Fable: A New Beginning For The Beloved Franchise

I’ve been a fan of the Fable series since the beginning, and the news of a reboot had me both excited and a little nervous. The original games, for all their quirks and undelivered promises, had a unique charm that would be hard to replicate. After seeing the recent Xbox Developer Direct and speaking with game director Ralph Fulton, my fears have been mostly put to rest. Playground Games, known for their work on the Forza Horizon series, seems to understand what made Fable special.

The new Fable, set to release this fall, is a reboot of the series. This isn't a sequel, but a fresh start for the franchise in the world of Albion. I learned, via IGN, that the team at Playground Games are huge fans of the series, which is always a good sign.

The new Fable breaks from the old one in its morality system. No longer will your character sprout horns for being evil or a halo for being good. Instead, individual NPCs will form their own opinions of you based on your actions. This means you could be a "rich twat" in one town and a saint in another. I find this to be a much more nuanced and interesting approach to morality in games. Another refreshing change is the absence of procedurally generated content. Every NPC in the new Fable is a unique, handmade, and fully voiced character. This is a huge undertaking, but it’s a commitment that I believe will pay off in the end. It will make the world of Albion feel much more alive and believable.

The 2023 teaser trailer introduced a giant named Dave, leading many to believe the game would be a Jack and the Beanstalk-style story. However, it turns out Dave is just an "egotistical gardener" who got his hands on a magic growth formula. You’ll have to decide how to deal with him, and your choice will have a lasting impact on the world. This is just one example of the kind of meaningful choices you’ll be making throughout the game. When asked if this new Fable is connected to the originals, Fulton was coy, but he did say that they "share lore and some of that originating lore of the Fable universe is really important to our story.”

"I'm going to avoid that question, Ryan. And I'll tell you why. We touch very lightly on story in the Dev Direct piece, but honestly, what we really wanted to do is come out and speak to the detail in the game and answer all those questions that people inevitably have about the game we haven't answered before. We're going to talk more about story later in the year, so I'm not going to say yes or no to that particular question just yet."

— Ralph Fulton

My biggest concern with the new Fable is the combat. Playground Games has an impeccable track record, but they’ve never made a game with combat before. While the town-management and NPC relationship aspects of the game are a huge draw for me, the combat needs to be engaging for the game to be a true success. Another small disappointment is the absence of a dog companion, a beloved feature from Fable 2. Fulton admitted that this was a tough cut to make, and that many on the team haven't forgiven him for it. While I understand that game development is full of difficult choices, I can’t help but be a little bummed.

Despite these minor concerns, I am incredibly optimistic about the new Fable. Playground Games seems to have a deep understanding and appreciation for the source material, and they’re making smart choices that will modernize the series while retaining its unique charm. The commitment to handcrafted NPCs, a more nuanced morality system, and meaningful choices has me more excited than ever to return to Albion.

I have long felt that Fable has the potential to be a truly special game, and I believe that Playground Games is the right studio to finally deliver on that promise. I am eagerly awaiting the game’s release this fall and can’t wait to see what other surprises await in the world of Albion.