One of the most anticipated games of next year is undoubtedly the Fable reboot. Fifteen years after the last mainline entry, the fantasy RPG franchise's return has ignited considerable excitement among fans. The journey back to Albion has been a long one. Following the cancellation of Fable Legends and the subsequent closure of Lionhead Studios in 2016, Microsoft tasked Playground Games with the monumental task of reviving the series. While Playground Games boasts a stellar track record, primarily with the Forza Horizon racing franchise, their foray into RPG development marks a significant departure.
This shift in genre naturally raises questions about the quality of the upcoming Fable. However, according to Jez Corden of Windows Central, potential concerns may be unfounded. In a recent episode of the Xbox Two podcast, Corden described viewing alpha gameplay footage, stating that it "looked fantastic." He highlighted a combat system heavily reminiscent of The Witcher series, a similarity he attributes to Playground Games employing former CD Projekt Red developers, including a purported combat designer.
Corden's account details a fluid and polished combat system: "You can tell that this game has CD Project Red DNAâ¦the melee combat, the pirouettes, the dodging, the seamless hack and slash into an executionâ¦it looks super polished, super good." His description extends beyond the melee combat, encompassing a variety of weapons, from bows and arrows to magical spells. He specifically recalls witnessing a spell that lifted and subsequently slammed enemies to the ground. The gameplay footage also reportedly featured a diverse range of enemies, including, amusingly, a "dangerous scary chicken" and werewolves, the latter encountered in a scene involving a bait of bacon, eggs, and sausages.
While The Witcher 3's combat system faced some criticism, Playground Games may have taken inspiration from its foundations while significantly refining and polishing the mechanics. The true extent of these improvements will only be evident upon witnessing official gameplay footage. The upcoming Game Awards event offers a potential platform for Microsoft to unveil a new trailer.
Beyond the combat system, Corden also reported hearing, at Summer Game Fest, that Fable will include character selection, likely offering players a choice between male and female protagonists. This news will undoubtedly be welcomed by those who found the previously revealed character designs unappealing.
Fable is currently scheduled for release sometime in 2025, targeting PC and Xbox Series S|X consoles. While specific details remain scarce, Corden's positive assessment provides a considerable boost to fan anticipation, suggesting that Playground Games might well have successfully delivered a worthy successor to the beloved Fable franchise. The upcoming months will be crucial in determining if the hype surrounding this highly anticipated title is justified.
