After a decade-long hiatus, the charming, fantasy-filled world of Fable is finally coming back to enthrall gamers across the globe. Playground Games, best known for the immensely popular Forza Horizon series, has taken the reins for this highly anticipated reboot, making its grand unveiling at this year’s Xbox Games Showcase, confirming the earlier leaks.
The game’s first reveal took fans by storm with the distinctive face and voice of British actor and comedian Richard Ayoade of “The IT Crowd” fame. He will be voicing the character Dave, a giant, and more intriguingly, a vegetable enthusiast. From scaling beanstalks to engaging in hilarious dialogue, the trailer gave fans a glimpse into the whimsical humor that has become synonymous with the Fable franchise.
The trailer also revealed some promising gameplay snippets. What really stood out was the offbeat tone, reminiscent of the original Fable, suggesting that the reboot will maintain the unique blend of humor, eccentricity, and fantasy that made the franchise a favorite among gamers.
One thing that seems certain is that the reboot won’t shy away from comedy, with Dave’s character humorously criticizing typical hero antics, like slaying legendary beasts and taking out bandits.
The setting appears to be Albion, the fairy-tale land where players have previously navigated the complexities of becoming a hero, and the stakes seem as high as ever. As the game’s official description hints, the dark threat looming over Albion promises that players’ choices will shape the future of this enchanting land.
A change in developer from the original Lionhead Studios, which closed in 2016, to Playground Games has sparked both excitement and speculation. The latter’s excellent track record with the open-world Forza Horizon series, coupled with the use of the same tech developed for Forza Horizon, implies that players can expect to see a detailed, immersive open-world experience.
Considering the extent to which Playground has managed to infuse life into their racing games, the same can be expected for this fantasy RPG, giving us a new and vibrant Albion.
While the game was initially teased at the 2020 version of Microsoft’s Xbox Games Showcase as “a new beginning for the legendary franchise,” it’s clear that the reboot will retain much of the original’s charm while introducing new elements, such as the intriguing concept of a physically small protagonist in a land of giants.
Unfortunately, an exact release date remains elusive, but Xbox has reassured fans that Fable will be available on Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Game Pass on day one.
The absence of a release date has only amplified anticipation, making Fable one of Xbox Game Studios’ biggest upcoming titles, and hopefully, a welcome addition to the Game Pass, which has faced some criticism over the slow pace of adding big exclusives and AAA games.
