Fable Game Delayed to 2026, New Pre-Alpha Gameplay Unveiled by Microsoft

Microsoft has pushed back the release of the highly anticipated Fable reboot from its initial 2025 window to sometime in 2026. This announcement came alongside a tantalizing first look at new gameplay footage during the latest episode of the Xbox Podcast.

Fable marks the revival of the beloved Xbox franchise, originally crafted by the now-defunct Lionhead Studios. The project is being spearheaded by UK's Playground Games, renowned for their critically acclaimed Forza Horizon series.

Craig Duncan, who transitioned from Rare studio head to lead Xbox Game Studios last fall, took to the podcast to reassure fans about the delay. "Really excited about progress," Duncan stated, emphasizing his confidence in Playground's capabilities. "We previously announced the date for Fable as 2025. We are actually going to give Fable more time, and it’s going to ship in 2026 now."

While acknowledging that the delay might not be the news fans hoped for, Duncan stressed the importance of ensuring the game meets its full potential. "What I want to assure people of is that it’s definitely worth the wait," he affirmed. He praised Playground's track record with Forza Horizon, noting their ability to create visually stunning and critically acclaimed games.

Duncan elaborated on what fans can expect from the new Fable, promising "amazing gameplay, British humor, [and] Playground’s version of Albion." He highlighted that the game will be an inspired yet fresh take on the franchise, featuring "the most beautifully realized version of Albion you’ve ever seen."

Simultaneously, Microsoft unveiled a 50-second pre-alpha gameplay snippet, showcasing Fable's combat mechanics, city exploration, horseback riding through fantasy forests, and the iconic chicken-kicking moment. The footage included scenes of combat with various weapons like one-handed swords, two-handed hammers, and two-handed swords, as well as a magical fireball attack. A cutscene revealed a character setting a trap with sausages to lure a werewolf-like creature into battle.

The Fable reboot, announced in 2020 as a "new beginning," has been gradually unveiled over the years. The 2023 Xbox Game Showcase featured a reveal by Richard Ayoade from The IT Crowd, while last year's Xbox Showcase in June 2024 provided another glimpse with a new trailer.

This reboot represents the first major Fable installment since Fable 3 in 2010 and is poised to be one of Xbox Game Studios' flagship titles.