action-roguelike, you see, is that you’re able to freeze time’s ordinarily insistent march as you battle across Ascend to Zero’s neon-streaked sci-fi world. “Starting with just 30 seconds,” the studio explains, “use your time-bending ability to steal time from your enemies, wield powerful weapons and items, and experience breakneck progression as your build evolves!”. And if that appeals, Ascend to Zero comes to Xbox Series X/S, Game Pass, and PC on 13th July.
Superhero workplace comedy Dispatch heading to Xbox
Dispatch is great. So much so that we ranked developer AdHoc’s superhero workplace comedy fifth in our top games of 2025. And Xbox players will finally have the chance to see what all the fuss is about relatively soon. AdHoc has confirmed it’s bringing Dispatch to Xbox Series X/S this “summer”.
Atomfall developer Rebellion unveils Alien Deathstorm
What’s worse than a deathstorm? An alien deathstorm, of course! So spare a thought for the inhabitants of the devastated off-world colony at the heart of Atomfall developer Rebellion’s newly announced sci-fi action horror FPS. In Alien Deathstorm, not only is a cataclysmic mega-storm raging, the colony has been overrun by bloodthirsty extraterrestrials. Not ideal! Still, you’ll be able to pitch in and help out when Alien Deathstorm comes to Xbox Series X/S and PC next year.
Frog Sqwad slips Xbox players the tongue this June
We first got a peek at Frog Sqwad – developer Panic Stations’ “slapstick, physics-based multiplayer game” that I’m destined to spell wrong forevermore – last year, but it’s back with news of a release window. Frog Sqwad promises chaotic action for up to eight froggy pals as they storm the sewers in the name of the Swamp King, using their tongues to swing from pipes, solve physics puzzles, and more – all to complete “unpredictable” missions in an ever-changing underground world. And if that sounds intriguing, it’s coming to Xbox Series X/S and Game Pass this June.
Bluey gets snap-happy on Xbox this autumn
Acclaimed animated series Bluey’s ongoing mission to bring just a little more joy to the world continues later this year with another crack at a console video game outing, this one titled Bluey’s Happy Snaps. Described as a new “photo-powered adventure game”, it whisks players across some familiar locations, where they can play with toys and use Bluey’s camera to capture their favorite moments. It’s coming to Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC this autumn, meaning Bluey’s Quest for The Gold Pen will be first out the door this May.
Stalker 2 is getting an expansion this summer
Developer GSC Game World’s well-received post-apocalyptic shooter sequel Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is preparing to return to the Zone in a new expansion titled Cost of Hope. It’s promising “dozens of hours of gameplay” as players traverse two new regions and previously uncharted locales, including the Chornobyl nuclear power plant. There’s also talk of new weapons and gear, new hub areas, new quests, and more when it comes to Xbox Series X/S and PC this “summer”.
More to follow…
What better way to celebrate a Thursday than another Xbox Partner Preview showcase? Yes, it’s that time again when Microsoft turns to its chums and offers them the spotlight; a chance to show the world what they’ve been working on. As usually, that likely means a mix of bigger third-party games and some smaller, but no less enticing indie treats. We’ll be charting the news as it arrives, so ready yourself for the reveals below.
Hunter: The Reckoning – Deathwish
First up we’ve had a brand-new game in the Hunter: The Reckoning series. It’s been over two decades since the tabletop RPG series got a video game adaptation, but here we are weih Hunter: The Reckoning – Deathwish, which is being published by Nacon and is heading to Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC in summer 2027.
Wuthering Waves is coming to Xbox
Need more wuthering in your life? Well you’re luck’s in, because developer Kuro Games’ free-to-play, open-world action-RPG Wuthering Waves is finally making its way to Xbox following its earlier PlayStation 5 and PC release. If you’re in the mood for a bit of gacha, keep your eyes trained on Xbox Series X/S this July, which is when the double-doubleyoo is scheduled to arrive.
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn gets a release window and beta
Perhaps you’ve already have heard of developer Owlcat’s promising The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, a Mass Effect-style take on the popular sci-fi TV show and novel series. Well, if your interest is piqued, we now know it’s launching in spring 2027, and impatient sorts can get involved even earlier, in a closed beta demo releasing next month – but you’ll need to have pre-purchased one of the more expensive editions to play it. Bit of a rollercoaster announcement, then, but at least you can look at the new trailer for free.
Cosy farming sims go serial killer in Grave Seasons
What do you get if you upend the usual cosy farming sim rhythms by shoving a supernatural serial killer into the mix? Well, that’ll be Grave Seasons. It promises your usual farm and relationship building, but – what will all the murdering and all – some investigating thrown in too. If you think you’ve got what it takes to make it in the eerie town of Ashenridge, Grave Seasons – which is the work of developer Perfect Garbage and publisher Blumhouse Games – comes to Xbox Series X/S on 14th August this year.
Serious Sam is back in the Shatterverse!
