Microsoft has announced a delay for the highly anticipated reboot of the Fable series, pushing its release from 2025 to 2026. This news comes alongside a first look at new gameplay footage, showcasing the efforts of UK studio Playground, renowned for their work on the Forza Horizon series.
In a recent episode of the Xbox Podcast, Craig Duncan, who transitioned from Rare studio head to head of Xbox Game Studios last fall, expressed his enthusiasm for the project. "Really excited about progress," Duncan stated, emphasizing the need for additional time to ensure the game meets the high expectations set by Playground's previous successes. He highlighted the studio's track record with Forza Horizon, which has consistently received critical acclaim and high Metacritic scores, and assured fans that the new Fable would be "definitely worth the wait."
Duncan praised Playground's approach to the Fable franchise, promising a visually stunning rendition of Albion infused with the studio's signature style and British humor. He emphasized that this delay is in the best interest of both the game and the community, aiming to deliver a top-quality experience.
Alongside the delay announcement, Microsoft unveiled 50 seconds of pre-alpha gameplay footage. This brief glimpse included scenes of combat with various weapons, such as a one-handed sword, a two-handed hammer, and a two-handed sword, as well as a fireball magic attack. The footage also featured city walking scenes, a character riding a horse through a fantasy forest, and the iconic Fable moment of kicking a chicken. Additionally, a cutscene showed a character setting a trap with sausages to lure a werewolf-like creature, leading to a subsequent battle.
The Fable reboot, announced in 2020 as a "new beginning," has been gradually revealed to the public. The 2023 Xbox Game Showcase provided a deeper look, featuring Richard Ayoade from The IT Crowd. Last year, during the Xbox Showcase event in June 2024, Microsoft showcased the game once more with a new trailer.
This reboot marks the first mainline Fable game since Fable 3 in 2010 and stands as one of Xbox Game Studios' most significant upcoming titles. With the additional development time, fans can look forward to a meticulously crafted return to the beloved fantasy RPG series.
