Developer Playground Games, which is primarily known for the Forza Horizon series, finally lifted the curtain today in a big way for its upcoming Fable – a game that was originally officially teased back in 2017. Playground Games has been working on the game for a long time, but we will finally be able to play it this Fall.
Ralph Fulton, the game’s director, appeared at today’s Xbox Developer Direct to reveal fresh details – alongside a lengthy gameplay showcase. Respect flowed toward Lionhead Games, creators of the original Fable trilogy, as he acknowledged their influence and the studio’s desire to honor what came before. He called the project an open-world action RPG, framing it as a fresh start for the series. Truthfully, expectations already leaned that way, given Playground Games’ background plus how the earlier games played out. Still, hearing it confirmed brought clarity, cutting through guesswork with something solid.
Just like past Fable titles, your journey begins young – only later do you discover you’re one of the few true heroes born in generations. When disaster strikes Briar Hill, its people freeze into stone figures; even the main character’s grandmother turns stiff and silent. Soon after, destiny pulls you forward into a life of daring acts and bold choices. Word is, the vast outdoor realm opens up quicker than expected, letting you wander freely while tensions rise around you. Caught in the middle, you watch two clashing groups claw for control, each refusing to back down.
Floating through the world were towering castles, wide open meadows that pulled you in, vegetable patches where everything grew too large, alongside woodlands thick with glowing mushrooms. A rider moved across the land on horse, taking it all in step by step – yet missing was any sign of a loyal dog at their side, something past games like Fable II and III built quietly into every journey.
Into the heart of it, Fulton frames the game around a question – what being a hero means to you. Your character takes shape through choices in appearance and attire, built piece by piece. Fighting plays out much like the earlier titles, mixing close strikes, distance shots, and spellwork without skipping a beat. Light and heavy attack chains link together smoothly, ending in dramatic moves when chances arise. Magic flows into battle, sending jolts of lightning or odd effects such as turning foes into clucking chickens. Scenes showed ongoing fights using these tools against classic threats including Hobs. Even stranger moments appeared – one pitted the hero against a massive poultry creature spitting flames.
Later on, during the demo, things got murkier for Fable – Fulton alongside teammates began explaining how townsfolk might respond to your choices and what life looks like beyond fighting. Owning homes or shops becomes possible. Marriage and raising children enter the picture too. More than a thousand characters carry unique names, each living separate routines while forming personal views about you. Following anyone through Albion seems allowed – you could observe someone rise in the morning, head into labor, unwind somehow, then sleep.
Among the examples Playground mentioned in terms of how NPCs will react to you is that you can own property that NPCs will live in. They will react to you as their landlord, or you can kick them out of your house, effectively making them homeless. Expectedly, they will not be your biggest fans if you do this. Characters will praise or insult you depending on your reputation as you walk around and explore. This was an element in the original games, but it seems much more in-depth and specific to your choices here.
Playground brings up how your actions shift everything around you – small picks leading to big shifts in the scenery. Take the huge figure shown earlier, acted by UK comic Richard Ayoade; he shows up again here. Should you decide against saving him, his body stays put long after, a looming presence stuck in place. That single act alters the space itself, changing how things work nearby, like what homes are worth close by. One moment shapes the map in ways others won’t undo. The world keeps score, quietly.
The big element missing from Playground’s presentation, which is admittedly hard to get across in a developer diary like this, is Fable’s humor. It remains to be seen if the new Fable will effectively borrow the tone of the original trilogy. The inclusion of comedians like Richard Ayoade certainly inspires comedic confidence, but we will have to wait and see in the Autumn of 2026.