Fable Delayed to 2026: Microsoft Unveils Pre-Alpha Gameplay

Microsoft has officially announced a delay for the highly anticipated Fable reboot, shifting its release from the originally planned 2025 window to sometime in 2026. This news came alongside the exciting reveal of brand new pre-alpha gameplay footage, providing fans with a tantalizing glimpse into what the game will offer.

Fable, a beloved Xbox franchise previously developed by the now-defunct Lionhead Studios, is now in the capable hands of UK's Playground Games. This studio is renowned for its critically acclaimed Forza Horizon series, which has set high expectations for their take on the Fable universe.

In a recent episode of the Xbox Podcast, Craig Duncan, who transitioned from being the head of Rare to leading Xbox Game Studios, addressed the delay directly. "I just want to start with, really excited about progress," Duncan stated. "Really excited about where Playground are. We previously announced the date for Fable as 2025. We are actually going to give Fable more time, and it’s going to ship in 2026 now."

Despite the disappointment the delay might cause, Duncan was quick to reassure fans of the game's quality. "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. I have unequivocal confidence in the Playground team. If you think about their history and legacy for Forza Horizon, the last few games, critically acclaimed, 92 Metacritic, award-winning, beautiful, play great."

He further elaborated on what players can expect from the new Fable, emphasizing the studio's commitment to delivering a visually stunning and engaging experience. "And just what they’re bringing to Fable as a franchise, just think of the visuals of what you expect of Playground games plus amazing gameplay, British humor, Playground’s version of Albion. So inspired by what’s gone before with the franchise but their take, in quite frankly the most beautifully realized version of Albion you’ve ever seen."

The newly released gameplay footage, albeit brief at 50 seconds, showcases various elements of Fable's world. From combat scenes featuring a variety of weapons like one-handed swords, two-handed hammers, and two-handed swords, to magical fireball attacks, the footage gives a clear sense of the game's visual and gameplay fidelity. Additionally, we see scenes of the protagonist navigating city streets, riding a horse through a fantasy forest, and even the iconic Fable moment of kicking a chicken. One intriguing clip shows the main character setting a trap with sausages to lure and subsequently fight a werewolf-like creature.

Playground's revival of the Fable series was first announced in 2020 as a "new beginning." Subsequent showcases, including the 2023 Xbox Game Showcase featuring Richard Ayoade from The IT Crowd, and last year's trailer during the Xbox Showcase event in June 2024, have kept the anticipation high. This reboot marks the first mainline Fable game since Fable 3 in 2010 and stands as one of the biggest upcoming titles for Xbox Game Studios.