Xbox may not have many exclusive titles, but the next entry in the Fable franchise has been one of its most anticipated games of the past year.
Fable was supposed to be released later this year, but unfortunately, fans will have to wait a bit longer before they can enter the fantasy world again.
Fable has been Delayed
In a recent reveal during the official Xbox podcast (via VGC), Xbox Game Studios head Craig Duncan has confirmed that Fable has been delayed to 2026. He says, “So, I just want to start with, really excited, really excited about progress, 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.”
Though the game had been delayed, Microsoft did show off some pre-alpha gameplay to get fans excited about something. It’s not much, but it gives a great look at the environment and fights with fantastical creatures big and small.
What’s the Fable Series about?
The Fable series from Lionhead Studios launched in 2004 and is set in the fictional nation of Albion, which strongly resembles Medieval Britain. There have been three mainline Fable entries since the franchise launched, and each has seen a time skip with every era, starting in medieval times and slowly creeping its way to the Age of Enlightenment.
Though a lot of the series is based on actual history, this wouldn’t be a fantasy game if there weren’t all kinds of magic and fantastical creatures roaming around for players to interact with.
What Can Fans Expect from the New Fable?
click to enlargeWhen it comes to the new Fable game, there will be a return to Albion, and it looks like a reboot of the timeline. Duncan describes it, “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.”
Admittedly, it does seem like the game is leaning in on its overall tone to set itself apart from other big fantasy titles. The reveal of Fable was filled with all kinds of kooky characters—like a giant Richard Ayoade—and some of that dry humor is not really present in other big IPs in the same genre.
Though the game is expected to come out in 2026, Xbox will likely have a lot to showcase about the game this year, seeing that they were originally planning to release it in 2025. With much of the pre-game footage already looking amazing, fans should expect a new look at Fable before the year ends.
No specific release date has been announced for Fable, but expect the game to launch for Xbox sometime in 2026.
For more articles like this, take a look at our Fable page.