Fable 4 is coming to us from Forza Horizon developer Playground Games. Set to launch in 2025, the highly anticipated action RPG will finally take us back to Albion for the first time in many years. Our first look at the exciting new adventure came in the initial trailer for Fable 4, which showed off third-person gameplay, the appearance of a giant, and plenty of the series' signature sense of tongue-in-cheek humor.
And with a second cinematic trailer, we all the more eager to see what awaits us. While it's been some time since we've had a major update on the project, there's reportedly an impressive alpha build, which allegedly shares some similarities to The Witcher 3's combat.
It's certainly shaping to be one of the biggest upcoming Xbox Series X games in the works. Read on below to find a full recap of everything we know so far about Fable 4.
Fable 4 news
- Fable joins GTA 6, Monster Hunter Wilds and more in 2025's already packed game release schedule
- Finally confirming reports, Deus Ex studio and RPG veterans are helping the Fable 4 team "craft an unforgettable adventure"
- Fable 4 lead amused that people can't believe the new trailer is real gameplay
- Fable 4's narrative lead announces departure
- The Fable reboot has all the British banter of the original, and it's a huge relief to see
- Fable trailer is as bonkers as we hoped it would be
Fable 4 release window
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, which is also part of a stacked roster of prospective 2025 releases we have to look forward to.
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.
