Microsoft and developer Playground Games officially announced that Fable is delayed out of 2025 and will instead be released at some point in 2026. While this is certainly some unfortunate news, the studios did also show off some new, pre-alpha gameplay from Fable which was pretty hype.
The latest episode of the Xbox Podcast is where the news about the delay first broke. Head of Xbox game Studios, Craig Duncan, shared the unfortunate news but noted that the new Fable will be "definitely worth the wait." While talking about the game, various clips of gameplay were shown off, including several scenes that had not been shared with the public prior to today.
You can check out the Xbox Podcast below, with the relevant Fable section starting at the 14:13 mark, with the gameplay clips starting at 15:55. There is roughly 50 seconds of new footage included in the segment. We get a look at some pre-alpha combat, various cities and environments, horse riding, and a chicken being kicked.
Duncan says that he is "really excited about progress" and "really excited about where Playground are."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Playground Games is best known for being the lead studio on the Forza Horizon titles for Xbox Game Studios. Their latest, Forza Horizon 5, was released in late 2021 for Xbox and PC. Forza Horizon 5 will be coming soon to PlayStation 5 courtesy of Panic Button.
