Xbox has confirmed its first gaming showcase under new leadership — a Partner Preview event airing on March 26, 2026 at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 5pm GMT, featuring three named titles and additional world premieres.
Xbox Partner Preview March 26: Confirmed Games and Watch Details
Xbox Partner Preview airs this Thursday, March 26, and will be watchable live on both the Xbox YouTube channel (in 4K/60fps) and the Xbox Twitch channel. The broadcast is expected to run approximately 25–40 minutes, consistent with the format Xbox has used since October 2023 — this will be the fifth Partner Preview event overall.
Three titles have been officially confirmed by Xbox via the Xbox Wire announcement:
- Stranger Than Heaven — the next game from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio (RGG), the team behind the Like a Dragon and Judgment series. Originally revealed under the codename “Project Century” at The Game Awards in December 2024. Xbox promises an “in-depth look” at the project.
- S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl — the post-apocalyptic first-person survival title from Ukrainian developer GSC Game World. Released November 2024 on Xbox Series X/S and PC. Xbox will share “an update” on the game, likely covering DLC or an engine patch.
- The Expanse: Osiris Reborn — an action-RPG adaptation of James S.A. Corey’s sci-fi series, developed by Owlcat Games (Pathfinder: Kingmaker, Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader). The game has drawn early comparisons to the Mass Effect series.
Beyond these three, Xbox has confirmed that the broadcast will include “brand-new reveals, world premieres, and Xbox Game Pass announcements.” Featured publishing partners include SEGA, GSC Game World, and Owlcat Games.
The New Leadership Context
The showcase arrives as Xbox operates under a new leadership structure following Phil Spencer’s exit from the Xbox division head role. Microsoft reorganised its gaming hierarchy in late 2024. The Partner Preview is the first major public-facing showcase moment for the new management team, making it a stage-setting event for Xbox’s 2026 third-party game slate. MeriStation has described it as “Xbox’s first gaming showcase under its new boss.”
What the Partner Preview Format Signals
Partner Previews are focused third-party events — they are not Xbox’s equivalent of a summer showcase or a Developer_Direct. The Developer_Direct (last held January 22, 2026) focuses on Xbox Game Studios first-party titles like Forza Horizon 6, Fable, and Halo: Campaign Evolved. Players should not expect announcements for those first-party titles at this Partner Preview. The format is deliberately curated around third-party and independent titles heading to Xbox and Game Pass.
What Games Could Be Revealed Beyond the Three Confirmed
Beyond the confirmed trio, Xbox has promised “brand-new reveals” and “world premieres.” Prior Partner Previews have featured between 9 and 16 games — the November 2025 edition included 9 Xbox Game Pass titles alongside its world premieres. Speculation among the community has pointed to Atlus titles (Persona 4 Revival debuted at Xbox Games Showcase June 2025) as possible additional reveals, given SEGA is a confirmed featured partner.
What SEA Players Should Watch
Game Pass availability in Southeast Asia has historically tracked closely with global Partner Preview announcements — titles confirmed with Game Pass day-one inclusion in the West typically appear in the SEA Game Pass catalogue within the same launch window. Players on PC Game Pass in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines should pay particular attention to any titles announced with Game Pass day-one tags during the March 26 broadcast.
The event streams live on Thursday, March 26, 2026:
– Malaysia / Singapore time (SGT): 1am, March 27 (MYT: same, UTC+8)
– Watch on: Xbox YouTube (4K stream available) and Xbox Twitch channel
