Fable 4: Everything we know so far about the new Fable game
Fable 4 is officially on the way from Forza Horizon developer Playground Games, and it's slated to launch in 2025. Set to bring us back to Albion at long last, we got our first proper look at the new fantasy RPG came during last year's Xbox Games Showcase, with the first trailer for Fable 4 showing off third-person gameplay featuring an appearance of a giant played by Richard Ayoade. This year's showcase brought even more Fable goodness by way of a secondf cinematic trailer, and it's looking somehow even better than we'd dared hope. You can check out both trailers below.
As one of the biggest upcoming Xbox Series X games in development, it stands to reason that our eyes are fixed firmly on Playground Games as we inch closer toward the new year. While we wait for more news, read on below as we take you through everything we know so far about Fable 4.
Fable 4 news
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Fable 4 release date
As of June 2024, Playground Games' Fable 4 has been given a ballpark release window of 2025. That puts the Xbox exclusive among the likes of GTA 6 when it comes to next year's roster, which is only getting more stacked by the minute how how many games at this year's Summer Game Fest festivities have turned out to be prospective 2025 releases.
Fable 4 trailers
Swords, magic, fairies, Albion glimmering in the distance - all the Fable ingredients seem to be in order so far. The voiceover is familiar too, it just screams Royal Shakespeare company.
"The world is filled with stories of legendary heroes and treacherous villains. Of fantastical creatures and wondrous places. Where nature and magic live in perfect harmony. Not all stories have happy endings! But yours has yet to be written."
The first full Fable trailer dropped at the Xbox Games Showcase 2023 and revealed IT Crowd's Richard Ayoade is playing a wooden glasses-wearing giant called Dave, who describes himself as a vegetable enthusiast but actually acts as a boss fight for the game. It's got some brilliant British humor in it, particularly the use of the word wanker.
The dazzling second Fable trailer shown at the Xbox Games Showcase 2024 revisits the topic of herodom as seen in the first reveal. In a continuation of the mockumentary-style presentation as in the first trailer, Playground's latest sneak peek show retired swashbuckler Humphrey giving is honest advice and memoirs to would-be heroes of Albion.
Between passionate mega-fans, haters, potential romantic interests, and a uh, giant toad, it seems hero life is not all it's cracked up to be. Playground's playful tone and tongue-in-cheek humor hits every pitch-perfect note in the Fable book, however.
Fable 4 gameplay
From the two main cinematic and gameplay trailers, the new Fable game looks set to turn us into our very own hero once again. We were shown swordfighting and also fire-ball magic, in between wafting through taverns, being flited with, being hated on, and so forth. Slaying legendary beasts is also apparently on the agenda for our hero, along with taking down a giant called Dave - who, happily, is to be played by Richard Ayoade. Cue slamming of fists and much, much chaos.
Playground is set to continue Fable's tradition as an RPG, and if some subtle hints in the trailer shown at Xbox Games Showcase 2024 hold true, we could be seeing a return to its morality system - or something to that end.
Fable 4 engine
Since the new Fable adventure is being developed over at Playground Games, it makes perfect sense that it will be created using the same game engine as the studio's other titles. A Turn10 job listing that surfaced back in 2021 confirmed that the Forzatech engine is powering three "AAA titles in development across two beloved franchises" and included the mention of "enriching the toolset to support an open world action RPG - Fable".
Xbox Game Studios head spoke about Playground Games taking on Fable 4 in an interview during Pax West 2022, and assured fans that the studio "gets it". Let's be honest, giving Fable to the racing team could be a little bit of a head-scratcher," Booty said, "but they have proven that they get it, and I'm excited for when the time comes to be able to show more."
Fable 4 platforms
As an in-house title, Playground's Fable 4 will launch on Xbox Series X and PC only. It's safe to say that you're never going to play Fable 4 on PS5. The IP is owned by Microsoft, and because of that you can put all your money on the fact it’ll be exclusive to Xbox Series X and PC when it does eventually arrive.
Fable 4 development
Fable 4 is being developed by Forza crew, Playground Games. Seeing as original Fable developer Lionhead Studios is no more, it’s understandable that the folks behind the trilogy had some concerns about a sequel being made by an entirely new team.
“I have slightly mixed feelings,” said Fable co-creator Simon Carter, in an interview with Eurogamer back in 2017. “On the one hand, it’s great for the UK games industry, and very pleasing that Fable isn’t dead; indeed, it will be lovely to play one as a punter, without coming out in hives. On the other, it is a little curious to get rid of the team that is uniquely expert in making Fable, and then try and make Fable. Fable is a weird game, and a tough one to deconstruct for a new team. That said, the team in question is very talented, and I’m sure they’ll do a fantastic job.”
Check out some of the best RPGs to play while you wait for Fable 4.
