How to watch Xbox’s summer showcase

Microsoft’s annual Xbox Games Showcase streams live on Sunday, June 7, promising “first gameplay looks and huge news on upcoming titles” from Xbox Game Studios and third-party partners “from the biggest franchises to soon-to-be indie darlings.” The Xbox event will be followed by a “Direct” deep dive into Gears of War: E-Day, the new Gears game from The Coalition.

The showcase will also be the first under new CEO of Microsoft Gaming Asha Sharma, who took over for now-retired Xbox boss Phil Spencer in February. But don’t expect a major update on the next-gen Xbox, Project Helix; chief content officer Matt Booty says Project Helix won’t have a major presence at Xbox Games Showcase 2026.

Xbox fans should instead expect updates on announced games like Halo: Campaign Evolved, Fable, Clockwork Revolution, and State of Decay 3, plus ongoing and released games like Forza Horizon 6, Sea of Thieves, and Minecraft. We’re also likely to get updates on Microsoft-owned games from Bethesda Softworks (Fallout 76) and Activision Blizzard (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, Overwatch). Xbox Games Showcase 2026 is also rumored to be home to some third-party reveals, including Persona 6 and Persona 4 Revival.

Xbox Game Pass subscribers may also get some news as Sharma tries to reignite interest in the games subscription service. Perhaps we’ll even get some Call of Duty: Black Ops remasters…

For the rest of the other big gaming events happening this summer, check out Polygon’s full schedule of Summer Game Fest 2026 livestreams.

What time does Xbox Games Showcase 2026 start?

Xbox Games Showcase 2026 will stream live on Sunday, June 7, starting at 10 a.m. PDT / 1 p.m. EDT / 7 p.m. CEST. The show will be broadcast on Xbox’s YouTube and Twitch channels.

Xbox Games Showcase 2026 live start time in your time zone

• 10 a.m. PDT on Sunday, June 7 for the west coast of North America
• 1 p.m. EDT on Sunday, June 7 for the east coast of North America
• 2 p.m. BRT on Sunday, June 7 for Brazil
• 6 p.m. BST on Sunday, June 7 for the United Kingdom
• 7 p.m. CEST on Sunday, June 7 for western Europe
• 2 a.m. JST on Monday, June 8 for Japan
• 3 a.m. AEST on Monday, June 8 for the east coast of Australia

What time does Gears of War: E-Day Direct begin?

Image: Xbox/Twitch

After the main showcase, Xbox’s Gears of War: E-Day Direct promises to take Gears fans “into the start of Emergence Day, offering new details, gameplay and insights about the hugely anticipated origin story to the Gears of War saga.” Maybe we’ll even get an update on that long-awaited Gears of War movie. Gears of War: E-Day was announced at 2024’s Xbox Games Showcase.

Xbox’s showcase focused on Gears of War: E-Day will start immediately after the Xbox Games Showcase. Microsoft has not announced how long the Xbox Games Showcase 2026 will run.