Microsoft has pushed back the release of the highly anticipated Fable from its original 2025 window to sometime in 2026. Alongside this announcement, fans were treated to a first glimpse of brand new gameplay footage.

Fable is the eagerly awaited reboot of the iconic Xbox franchise originally developed by the now-defunct Lionhead Studios. The project is being spearheaded by UK-based Playground Games, renowned for their critically acclaimed Forza Horizon series.

During the latest episode of the Xbox Podcast, Craig Duncan, the former head of Rare who transitioned to lead Xbox Game Studios last fall, expressed his enthusiasm and confidence in the project. "I just want to start with, really excited about progress," Duncan stated. "Really excited about where Playground are. 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."

Acknowledging that the delay might not be the news fans hoped for, Duncan reassured the community, saying, "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. If you think about their history and legacy for Forza Horizon, the last few games, critically acclaimed, 92 Metacritic, award-winning, beautiful, play great."

He further emphasized the unique elements Playground is bringing to the Fable franchise, stating, "And just what they’re bringing to Fable as a franchise, just think of the visuals of what you expect of Playground 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. 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 game for the community," Duncan concluded.

Simultaneously with the delay announcement, Microsoft unveiled 50 seconds of pre-alpha gameplay footage. This snippet showcased Fable's combat mechanics, scenes of the protagonist navigating city streets, riding a horse through a fantasy forest, and even the iconic chicken-kicking moment. The brief footage offered a glimpse into the game's visual quality and the elements Duncan highlighted in the podcast.

The gameplay revealed various combat options, including wielding a one-handed sword, a two-handed hammer, a two-handed sword, and casting a fireball magic attack. Additionally, a cutscene depicted a man setting up a sausage trap to lure a werewolf-like creature, which the main character then battles.

Playground Games announced their revival of the fantasy role-playing game series in 2020, promising a "new beginning." The 2023 Xbox Game Showcase provided further insight into what to expect, featuring a reveal by The IT Crowd's Richard Ayoade. Last year, during the Xbox Showcase event in June 2024, Microsoft showcased the Fable reboot once again with a new trailer.

This reboot marks the first mainline Fable game since Fable 3 in 2010 and stands as one of Xbox Game Studios' most significant upcoming titles.