''Fable'' is an upcoming

action role-playing game An action role-playing game (often abbreviated action RPG or ARPG) is a video game genre that combines core elements from both the action game and Role-playing video game, role-playing game genres. Definition Action role-playing games empha ...

developed by

Playground Games Playground Games Limited is a British video game developer based in Leamington Spa, England. It is known for developing the ''Forza#Horizon, Forza Horizon'' series, which is part of the larger ''Forza'' franchise. In 2018, Playground Games bec ...

and published by

Xbox Game Studios Xbox Game Studios (previously known as Microsoft Studios, Microsoft Game Studios, and Microsoft Games) is an American video game publisher based in Redmond, Washington. It was established in March 2000, spun out from an internal Games Group, fo ...

. Set in the fictional world of Albion, ''Fable'' represents the first new installment in the franchise since

Lionhead Studios Lionhead Studios Limited was a British video game developer founded in July 1997 by Peter Molyneux, Mark Webley, Tim Rance, and Steve Jackson (British game designer), Steve Jackson. The company is best known for the ''Black & White (series), Bl ...

s '' Fable: The Journey'' in 2012. Positioned as a

reboot In computing, rebooting is the process by which a running computer system is restarted, either intentionally or unintentionally. Reboots can be either a cold reboot (alternatively known as a hard reboot) in which the power to the system is physi ...

, the game aims to update the series with contemporary gameplay mechanics and visuals, targeting a new generation of players. It is scheduled to be released for

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and

Xbox Series X/S The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S are the fourth generation of consoles in the Xbox series, succeeding the previous generation's Xbox One. Released on November 10, 2020, the higher-end Xbox Series X and lower-end Xbox Series S are part o ...

in 2026.

Development Development or developing may refer to: Arts *Development (music), the process by which thematic material is reshaped * Photographic development *Filmmaking, development phase, including finance and budgeting * Development hell, when a proje ...

of ''Fable'' began after the closure of Lionhead Studios in early 2016 led to the cancellation of ''

Fable Legends ''Fable Legends'' is a cancelled Cooperative video game, cooperative Action role-playing game, action role-playing video game developed by Lionhead Studios and projected to be published by Microsoft Studios for Windows and Xbox One. Microsoft ca ...

''. Speculation about a new installment emerged in 2017 and gained traction with official confirmation during the

Xbox Games Showcase Xbox Developer Direct (stylized as ''Developer_Direct'') is a series of livestream events produced by Microsoft Gaming to showcase upcoming first-party content from Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda Softworks, Activision, Blizzard Entertainment, a ...

in 2020. Key developments include the recruitment of lead writer Anna Megill and collaboration with

Eidos-Montréal Eidos Interactive Corporation (trade name: Eidos-Montréal) is a Canadian video game developer based in Montreal and part of Embracer Group. The studio was founded by Stéphane D'Astous in 2007 under SCi Entertainment. It became part of Squar ...

Gameplay

''Fable'' is an action role-playing game that is played in third-person perspective. Players can engage in combat using a variety of options, including melee weapons for close-range attacks, bows for long-distance precision, and magic spells.'

Development

''Fable'' will be the first new installment in the series since '' Fable: The Journey'' was released on

Xbox 360 The Xbox 360 is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. As the successor to the Xbox (console), original Xbox, it is the second console in the Xbox#Consoles, Xbox series. It was officially unveiled on MTV on May 12, 2005, with detail ...

in 2012, having gone on hiatus with the cancellation of ''

'' and the subsequent closure of the original developers

. The first mention of a new installment in the series came in 2017, when Head of

Xbox Xbox is a video gaming brand that consists of four main home video game console lines, as well as application software, applications (games), the streaming media, streaming service Xbox Cloud Gaming, and online services such as the Xbox networ ...

Phil Spencer said on

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that the franchise had "a lot of places it could go." In early 2018,

Eurogamer ''Eurogamer'' is a British video game journalism website launched in 1999 alongside parent company Gamer Network. In 2008, it started in the formerly eponymous trade fair EGX (Eurogamer Expo until 2013) organised by its parent company. Fr ...

reported that Playground Games, renowned for their work on the ''Forza Horizon'' series, had initiated the development of the fourth installment in the ''Fable'' series. Later that same year, it was disclosed that Playground Games was actively recruiting for 177 positions dedicated to an

open-world In video games, an open world is a virtual world in which the player can approach objectives freely, as opposed to a world with more linear and structured gameplay. Notable games in this category include ''The Legend of Zelda'' (1986), ''Grand ...

role-playing game. ''

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'' reported on a leaked video related to ''Fable'' by Playground Games ahead of E3 2019. In July 2020, the game was officially announced at the Xbox Games Showcase, and was touted as a "new beginning" for the series. In December 2020, Anna Megill, a former developer from

Remedy Entertainment Remedy Entertainment Oyj, trading internationally as Remedy Entertainment Plc, is a Finnish video game developer based in Espoo. Notable games the studio has developed include the first two entries in the ''Max Payne'' franchise, '' Alan Wake' ...

, assumed the role of lead writer for the project. Megill was subsequently promoted to narrative lead in July. The game is powered by ForzaTech, an in-house

engine An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert one or more forms of energy into mechanical energy. Available energy sources include potential energy (e.g. energy of the Earth's gravitational field as exploited in hydroelectric power ge ...

created by Turn 10 Studios and used by both Turn 10 and Playground Games in multiple ''

Forza ''Forza'' ( , ; Italian for "force" and "strength") is a racing video game series for Xbox consoles and Microsoft Windows published by Xbox Game Studios. The franchise has sold 16 million copies as of December 2016 and has garnered critical ac ...

'' games. In October 2022, Andrew Walsh, senior writer for ''

Horizon Forbidden West ''Horizon Forbidden West'' is a 2022 action role-playing game developed by Guerrilla Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. The sequel to '' Horizon Zero Dawn'' (2017), the game is set in a post-apocalyptic version of the Wester ...

'', joined the ''Fable'' team. In November 2022, the Xbox boss announced that the game would incorporate "high quality, crafting, and attention to detail", By March 2023, the game was reported to be in the early stages of full production. On June 11, 2023, Playground Games unveiled the first in-game trailer of ''Fable'' at the Xbox Games Showcase, featuring actor

Richard Ayoade Richard Ayoade ( ; born 23 May 1977) is a British comedian, actor, writer, director and presenter. He played the role of socially awkward IT technician Maurice Moss in Channel 4 sitcom ''The IT Crowd'' (2006–2013), for which he won the 2014 Br ...

. On June 9, 2024, Playground Games confirmed that

is supporting the development of ''Fable''. During the Xbox Showcase in 2024, actor/comedian Matt King was revealed to be playing Humphry, the former hero of Albion who is forced out of retirement to aid the player character.

Marketing and release

Fable was announced during the Xbox Showcase in 2020, alongside the Xbox Series X/S console reveals. The game received its first in-game trailer in June 2023. On June 9, 2024, Playground Games announced that the game will launch in 2025 for Xbox Series X/S and Microsoft Windows. On February 25, 2025, Head of

Craig Duncan announced that the launch of the game was moved to 2026.

Notes

References

External links

* {{Fable series Upcoming video games scheduled for 2026 Action role-playing video games Single-player video games Fable (video game series) Microsoft games Playground Games games Video game reboots Video games with gender-selectable protagonists Windows games Xbox Series X and Series S games Video games developed in the United Kingdom Open-world video games Fantasy video games