A lot is riding on Fable, Playground Games’ reboot (?) of the beloved fantasy action RPG series, so much so that it shielded the developer from Xbox’s recent layoffs. Forget that it’s been in production since 2016 – one has to ask: Why did the developer choose it in the first place?
It’s not in its literal or figurative wheelhouse, after all, and given how well it’s done with Forza Horizon – especially the latest entry – surely it would have been content in avoiding risks. However, studio co-founder and game director Ralph Fulton told The Guardian, “I think there was a little bit of pride in proving we could cut it in a different genre.”
Of course, the team will leverage its knowledge from the same genre. “It made sense not to fall too far from Horizon. This project definitely wasn’t going to have cars, but open worlds felt like an area where we had transferable skills.” While Albion isn’t necessarily as massive as a Forza Horizon map, especially the latest title, which had a team dedicated to Tokyo City alone, it’s still densely packed.
Seemingly above all else, however, is the fact that Playground wanted to work on it. As Fulton notes, “When Xbox mentioned Fable, every other opportunity dissolved into the background. It was all we could think about.” That’s not something every developer would say, especially after the cancellation of Fable Legends and Lionhead’s shuttering. Then again, the team is comprised of fans of the original trilogy, so it only makes sense.
Launching on February 23rd, 2027, Fable will be available for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Head here for Fulton’s thoughts on the ending and how the team “relentlessly pursued quality.”
