Fable Reboot Delayed to 2026: Xbox Prioritizes Quality Over Speed
Microsoft has confirmed that the highly anticipated reboot of Fable will no longer launch in 2025 as previously expected. Instead, the game is now set for a 2026 release, with the extra development time aimed at ensuring the game meets the high expectations of both fans and Xbox leadership.
This news was revealed by Craig Duncan, head of Xbox Game Studios, during an official Xbox podcast. He emphasized that while delays are never easy to announce, the extra time will ultimately benefit the game’s overall quality.
“While I know that’s not maybe the news people want to hear, what I want to assure people of is that it’s definitely worth the wait. I have unequivocal confidence in the Playground team.”
The delay means that fans will have to wait a little longer before stepping back into the magical, humor-filled world of Albion, but Microsoft appears confident that the wait will be worth it.
A Closer Look at Playground Games’ Vision for Fable
The Fable reboot is being developed by Playground Games, best known for their work on the Forza Horizon series. While the studio has primarily focused on racing games in the past, their expertise in open-world design has many fans hopeful that they will deliver a fresh yet faithful take on the legendary RPG franchise.
Duncan reassured fans that the team is dedicated to crafting a visually stunning and immersive version of Albion. The game will stay true to Fable’s signature British humor, moral choices, and whimsical storytelling, while also taking advantage of modern technology for improved graphics and gameplay mechanics.
To accompany the announcement of the delay, Xbox released a short snippet of new real-time gameplay footage. While brief, the footage showcased some of the game’s environments and gave players a taste of the rich, detailed world that Playground Games is creating.
What This Means for Xbox’s 2025 Lineup
With Fable no longer launching in 2025, Xbox fans may wonder what major titles they can still look forward to in the coming year. Fortunately, Microsoft’s first-party lineup remains strong, with several big releases still scheduled for 2025, including:
•South of Midnight – A dark fantasy action-adventure from Compulsion Games
•DOOM: The Dark Ages – The next entry in the DOOM franchise
•The Outer Worlds 2 – Obsidian’s follow-up to their popular sci-fi RPG
While Fable was expected to be a major pillar of Xbox’s 2025 offerings, this delay gives Playground Games more time to polish their vision and ensure the game delivers on fan expectations.
Final Thoughts
While it’s disappointing that Fable won’t be launching in 2025, this delay signals Microsoft’s commitment to delivering high-quality first-party games rather than rushing projects to meet deadlines. Given the strong legacy of the franchise, fans are eager to see Playground Games’ take on Albion—and if the recent gameplay snippet is anything to go by, Fable is shaping up to be an impressive return for the beloved series.
For more on Xbox’s upcoming releases, check out our article on ID@Xbox Showcase reveals 24 indie games and Game Pass additions.