Xbox recently suffered several staff cuts, studio closures, and game cancellations, but even withPerfect DarkandEverwildout of the picture, the long-awaitedFablereboot is still on its way. Developed by Playground Games,Fableis the first new game in its series since 2012’sFable: The Journey, and will be the first entry to launch sinceFable’s original developer Lionhead Studios closed in 2016. Its announcement in 2020 left fans waiting for a long time, but even though it was absent at the 2025 Xbox Games Showcase,Fablestill seems capable of reaching its 2026 launch window.
Getting a new installment after all this time will hopefully be worth the wait, asFableis a veteran Xbox franchise that sorely needs a modern presence. TheFable Anniversaryremaster of the original gameon Steam and Xbox’s backward compatibility program is a start, but it’s been around since 2014. At a time when Xbox needs first-party IPs to rally around more than ever,Fablepulling any weight is worth something, so even some remasters of the classicFabletrilogy would be worth something — that is, if they don’t make reception to the newFableeven more dicey.
Fable’s Reboot Isn’t Landing Like It Should
It’s Not Clear Yet If The New Fable Can Stand On Its Own Merits
The public is of two minds about the newFable, and this split of opinions appeared early in the game’s marketing cycle. Some don’t see any particular problems to point out about it yet, besides the game taking so long and releasing so little information about itself. Others, particularly old-schoolFableplayers, aren’t so bought in. BetweenthisFable’s more realistic art styleand its trailers’ reliance on an interview style to represent the series’ humor, something feels off about this newFable’s tone. Being attached to modern Microsoft doesn’t help right the vibes, and Playground Games’ purely-Forza Horizonbackground makes theFablereboot’s quality all the more suspect.
Once it’s ready to be shown again,Fablewill need to prove itself to win back trust and ensure its launch will pick up a solid player base. Considering that this means proving its art style, gameplay, writing, and maybe even marketing are up to snuff, it’s facing an uphill battle, and could probably use some help. Some have dismissed the modern era of gaming as being dominated by remakes and remasters, but the old numberedFabletrilogy is in need of modern releases, so a few more would be appropriate here. That is, assuming they don’t provide an even harsher contrast to the new game.
Fable Remasters Could Make Or Break The New Fable
Fablehas found itself in a ‘damned if you do, damned if you don’t’ situation with its hypothetical remasters. Bringing back theglory days of theFablefranchisecould be what’s best for it right now, but runs the risk of turning even more players away from the reboot. The negativity surrounding Playground’sFablestems from comparisons to Lionhead’sFable, and having the latter around is just begging for more complaints from existing skeptics and new ones who got into the series via the remasters.
Launching Fable Remasters May Be Necessary, Despite The Consequences
Even so, Xbox can hardly afford to be more stingy with its release schedule now that several major games have fallen away. ReleasingFableremasters before the newFablecould empower complaints, but releasing them after might sabotage their own performance. It may still be best to attract new players with the old games up front, especially since all of these releases areliable to be on Xbox Game Pass anyway, so there might not even be a tangible sales hit if players prefer the older titles. It’s almost appropriately absurd forFableto find itself in this debacle, and hopefully it can dispel its hazy future soon.
