Microsoft has announced an Xbox Partner Preview showcase for this week. It’ll provide updates for a number of games, and bring with it “new reveals.”
As a Partner Preview, this showcase focuses on games coming from third-party publishers, so don’t expect news from Microsoft’s various first-party studios. However, what we will get is an update on Stranger Than Heaven, the new third-person action-adventure game developed by Yakuza/Like a Dragon creators Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, the Mass Effect-style game from Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader developer Owlcat Games, and GSC Game World’s Stalker 2. It’ll last around 30 minutes, Microsoft said.
In Microsoft’s announcement, it teased “new reveals” in addition to the aforementioned updates, so hopefully we’ll get new game announcements, too.
“As always, Xbox Partner Preview is totally focused on sharing exciting game news from our talented partners across the world,” Microsoft said, perhaps managing expectations that there won’t be any hardware news. “During Xbox Partner Preview, you’ll get multiple world premieres, first looks at gameplay, and updates on other great titles coming to Xbox, including some that will be available with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on day one.”
Xbox Partner Preview is set for 10am PT / 1pm ET / 5pm UK time this Thursday, March 26.
The Xbox Partner Preview comes hot on the heels of Microsoft’s Game Developers Conference 2026 keynote, during which it provided new details on the next-gen Xbox, codenamed Project Helix. And it also comes following Microsoft’s decision to pull back from its controversial ‘This Is An Xbox’ marketing campaign, with new gaming boss Asha Sharma already making an impact.
Xbox has been in the headlines following the recent management upheaval that saw Phil Spencer retire, Sarah Bond resign, and Asha Sharma named as Microsoft’s new gaming boss. Reports detailing what had led to the reshuffle, and in particular the sudden exit of Sarah Bond, suggested that the “This Is An Xbox” campaign had been launched under her watch, and had been unpopular among other Xbox staff members. It will be interesting to see if Spencer is a part of the Xbox Partner Preview, or if Sharma hosts proceedings.
Wesley is Director, News at IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].
