"Fable Game Delayed to 2026, New Pre-Alpha Gameplay Unveiled by Microsoft"

Microsoft has announced a delay for the highly anticipated reboot of the Fable series, pushing its release from 2025 to sometime in 2026. This news comes alongside the first glimpse of new gameplay footage, showcasing what fans can expect from this refreshed take on the beloved Xbox franchise, originally crafted by the now-defunct Lionhead Studios. The project is being spearheaded by UK studio Playground Games, renowned for their critically acclaimed Forza Horizon series.

During the latest episode of the Xbox Podcast, Craig Duncan, who transitioned from his role as head of Rare to lead Xbox Game Studios last fall, shared his enthusiasm for the project. "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."

Acknowledging that the delay might not be the news fans hoped for, Duncan emphasized the quality that Playground Games is aiming to deliver. "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 highlighted the unique elements Playground is bringing to the Fable universe, promising a visually stunning rendition of Albion enriched with British humor and innovative gameplay. "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."

Duncan concluded by stressing the importance of giving the team the time needed to perfect the game, ultimately benefiting the gaming community. "So really excited about the plans, and really excited about the future. I want the community to understand that we do these things for the best of the games and the teams, and ultimately that results in the best game for the community."

Alongside the delay announcement, Microsoft unveiled 50 seconds of pre-alpha gameplay footage. This brief clip offers a tantalizing look at Fable's combat system, featuring a variety of weapons like a one-handed sword, a two-handed hammer, and a two-handed sword, as well as a fireball magic attack. The footage also includes scenes of city walking, a main character riding a horse through a fantasy-styled forest, and the classic Fable touch of kicking a chicken. Additionally, a cutscene shows a man setting up a sausage trap to lure a werewolf-like creature, leading to an engaging battle.

First announced in 2020 as a "new beginning" for the series, Fable's development has been periodically showcased. The 2023 Xbox Game Showcase provided further details, featuring Richard Ayoade from The IT Crowd. Last year, during the Xbox Showcase event in June 2024, Microsoft offered another trailer, building anticipation for this reboot, which marks the first mainline Fable game since Fable 3 in 2010 and stands as one of Xbox Game Studios' most eagerly awaited titles.