Fable (commonly referred to as Fable 4) is shaping up to be one of the most exciting new games for 2026, and we're here to break down everything you need to know about the upcoming action-RPG ahead of launch.
Set to bring us to the classic setting of Albion "like we've never seen it before", the adventure is officially titled Fable, rather than Fable 4 – as it promises to be a new beginning for the series, while still staying true to the spirit of the original trilogy. With our first proper look at Playground's Fable reboot during the Xbox Developer Direct showcase in January, the studio showed off an extensive number of features we can expect, alongside some story details, a look at combat, and more.
The beloved Fable series is home to some of the best RPGs of their day, bringing us to a fairytale world infused with British wit, magic, and plenty of heroics (or villainy, if you so choose). The upcoming Xbox Series X game looks set to bring a lot of those signature elements back, while also building on what came before. So if you're looking for a helpful recap, read on below to find a detailed overview of everything we know so far about Fable.
Fable 4 news
- Fable 4 is officially just Fable, and after a 16-year wait it finally launches this fall across Xbox, PC, and PS5
- Fable 4 gets its "first deep dive" alongside Forza Horizon 6 gameplay and more during Xbox Developer Direct later this month
- 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 4 release window
Fable has a current release window set for Autumn 2026.
This launch window was revealed during the Xbox Developer Direct, and while it didn't give us a concrete release date, it does give us a more general idea of when we can expect to see the adventure arrive this year, with it likely set to land in August, September, or October. If we had to guess, we'd say it'd likely be in one of the earlier months, given that GTA 6 is coming in November. We'll be watching out for further updates.
Fable 4 platforms
As an in-house title, Playground's Fable is currently confirmed to launch on Xbox Series X/S, PC, and PlayStation 5.
That's right, originally we thought PS5 players would have to wait, but the game will be coming out this year for us all and is officially going to be added to our list of upcoming PS5 games!
Fable 4 trailers
So far, we've had multiple Fable 4 trailers, and the good news is that you can find all of them here to watch at your own leisure. The first trailer above sets the fantasy tone of the upcoming game while also giving us some cheeky laughs as well. Swords, magic, fairies, Albion glimmering in the distance - all the Fable ingredients seem to be in the teaser. 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 second teaser (aka the first full Fable 4 trailer) dropped at the Xbox Games Showcase 2023. It 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 in the game. It's got some brilliant British humor in it, particularly the use of the word wanker.
We have the third teaser, which was shown at the Xbox Games Showcase 2024. In this clip, we revisit 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 shows retired swashbuckler Humphrey giving his honest advice and memoirs to would-be heroes of Albion.
And finally, below we have the most recent look at the game that came from the 2026 Xbox Developer Direct. Here you'll find a lengthy segment breaking down some exciting gameplay details!
Fable 4 gameplay
Fable is set to be an open-world action RPG that will put us in the role of one of the first heroes in a generation. Just like games past, we'll start out as a child in the "sleepy village" of Briar Hill. Our heroic powers then manifest during a moment of danger, but disaster strikes shortly after when a mysterious stranger turns everyone in the village to stone. This event sets you on a path out into the wider world on an adventure that "will shape Albion forever". Oooh.
As the Xbox Developer Direct revealed, the Albion we'll be exploring will be "truly open-world for the first time", and we'll be able to venture out early on in the game. In classic Fable fashion, we'll be able to shape our journey in a myriad of ways, with a new, more nuanced morality system that's connected to the living population of the world.
With over 1000 NPCs across various settlements, your reputation will be based on what the NPCs know and see you've done, and since every NPC is said to be uniquely different — with their own personalities, traits, and likes – how they react to you, how you choose to behave, or the actions you take will depend on their own worldviews.
Excitingly, Fable will also see the return of jobs like blacksmithing that you can do to earn money. And for those who loved being a property mogul, you'll be able to know that you can once again purchase houses and businesses to build your own property empire. Plus, you can also run those businesses, with the option to hire NPCs you meet.
What's more, you can also date and marry the NPCs you encounter, have kids, and maybe get divorced. It sounds like so many of the life-sim elements are making a comeback in a big way. While it sounds like we'll have plenty of people to meet during our adventures, it has been confirmed that no dog will feature in this adventure as our faithful companion.
Our choices are said to have various ripple effects throughout the world, with one example being how we decide to handle a gardener who drinks a potion that turns them into a giant (played by Richard Ayoade). Should you kill him, for example, his body will be strewn across the landscape in a part of the world for the rest of the game.
Fable 4 combat
Fable's combat will see us be able to wield a sword, ranged weapon, and magic not unlike the original games. But Playground Games is setting out to make the combat more fluid and approachable this time around, with heavy and light attacks, and combos and stylish finishers thrown into the mix.
Speaking with GamesRadar+, general manager Ralph Fulton said: "We really wanted to honor the strength, skill and will concept of the original games, and our goal with combat in this game was to make something extremely fluid, extremely approachable, but extremely versatile as well, in a way that allows the player to express themselves within it."
As Fulton explains, that is not just done through the choice of weaponry you pick, but also through "the way they combine those different styles, ranged, melee, and magic, seamlessly within any given combat encounter."
"That was super important to us, the ability to go from, striking with a sword, seamlessly into casting a fireball, seamlessly into using the bow to take out a ranged enemy." Fulton says. "That all had to feel really intuitive, really fluid, and allow the player to not just take on individual enemies, but take on groups of enemies as well, and often groups of mixed enemies that just present different tactical challenges within that particular combat encounter."
As the Xbox Developer Direct confirmed, we can expect to face some familiar foes from the world of Albion, including the likes of Hobbes, Balverines, Hollowfolk, and Trolls. But there'll be some new enemies in the fray, including the giant, fire-breathing Cockatrice. We can also expect to take on multiple enemies at once, as well as some tougher adversaries that play a little close to boss fights, as we're heroes that are a little more powerful than the average human.
Fable 4 character customization
Fable will also feature more character customization than games past, with the Xbox Developer Direct revealing we'll be able to choose from a suite of different head models, skin tones, hairstyles, tattoos, and scars to shape our own hero. Historically, we've only ever gotten to choose between male and female premade characters, so it's exciting to know we'll have more freedom to bring to life our look, and we'll also be able to choose our own clothing, too (not unlike the original trilogy).
Fable open-world locations
As the first truly open-world take on Albion, we've at long last gotten to see some of the locations we can expect to venture to.
As the Xbox Developer Direct detailed, as well as everything from idyllic rolling hills to spooky marshes, we'll once again be able to venture to the capital city of Bowerstone, which prominently featured in Fable 2. Home to the iconic Fairfax castle, the old clocktower, and the Heroes guild – we're said to meet its reclusive guild master, Humphrey the Golden.
We'll also get to visit the "bleak, windswept city of Bloodstone", which is said to feature two rival gangs vying for power, as well as the sinister and very well-organized Cult of Shadows. How ominous.
Fable 4 development
Fable has been in the works for a long time at Playground Games, with Fulton telling us here at GamesRadar+ that the team had a desire to do something different in terms of genre as far back as the release of Forza Horizon 3 almost 10 years ago.
With two new teams assembled to work on the project on Leamington Spa, UK, the upcoming RPG is said to be a real passion project for Playground, with many joining the team, especially to work on a Fable game as "fans first and foremost".
Check out some of the best open-world games to play while you wait for Fable 4.
