Xbox will bring 25 upcoming games and 140 gaming stations to gamescom 2026 in Cologne, Germany, giving attendees hands-on time with several major releases before they launch. The event will also include developer appearances, gameplay reveals, live broadcasts, and the return of Xbox FanFest.
Xbox announced the gamescom plans on July 28, with the booth scheduled to appear in Hall 7, booth A-0.61. The in-person event will run from Thursday, August 27, through Sunday, August 30, while Xbox’s broadcast coverage will begin on Wednesday, August 26.
Games playable at the Xbox booth
Several of the biggest demos will focus on games arriving across Xbox and PC. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 will feature its Core 6v6 Multiplayer mode on Xbox Series X. Attendees can try the next entry in the series after the Early Access Beta or get their first hands-on session with the multiplayer.
Gears of War: E-Day will offer its first public campaign demo ahead of the game’s October 6, 2026, release. The session will cover the origins of the Locust War and the early friendship between Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago.
Minecraft Dungeons II will also be playable for the first time. Players can team up, take on tougher enemies, and hunt for better loot in the action RPG.
Playground Games will present a live public demo of Fable, showing gameplay and the combat behind its Hero’s journey. The booth will also host first-time demos for STRANGER THAN HEAVEN and METRO 2039. The former covers three of the five cities and eras planned for the full game, while the latter will let attendees visit its post-apocalyptic version of Moscow before its February 2027 release.
Fans can also play Halo: Campaign Evolved, the remake of Halo: Combat Evolved‘s campaign, along with Forza Horizon 6. The racing game’s demo will include the Drift Attack feature and previews of partnership content planned for the following months.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 will bring its first public hands-on session for the National Championship Air Races. The booth lineup will also include 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.
Xbox will broadcast from the booth
Xbox will stream from the booth at 4 p.m. CEST on Wednesday, August 26, and Thursday, August 27. The broadcasts will include developer interviews, special guests, gameplay reveals, and trailers through YouTube and Twitch.
The shows will provide American Sign Language and English-language audio descriptions, with some content also available in additional languages.
Booth hours and accessibility services
The Xbox booth will be open during the following hours:
- Thursday, August 27: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. CEST
- Friday, August 28: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. CEST
- Saturday, August 29: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. CEST
- Sunday, August 30: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. CEST
The booth will be wheelchair accessible, with Xbox Adaptive Controllers available upon request. Some demo stations will include adjustable-height desks and monitors. Xbox will also provide “Here to Help” staff, a Quiet room, sensory items, and ASL, BSL, and DGS interpreters. English- and German-language audio descriptions will be available from noon to 5 p.m. CEST Thursday through Sunday.
FanFest returns to Cologne
Xbox FanFest will make its next stop in Cologne on Wednesday, August 26, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. CEST at the Xbox booth. Fans can find sweepstakes entry details through the official FanFest website.
Xbox’s full gamescom 2026 announcement also outlines the company’s plans to celebrate 25 years of Xbox with interactive exhibits focused on the brand’s games, hardware generations, and player communities. Tell us which game you would play first in the comments, and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, and Instagram.
Xbox detailed the gamescom 2026 schedule in its official announcement.
