Playground Games Shows Four Minutes of New Fable Gameplay

Playground Games has released a new gameplay video for its Fable reboot. The four-minute clip focuses on one of the game’s quests and is tied to Xbox’s 25th anniversary.

In the new video, the protagonist, the Hero of Briar Hill, heads into the Deepwood with companion Arden. The two try to figure out what’s happening to the magic in Oakshire, where the region’s natural magic appears to have been corrupted by some outside force.

The video covers the game’s core elements: cutscenes, dialogue, the interface, and combat. The Hero fights with melee attacks, ranged weapons, and magic, and players can mix these in different ways against enemies. The developers also reminded fans that player choices will shape your reputation in Albion, so one of the series’ key mechanics is staying.

Reactions to the video have been mixed. Some players on Reddit pointed out that the footage looks too grim and doesn’t feel much like Fable. Many had hoped for the brighter fairy-tale atmosphere and signature British humor that made Lionhead’s original games memorable. YouTube comments, on the other hand, are mostly positive. Fans were split earlier too, when players shared their first impressions of Playground’s Fable.

Fable is a reboot of the cult RPG series, developed by Playground Games, the studio known for the Forza Horizon series. The game doesn’t continue the story of the original trilogy. Instead, it offers its own take on Albion, with an open world of forests, villages, caves, and the city of Bowerstone. The story begins in the village of Briar Hill, where a mysterious stranger turns the residents to stone, including the protagonist’s grandmother.

The voice cast includes Hayley Atwell as Isabel, the Hero of Wraithmarsh, along with Richard Ayoade and Matt King. The Jack of Blades and the talking Demon Doors are also coming back.

Fable has been in development for a long time. It was announced back in 2020, and its release has been delayed several times: first from 2025 to 2026, then from fall 2026 to February 23, 2027. Fable will now launch on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5, and it will be on Game Pass from day one. Premium Edition owners can start playing five days early.