It’s been four years since developer Croteam’s ludicrous action hero Serious Sam last graced our screens in Serious Sam 4’s standalone expansion Siberian Mayhem. But he’s finally back for more frenzied first-person shooting action in Serious Sam: Shatterverse. Officially a “co-op roguelite FPS”, it blasts one to five players through shifting universes, where they’ll juggle boons and modifiers as they hunt Mental’s deadliest forces. It’s coming to Xbox Series X/S later this year.
Stranger than Heaven is coming to Xbox Series X/S
Like a Dragon developer Ryu Ga Gotoku’s Stranger Than Heaven has looked marvelous ever since its initial reveal, when it was being referred to as Project Century, back 2024. When it finally got a proper unveiling (and a proper name) last June, we had a bit of a time jump from 1915 in its early teaser to 1943. And now we’ve got an explantion for that: as its codename suggested, Stranger than Heaven tells its story across a significant stretch of time, promising an “epic saga of men battling through five eras and five cities”. Beyond that, it looks to share at least a few similarities with earlier Like a Dragon entries, with its open-world locations and real-time combat. But we might have to wait awhile before we learn more – there’s still no release date, but it is coming to Xbox Series X/S, we now know.
Super Meat Boy 3D gets a release date
16 years after Super Meat Boy first made his entrance, turning everyone slightly insensible with his punishingly difficult debut game, the platform series is venturing into 3D. That much we already knew, but developer Team Meat has now slapped its latest wetly meaty adventure with a release date. It’s coming to PC, PlayStation 5, Switch 2, and, of course, Xbox Series X/S, on 31st March this year – so incredibly soon!
Annapurna unveils road trip adventure Forever Ago
Annapurna Interactive – the publisher behind the critically acclaimed likes of Stray, Outer Wilds, and Sayonara Wild Hearts – has unveiled “heartfelt” road trip adventure Forever Ago, the debut title from narrative-focused German indie studio Third Shift. It charts the journey of protagonist Alfred as he travels north following a personal tragedy, where he’ll use his instant camera to “to help him understand his surroundings and the people who came before.” It’s got a soundtrack by Slay the Spire 2 composer Clark Aboud, and is launching this autumn on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Switch 2, and PC.
Hack-and-slash roguelike Ascend to Zero arrives in July
“Have you ever wondered what it feels like to stop time?”, asks Ascend to Zero’s promotional material, to which I reply, “I dunno.” The whole gimmick of developer Flyway Games’ “time-bending” hack-and-slash action-roguelike, you see, is that you’re able to freeze time’s ordinarily insistent march as you battle across Ascend to Zero’s neon-streaked sci-fi world. “Starting with just 30 seconds,” the studio explains, “use your time-bending ability to steal time from your enemies, wield powerful weapons and items, and experience breakneck progression as your build evolves!”. And if that appeals, Ascend to Zero comes to Xbox Series X/S, Game Pass, and PC on 13th July.
Superhero workplace comedy Dispatch heading to Xbox
Dispatch is great. So much so that we ranked developer AdHoc’s superhero workplace comedy fifth in our top games of 2025. And Xbox players will finally have the chance to see what all the fuss is about relatively soon. AdHoc has confirmed it’s bringing Dispatch to Xbox Series X/S this “summer”.
Atomfall developer Rebellion unveils Alien Deathstorm
What’s worse than a deathstorm? An alien deathstorm, of course! So spare a thought for the inhabitants of the devastated off-world colony at the heart of Atomfall developer Rebellion’s newly announced sci-fi action horror FPS. In Alien Deathstorm, not only is a cataclysmic mega-storm raging, the colony has been overrun by bloodthirsty extraterrestrials. Not ideal! Still, you’ll be able to pitch in and help out when Alien Deathstorm comes to Xbox Series X/S and PC next year.
Frog Sqwad slips Xbox players the tongue this June
We first got a peek at Frog Sqwad – developer Panic Stations’ “slapstick, physics-based multiplayer game” that I’m destined to spell wrong forevermore – last year, but it’s back with news of a release window. Frog Sqwad promises chaotic action for up to eight froggy pals as they storm the sewers in the name of the Swamp King, using their tongues to swing from pipes, solve physics puzzles, and more – all to complete “unpredictable” missions in an ever-changing underground world. And if that sounds intriguing, it’s coming to Xbox Series X/S and Game Pass this June.
Bluey gets snap-happy on Xbox this autumn
Acclaimed animated series Bluey’s ongoing mission to bring just a little more joy to the world continues later this year with another crack at a console video game outing, this one titled Bluey’s Happy Snaps. Described as a new “photo-powered adventure game”, it whisks players across some familiar locations, where they can play with toys and use Bluey’s camera to capture their favorite moments. It’s coming to Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC this autumn, meaning Bluey’s Quest for The Gold Pen will be first out the door this May.
Stalker 2 is getting an expansion this summer
Developer GSC Game World’s well-received post-apocalyptic shooter sequel Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl is preparing to return to the Zone in a new expansion titled Cost of Hope. It’s promising “dozens of hours of gameplay” as players traverse two new regions and previously uncharted locales, including the Chornobyl nuclear power plant. There’s also talk of new weapons and gear, new hub areas, new quests, and more when it comes to Xbox Series X/S and PC this “summer”.
More to follow…
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