Long-awaited and one of the most legendary series in the Xbox world, Fable was finally shown in depth at the Developer_Direct event held today. Developed by Playground Games (the team we know from the Forza Horizon series), this new game aims to offer a modern open-world action-RPG experience while remaining faithful to the roots of the series.
We have gathered the most critical details for fans of the game from the presentation and the interview held with Fable GM and Game Director Ralph Fulton after the event. Here is everything you need to know about Fable.
When and on Which Platforms is it Coming?
Fable will meet players this autumn. Perhaps the most surprising part of the announcement was the variety of platforms. The game will be released for Xbox Series X/S, PC, Xbox Cloud, Steam, and the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate library, as well as PlayStation 5. It was also confirmed that the game will be an Xbox Play Anywhere title.
A Completely New Beginning
In Ralph Fulton’s words, this game is a true “new beginning” for the series. Nearly two generations have passed in the video game world since the original trilogy. Playground Games preferred to build their own Albion and tell a completely new story instead of sticking to the original timeline or characters.
Fulton summarizes this situation as follows: “It would be pointless to try and ape the original trilogy. This is not a Lionhead game, this is a Playground game.”
But don’t worry; the basic building blocks that make up the essence of the series, such as “British humor,” the fairytale atmosphere, and the consequences of choices, are preserved.
“Not Fantasy, Fairytale”
The development team determined the tone of the game based on an old note found in the Lionhead archives: “Fable is Fairytale, not Fantasy.”
Unlike geopolitical, serious, and grandiose “Fantasy” works like Skyrim or Game of Thrones; Fable focuses on more intimate, smaller but personal stories where magic touches the lives of ordinary people. This vision permeates every corner of the game, from its art style to world-building.
Story: How Does the Hero’s Journey Begin?
In keeping with classic Fable tradition, you start the game as a child. After the moment your heroic powers emerge, a time jump occurs, and you embark on an adventure as an adult in the village of Briar Hill.
The event that triggers the story is quite dramatic: A mysterious stranger turns your grandmother and everyone in the village where you grew up into stone. You set out to solve this event and save your village. However, there is no “ticking time bomb” mechanic in the game rushing you. If you wish, you can go to the northernmost part of Albion, get married, find a job, and settle down; the main story will be waiting for you.
Combat System: “Style-Weaving”
The original game’s trinity of “Strength, Skill, and Will” has evolved into a fluid system called “style-weaving” in the new game.
- Fluidity: You will be able to throw a fireball or shoot an arrow at the same time as swinging a sword, without even a single frame of delay.
- Tactical Depth: Enemy groups will force you to use your different abilities (melee, ranged, and magic) tactically for crowd control.
- Interaction: “Chaotic” and funny moments, such as enemies opening friendly fire on each other, will be a natural part of the combat.
Morality System: “Chicken Chaser” Returns
The morality system, one of the first things that comes to mind when Fable is mentioned, has been reinterpreted for the modern age. There is no longer an “objective good” or “objective evil” bar. Instead, there is a Reputation system.
Your actions only have meaning when someone sees you.
- If you are seen kicking a chicken, you start to be known as a “Chicken Chaser” in that settlement.
- Each town has a “word cloud” formed about you. While you are seen as a hero in one village, you might be known as a thief in another.
- These reputations affect how people address you, romantic relationships, and even prices in shops.
If you are not satisfied with your reputation, you can bribe the Town Crier to shout new (and better) things about you.
A Living Population
Playground Games has filled Albion with over 1,000 unique NPCs. This “Living Population” is not just decoration; each one has a home, a job, a routine, and a personality. The developers even had to calculate the walking distances required for NPCs to commute to work.
The Office Style Humor
The game’s tone of humor is inspired by British comedies of the last 20 years (especially The Office, Peep Show, The IT Crowd). The “documentary/interview” style narration we saw in the trailers is not just for promotion; it is a storytelling tool used throughout the game. Characters turning to the camera to give those famous “looks” or speaking to the camera between dialogues reinforces Fable’s unique absurdity.
Fable is coming out this autumn.