Microsoft has officially delayed Fable’s release to 2026.
XboxGame Studios head Craig Duncan announced the news on the latest official Xbox podcast.
“So, I just want to start with, really excited, really excited about progress, really excited about where Playground are,” he said.
“We previously announced the date for Fable as 2025, we are actually going to give Fable more time and it’s going to ship in 2026 now.
“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.”
Accompanying the news of the delay,Microsoftshared some new Fable pre-alpha gameplay, which is viewable via the following timestamped YouTube video.
“I have unequivocal confidence in the Playground team,” Duncan continued. “If you think about their history and legacy forForza Horizon, the last two games critically acclaimed, 92 Metacritic, award-winning, beautiful, played great, and just what they’re bringing to Fable as a franchise.
“Just think of the visuals of what you expect ofPlayground Games, plus amazing gameplay, British humor, Playground’s version of Albion, so inspired by what’s gone before with the franchise, but their take in quite frankly, the most beautifully realized version of Albion you’ve ever seen.
“So really excited about the plans and really excited about the future, and I want the community to understand that we do these things for the best of the games, and the teams, and ultimately that results in the best games, or the best game for the community.”
After years of speculation, Xbox announced in June 2024 thatFable would be released this year, and that it would be available on Game Pass on Xbox andPCon day one.
Playground Games also confirmed thatit’s been collaborating with Eidos Montrealon the game.
The lastEidos Montrealgame released was 2021’s Guardians of the Galaxy, which was met with a generally positive critical response butdidn’t meet Square Enix’s sales expectations.
