There’s a lot riding on the upcomingFablereboot, and gaming audiences don’t really know what to expect from it at this point. Aside from some reports aboutPlayground Games struggling to pivot to action-adventure from theForza Horizonseriesand a rather embarrassing controversy about the female lead’s appearance, there’s not much information to suggest the game will be particularly good or particularly bad.
Nevertheless,Fableis supposed to come at some point in 2025, so a solid look at its gameplay is presumably not too far off. Thus far, the game’s trailers have centered more on its narrative and overall tone rather than any of its particular interactive elements, which elevates its air of uncertainty. The fact that it appears to be somewhat removed from the original trilogy doesn’t help matters, nor does the fact that it’s being developed by a studio with no experience making open-world RPGs. One can hope that it will live up to the beloved games that came before it, but that remains to be seen, and it could wind up facing an uphill battle when it comes to public perception.
Fable Is Going To Be Sandwiched Between Two Other Xbox Fantasy RPGs
Avowed Is Coming Before Fable, The Elder Scrolls 6 Is Coming After
Avowedis right around the corner, and it’s looking quite promising. Though it managed to snag a bit of bad press due to disappointing reveals like a 30FPS cap on consoles, the outlook has been generally positive since the last round of hands-on previews, which showcased the game’s stunning art design and unique combat system. It’s coming from Obsidian Entertainment, a company known for a number of great games, includingPentimentandFallout: New Vegas, which is helping to elevate hype even more.
Then there’sThe Elder Scrolls 6which, while certainly still far away, is nevertheless going to generate tons of excitement when it is eventually revealed and released. Again, this game will be coming from a studio with a track record of producing widely successful and beloved games;even games likeStarfieldandFallout 4, which have attracted a lot of criticism, have no shortage of fans who will jump at the chance to play the nextElder Scrolls.
All of this is to say thatFableis going up against some stiff competitionin the fantasy RPG genre, and from its own parent company no less. Fair or not, comparisons between these three games will be drawn, and withAvowedlooking much more promising thanFableat this stage, there’s a very good chance that they won’t be favorable. Of course, nothing concrete is known aboutThe Elder Scrolls 6, but it has the benefit of being part of one of the most popular franchises ever, whileFableis basically a fresh start for its IP and may have little in common with what came before it.
How Fable Can Avoid Being Cannibalized by Avowed and The Elder Scrolls 6
AvowedandThe Elder Scrolls 6will likely be self-serious in a number of ways, adhering to more traditional high fantasy tropes. Thus, one obvious way thatFablecan stand out is by doubling down on the wry and cheeky humorof its predecessors, establishing itself as a game that doesn’t take itself too seriously. This can come down to its narrative, naturally, but also its broader interactive sandbox. In a nutshell,Fableshouldn’t be afraid to let loose.
At the end of the day, though, it’s impossible to predict what this trio of Xbox fantasy RPGs will look like.Fablecould very well blowAvowedandTES 6out of the water, and then such comparisons would swing in the other direction. With enough support and strong creative power, all three games could be equally great, and equally distinct from one another.
Fable
WHERE TO PLAY
Fable is an RPG developed by Playground Games and published by Microsoft. Set in Albion, the game challenges players to define what it means to be a hero.
