Xbox unveils strong Gamescom lineup – but faces a trust problem

Xbox has revealed what visitors can expect at Gamescom 2026. To celebrate the brand's 25th anniversary, Microsoft is bringing a wide range of upcoming games to Cologne. The lineup includes:

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4
• Gears of War: E-Day
• Minecraft Dungeons II
• Fable
• STRANGER THAN HEAVEN
• METRO 2039
• Halo: Campaign Evolved
• Forza Horizon 6
• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
• 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
• Valor Mortis

Visitors who want more than just trailers will also have plenty to look forward to. Several games will be playable at Gamescom, including a number of titles making their public hands-on debut:

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 – Multiplayer in the classic 6-on-6 format
• Gears of War: E-Day – first publicly playable campaign demo
• Minecraft Dungeons II – playable by the public for the first time
• Stranger Than Heaven – playable by the public for the first time
• METRO 2039 – playable by the public for the first time
• Halo: Campaign Evolved – playable version of the modernized remake
• Forza Horizon 6 – New Drift Attack Mode
• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 – National Championship Air Races

Reddit community appears to have trust issues

The lineup has generally been well received on Reddit, but the reaction has fallen short of outright enthusiasm. The games themselves aren't the main issue. Many users are particularly excited to see more of Fable, Gears of War: E-Day and Alien: Isolation 2. Instead, much of the criticism is directed at Microsoft. Studio closures, layoffs and canceled projects have left a lasting impression on parts of the community. As a result, some users question whether all of the announced games will actually be released – or receive long-term support after launch.

Overall, the mood is one of cautious optimism. Many Reddit users feel Microsoft has lost a significant amount of trust in recent months and now needs to prove that the showcased projects will actually make it to release and that the Xbox brand once again has a clear long-term strategy.