The Xbox Showcase featured plenty of gameplay and new information about the new Fable. This is attracting fans back to the previous installments in droves.
Fable is coming back soon: A reboot of the series was announced back in 2020, which, like the first installment, will simply be called Fable. However, for a long time, there was very little to see. Developer Playground Games released only a few short trailers, and gameplay and concrete information were few and far between. But that has now changed. At an Xbox showcase, there was plenty of new stuff to see:
This seems to have struck a chord with fans, although many of them are still longing for a unique Fable feature. The number of players of the first installment is now skyrocketing on Steam.
Steep rise
The first Fable, or rather its HD remaster, is the only part of the series available on Steam. The original is over 20 years old, and the remaster was released in 2014. So it’s no wonder that player numbers have been hovering in the triple digits for years.
However, after the Xbox Showcase, there was a significant spike: over the weekend, almost 4,000 players embarked on a heroic journey. The numbers have increased many times over. Although Fable doesn’t make it into the Steam charts, the increase shows that the new scenes and information about the game are generating interest – or simply reminding people of the good old Fable.
What’s new?
At Developer Direct, the entire eleven minutes of talk about Fable. Not only was there information about the story and game mechanics, but also brand new images and scenes, as well as a release period: Fable is now scheduled to be released in fall 2026. Here is an overview of the new information:
- Story: We begin our journey as a child in an idyllic village, but of course something dramatic happens, which is why we embark on our hero’s journey.
- Game world: In the new Fable, Albion is a completely connected open world that we can freely explore from the very beginning. There are two large cities, Bowerstone and Bloodstone.
- Character creation: We choose what our hero or heroine looks like (and what they wear). However, the exact options available in the character editor have not yet been revealed.
- Fantasy sim: Away from the adventurous life, we can get to know, date, and marry over 1,000 NPCs with simulated daily routines in Albion and have children. We can buy any house or pursue occupations such as blacksmithing.
- Decisions: In quests and everyday gameplay, we have to make decisions that affect the world and its inhabitants. If we help the inhabitants of a city, they will appreciate us. But in return, the villagers next door may hate us.
- Combat: We use medieval weapons and magic and specialize in certain fighting styles and weapon classes with skills. We hurl lightning bolts, fireballs, or turn enemies into chickens.
However, Fable still has to prove that it can satisfy fans of its predecessors. We now know that the external changes to our heroes mean that an essential feature of the originals is missing. At the same time, however, the new Fable emphasizes its desire to continue the legacy of Lionhead Studios. We will see how well that works out in fall 2026.
