Fable fans have waited since 2010 for a true Albion adventure, and it looks like they’ll have to keep waiting. The next installment in the franchise, apply named Fableis in production but doesn’t offer much else past a teaser trailer and some safe assumptions. Modern gamers have been patient, waiting for games like Starfield to finally hit the shelves. However, they can’t help the skepticism, especially not after the disaster that was Battlefield 2042. So, what do we know about the Fable 4 release date and gameplay?
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Release date
There is no definite release date for Fable 4, and players shouldn’t get their hopes up anytime soon. If it were being released in 2022, there would be more information available to the public. Playground Games would have mentioned it at the Xbox Game Awards as well. Hopefully, players don’t have to wait as long as they did for Cyberpunk 2077and we all know how that turned out.
Instead, players should put Fable in the back of their minds alongside The Elder Scrolls VI. that being said, Xbox Games CEO Phil Spencer offered a glimmer of hope in learning a future release date. In an interview with IGNhe implied that Fable 4 will be out before the next Elder Scrolls game.
Platforms
Fable is still in development for Xbox Series X|S and PC. Sorry, PlayStation users, you will not be able to venture around Albion on your Sony console. Fable has always been one of Xbox’s most revered exclusive games. With the game still in early development, it wouldn’t make sense for developers to add an Xbox One port.
That being said, the real question is if Fable will release on Xbox Gamepass. If history tells us anything, it should. However, without confirmation from Microsoft, players will have to wait and see.
Trailer
What fans are calling “Fable 4” is actually a reboot of the series simply called Fable. This is not a simple remaster of the original game. Fans will be getting a new adventure in the Fable universe. This game will be telling a new story while incorporating elements from past Fable games. The reboot of the series ties nicely into the rumored story arch behind the game.
Gameplay
The biggest piece of gameplay news comes from Fable‘s combat design. Paweł Kapałathe combat designer for CD Projekt Red, jumped ship to join Playground Games to work on Fable. Bringing on a new designer for a game centered around combat tells us that the game is far from ready. Kapala spent the past two years developing the melee and firearm combat system for Cyberpunk 2077.
Fable is resorting back to its roots of magic and other medieval-style weaponry. From the reveal trailer itself, we can determine that Fable will be full of fantastical creatures and elements. Fable II had a few rudimentary uses for gun powder, while Fable III focused on guns. Paired with the Kapala news, it’s reasonable to think Fable 4’s combat will be reflective of The Witcher III.
Morality is the mechanic that made players fall in love with Fable. The game allowed players to make choices, both hard and easy, to ultimately determine their Hero’s appearance. Making “immoral” choices would see devil horns sprouting out of the Hero’s head. We can say pretty positively that morality will be returning in the Fable reboot. Removing it would be like taking Master Chief out of Halo.
Fable III allowed players to control Albion and make decisions based on the city’s current economic state. While we aren’t sure if players will be in charge of the entire town, it looks like they’ll be able to manage their own settlements. The same tough decisions will most likely come into play but on a smaller scale.
Finally, and most importantly, the game will look like Fable. We’ll dive into the reboot’s developer in the next section, but players can rest assured knowing the game they’ve been waiting almost a decade for will maintain the same art style. It’ll look polished on Xbox Series X and PC.
An in-depth breakdown of the reveal trailer offers some interesting opinions about what players can expect from the Fable reboot.
Multiplayer
There are rumors of multiplayer/co-op capabilities; however, we’ll learn more as time passes. According to Windows Central on Twitter, Fable will NOT be an MMO. Fable is rumored to be set in a distant future, eons after The Mad King used the Tattered Spire and wished for an asteroid to destroy the entire town. He was successful, and the world has since rebuilt itself to a second medieval era. We’ve been led to believe that our Hero’s story will be about traveling back in time and preventing this catastrophe from ever happening. The Fable reboot is set to be an open-world action RPG.
No, Fable isn't an MMO and no, the multiplayer for #HaloInfinite isn't being delayed. https://t.co/G2QzqZBLvJ
— Windows Central Gaming (@WCGamingTweets) July 24, 2020
While Avengers Endgame-level time travel may be Fable’s main quest, you will have an infinite amount of fun building your own towns, developing relationships, and, hopefully, training your canine companion.
DLC
Fable games of old offered players plenty of DLC in the realm of cosmetic items and weapon packs. Some of these DLC packs came with unique quests for players to go on as well. There was never any major DLC put out for past Fable games. We’re comparing this to something like the Dragonborn DLC from Skyrim. However, with the Fable reboot being launched on Xbox Series X|S, it wouldn’t be surprising if developers were able to put out large patches of that nature. It’s been ingrained in modern gaming and is the preferred alternative to purchasing a $60 sequel.
Pre-order
There is currently no way to pre-order Fable. However, every major game will always come with the ability to pre-order a copy. For a franchise as big as Fable, pre-orders will probably be made public shortly after a release date is set.
Developers
Fable is currently being developed by Playground Games, the company most famous for the Forza Horizon series. This begs players to ask why a company that stakes its claim to fame on racing games has been put in charge of the Fable reboot. For starters, one of Fable’s most charming qualities is its dry British humor. In case you didn’t know, Playground Games is based out of the U.K. In an interview with The Guardianhead of Xbox Game Studios, Matt Booty, had this to say:
“I just look at what Playground has done with the Horizon series — that attention to detail, the ability to represent these naturalistic landscapes. They also have a real passion for the IP and a unique point of view on what’s core to Fable. Everything I’ve seen as the game progresses tells me this is going to be a very high-quality release.”
It’s important to know that the original team behind Fable has been scrapped. Co-creator Simon Carter said he had some mixed feelings on the matter. In an interview with Eurogamer, Carter stated:
“On the one hand, it’s great for the U.K. games industry and very pleasing that Fable isn’t dead. On the other hand, it is a little curious to get rid of the team that is uniquely expert in making Fable — and then try to 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.”
He’s right. Fable certainly is a weird game in the most lovely way. While Microsoft is putting its full faith in Playground, nobody will re-create the original developers’ brainchild.
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