Fable Release Pushed to 2026, New Pre-Alpha Gameplay Unveiled by Microsoft

Microsoft has announced a delay for the highly anticipated Fable reboot, pushing its release from 2025 to 2026. This news came alongside a first look at new pre-alpha gameplay footage, showcasing the game's combat, city scenes, and a glimpse of its fantasy-styled world.

Fable, a beloved Xbox franchise originally developed by the now-defunct Lionhead Studios, is being rebooted by UK-based studio Playground Games. Known for their critically acclaimed Forza Horizon series, Playground is bringing their expertise to the fantasy role-playing genre.

In a recent episode of the Xbox Podcast, Craig Duncan, the head of Xbox Game Studios, expressed his excitement about the game's progress. "Really excited about progress," Duncan stated, emphasizing the need for additional time to ensure the game meets high expectations. "While I know that’s not maybe the news people want to hear, what I want to assure people of is that it’s definitely worth the wait," he added, highlighting his confidence in Playground's ability to deliver a stunning and engaging experience.

The new gameplay footage, though brief, offers a tantalizing look at what players can expect. It features combat sequences with various weapons, including a one-handed sword, a two-handed hammer, and a two-handed sword, as well as a fireball magic attack. Additionally, there are scenes of the main character navigating a city and riding a horse through a fantasy forest, complete with the iconic Fable humor, such as kicking a chicken. A cutscene also shows a trap set with sausages to lure a werewolf-like creature, leading to an ensuing battle.

Playground's take on Fable promises to be a "new beginning" for the series, which was first announced in 2020. Subsequent reveals, including a trailer featuring Richard Ayoade from The IT Crowd at the 2023 Xbox Game Showcase, and another trailer at the 2024 Xbox Showcase, have built anticipation for this reboot. This new Fable game is the first mainline entry since Fable 3 in 2010 and is poised to be one of Xbox Game Studios' most significant releases.

Duncan's comments underscore the studio's commitment to delivering a visually stunning and gameplay-rich experience, drawing on Playground's legacy with Forza Horizon while infusing the game with the humor and charm that Fable fans have come to love. The delay, while disappointing, is seen as a necessary step to ensure that the game lives up to its potential and the high standards set by its predecessors.