The Xbox Games Showcase 2025 showed off many developments for several indie and first-party titles, such asThe Outer Worlds 2,Ninja Gaiden 4, andHigh on Life 2,but unfortunately, Playground Games’Fablewas not one of them. The firstFablegame developed byForza Horizonveteran developer Playground Games,Fablewas only referenced once at the very end of the showcase, with CEO of Microsoft Gaming Phil Spencer announcing thatFablewould debut sometime in 2026. While little is still currently known aboutFable’s story or gameplay, fans can still predict when the game may debut based on priorFablegame releases and potential release dates for fellow 2026 Xbox Game Studios titles.
A Brief History of Fable Game Releases
Fable’s history dates all the way back to the original Xbox as one of the console’s first exclusive games.Fable 1’s initial production can be traced back to 2002 with the establishment of Big Blue Box Studios as a satellite studio to Lionhead Studios,Fable 1being the first game Big Blue Box released. Two years later in mid-September, 2004,Fablewas officially released on the original Xboxand Windows PCs with an expanded version,Fable: The Lost Chapters, debuting a year later in September 2005. With its innovative console RPG mechanics, morality system, and enthralling fantasy world design,Fablebecame an instant platinum hit, selling over 1.4 million copies by 2005.
Development onFable 2began almost immediately after the first game’s release, withFable 2officially being announced in May 2006 at E3. Two years later in late October 2008,Fable 2officially released exclusively on the Xbox 360once again to widespread critical and financial success, selling over 3.5 million copies by 2010.Fable 2’s success secured theFablefranchise as one of Xbox’s landmark exclusive franchises alongsideHaloandGears of War. This success led Microsoft to authorize a third mainlineFablegame and in August 2009 at Gamescom,Fable 3was officially announced. Just over a year later,Fable 3would launch on Xbox 360in late October 2010, with the game later being ported to Windows PCs in May 2011.
Fable’s Many Spin-Offs of the 2010s
Fable 3was the last mainlineFablegame developed by its creator, Lionhead Studios. Instead, theFablefranchise was regulated to smaller, spin-off titles for the rest of the decade, including:
The only exception to this spin-off trend was 2014’sFable Anniversary, a remastered version ofFable 1celebrating the franchise’s 10th anniversary, released in February for Xbox 360 and September for PC. In 2012, Lionhead originally pitched aFable 4building off of traditional mainlineFablegame elements, but this concept was rejected by Microsoft. Instead, Microsoft ordered the next mainlineFablegame to be a live-service, multiplayer-focused title, resulting in the later-canceledFable Legends.
When Players May Expect Playground Games’ Fable to Debut
2026 is expected to be a busy year for veteran exclusive Xbox game franchises. Alongside Spencer’s announcement of Playground Games’Fablereleasing in 2026 at the Xbox Games Showcase, Spencer announced thatGears of War: E-Daywill release in 2026 alongside the “… return of a classic…” This “classic” game may be eitherHalo 7or the rumoredHalo: Combat Evolvedremakebecause 2026 will beHalo’s 25th anniversary as well as the 25th anniversary of Xbox overall. 2026 will additionally be the 20th anniversary of theGears of Warfranchise and the 21st anniversary ofFable: The Lost Chapters.
With all of these anniversaries and expected game releases, 2026 is anticipated to be a crowded year for Xbox, but the release window forFablecan still be narrowed down. Based on priorFablereleases, the new entry may debut in Fall 2026. Specifically,Fablecould be released in September 2026 to mirror the release ofFable 1andFable: The Lost Chapters. This would giveGears of War: E-Dayand the nextHalogame room to bask in their own releases as both games could debut in November 2026 to coincide withGears of War 1’s 20th anniversary andHalo: Combat Evolved’s 25th anniversary.
