23 December 2025

What to Expect From Fable in 2026

By newsgame

After years of sporadic updates and mostly cinematic trailers, Playground Games’ Fable reboot is finally heading into what could be its biggest year yet. At this point, only small, very cryptic portions of its story and gameplay have been revealed, but with it officially targeting a 2026 release window, it feels like continuing to keep fans in the dark may no longer be on the table. That makes 2026 a massive opportunity for Fable, with potential big reveals and answers to some of the most lingering questions surrounding it.

With that in mind, 2026 feels like it could bring Fable from backstage to front and center. From deeper looks at its gameplay and world to concrete answers around its release date, platforms, and how closely this reboot sticks to Fable‘s roots, it’s expected to either launch or look like something fully prepared to do so by the end of next year. That said, there’s no ruling out another delay—something everyone should keep firmly in mind throughout the year.

What We Know About Fable

Fable Is Being Developed by Playground Games

The Fable reboot is in an interesting place on the development side, as it is being created by Playground Games. Acquired by Microsoft in 2018, Playground Games has only really ever been known for its work on the Forza Horizon series, which began in 2012 and is still ongoing. Its most recent title in the series, Forza Horizon 5, launched in 2021 and achieved universal acclaim among critics. Currently, it sits comfortably at a Metacritic score of 92, tied with other acclaimed games like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

If Playground Games keeps up the reputation it earned with Forza Horizon 5, fans can expect the Fable reboot to replicate its most praised elements—within the context of a fantasy action RPG rather than a racing game, of course. Forza Horizon 5 was praised for its outstanding open-world design, visuals and technical presentation, fun exploration and freedom, and a massive amount of content and variety. As such, it’s reasonable to expect Playground Games to apply the same principles to Fable, especially considering the developer was actively recruiting for over 100 positions dedicated to an open-world RPG in 2018, and it has been confirmed that the game is being built with the Forzatech engine.

A Rebuilt Albion and a Full Franchise Reset

Set in Albion, rebuilt from scratch for a full reboot
New timeline, not tied to past games
The visual tone is more realistic, less cartoonish
New cast of original characters
Classic Fable humor and tone retained
A moral choice system is expected
Third-person action RPG combat

Playground Games’ Fable game ultimately serves as a complete reboot of the series and its first major new entry since Fable: The Journey in 2012. The action RPG is still set in the franchise’s signature fantasy land of Albion, but based on what has been shown so far, the world has been completely reimagined, in addition to receiving a substantial visual upgrade. And speaking of visuals, whereas the older Fable games were more cartoonish and playful in tone, the upcoming reboot looks like it’s taking things a little more seriously, though it still seems to preserve the series’ iconic humor.

Playground Games hasn’t confirmed the return of a moral choice system for the Fable reboot, but considering that it is an essential part of the franchise’s formula, it can be expected. If nothing else, one of the game’s more recent trailers showcasing Humphry emphasized morality and agency, so it is more than likely going to return. Fable‘s Humphry also appears to be just one character in a brand-new cast for this rebuilt world, which also looks to feature intense third-person action RPG combat with melee, ranged, and spell-casting options.

Current Release Window, Platforms, and Xbox Game Pass Plans

Release Window: 2026
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S and PC
Service/Client: Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, Steam

Currently, Fable is targeting a 2026 release window after Xbox Game Studios head Craig Duncan announced in early 2025 that it was being pushed to a later date. It’s currently unclear at what point in 2026 Fable could launch, but Playground Games has generally targeted September and October release windows with its Forza Horizon games, which could prove true for Fable as well. As for its platforms, it has been confirmed that Fable will launch on Xbox Game Pass on day one, bringing it to Xbox Series X|S consoles and PC Game Pass in turn, but it will also be released on PC via Steam.

What Is Still Uncertain About Fable

Whether Fable’s 2026 Release Window Holds Firm

Xbox Game Studios might have officially delayed Fable to 2026, but there have been reports that fans could end up waiting even longer for the reboot to arrive. According to reputable Xbox insider Shpeshal Nick, Fable won’t actually arrive until 2027. Of course, this information was handed down to Shpeshal Nick from two other sources, and until Duncan confirms or denies the rumor, Fable is still slated for a 2026 launch. Just keep your release expectations in check; a delay is not off the table, even if 2026 is the goal.

Gameplay Is Still Largely Under Wraps

At this point, Fable has already revealed glimpses of its gameplay in various trailers, but they are largely more cinematic in nature than anything else. Duncan did reveal some pre-alpha gameplay footage of Fable in early 2025 on the Official Xbox Podcast, showcasing the game’s combat, exploration, and even the series’ famous chicken-kicking mechanics.

Even with the bits and pieces of Fable‘s gameplay that have been shown, what is still lacking is a deep dive into the action RPG’s various systems. That kind of showcase would help clarify the flow of Fable‘s combat, how exploration works both in scale and mechanics, and how much player choice actually factors into narrative progression and world interaction. Until Xbox and Playground Games pull back the curtain with a more focused gameplay presentation, much of Fable still exists as a collection of promising ideas rather than a clearly defined experience.

Head of Microsoft Studios Matt Booty confirmed Playground Games will be at the Xbox Developer Direct in January 2026.

Whether Fable Will Launch on PlayStation

There have also been rumors that Playground Games’ Fable reboot will launch on PlayStation consoles, alongside PC and Xbox. These rumors are largely rooted in the fact that Xbox has been exploring the idea of multi-platform launches since early 2024, with many claiming Fable‘s delay to 2026 is due to Xbox wanting to also launch the game on PS5. If that’s true, it would line up with the move that Playground Games’ Forza Horizon 5 made to PS5 several years after its initial launch. After being released as an Xbox exclusive in November 2021, it launched on PS5 on April 29, 2025, marking the first time a mainline Forza game appeared on a non-Microsoft platform. As such, it’s possible that Fable‘s delay is a sign of it making a similar move, though it has yet to be confirmed by Duncan.

What You’ll Probably See From Fable in 2026

Major reveal during January 2026’s Xbox Developer Direct
Release date announcement
General marketing at 2026 events

While some of what fans can expect to see from the game in 2026 is purely speculative, January 2026’s Xbox Developer Direct showcase should set all expectations for Fable in the new year. This is the most current, exciting news about Fable, especially after rumors that it would be delayed once again to 2027. The Xbox Developer Direct showcase generally features deep dives into games that a simple trailer wouldn’t show, and if the game is in a state where something like that can be revealed, its 2026 release window might actually hold firm.

Apart from more of Fable‘s gameplay and story, an official release date may be revealed for it in 2026 as well. If not during the Xbox Developer Direct, the annual summer Xbox Games Showcase could (and likely will) feature Fable in some capacity. If a concrete release date for the game isn’t announced during January’s Xbox Developer Direct, one most likely will be announced at the mid-year Xbox Games Showcase. Finally, as its launch gets closer (even if it isn’t until 2027), fans of the highly anticipated action RPG will still likely be treated to plenty of marketing for it, whether it comes in the form of trailers, screenshots, or interviews.

Clearly, there are still multiple things up in the air with Fable, but there’s also more than enough to be optimistic about between Playground Games’ track record, the direction of the reboot, and the attention it’s likely to get throughout 2026. There are some big questions that Xbox hasn’t answered yet, and it seems like 2026 will be the year that those answers are offered. If this really is when Fable starts diving deeper into its gameplay, story, and unique identity, it should finally begin to feel like the return to Albion fans have been waiting for instead of another long stretch of anticipation.