Nearly 13 years after the series' last mainline entry,Fablewas fully revealed at this week’s Xbox Showcase. While the game is the fourth mainline entry in the series,Fable’s Xbox Showcase trailerconfirms the title is a full series reboot. Many fans were surprised when the trailer aired, as its first half consisted of a short monologue about heroism and the importance of vegetables, before pulling back the curtain on aFableentry unlike any other. As the speaker, played by Richard Ayoade, continues to monologue, his segment is intercut with clips featuring a young female hero, until, near the trailer’s conclusion, their segments collide. Given what’s in the trailer,Fableseems to stay true to its roots, invoking the core characteristics of the mythical tales on which it’s based.
Fable’s gameplay reveal arrives three years after the title was first teased at the 2020 Xbox Showcase. However, conversations surrounding the title’s development stretch back to January 2018, when rumors suggested that a UK-based studio was developingFableunder a codename, Wisdom.Fable’s first teaser revealed little, aside from its existence, but with this week’s lengthy cinematic and gameplay glimpse, fans have started to get the full picture.Fablewill return the series to its roots, taking fans on a journey through a world pulled straight from the storybooks, featuring magic, sword fights, fairytale creatures, and more than a few surprises.
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Fable Returns The Series to Its Origins
There were a variety ofrumors surroundingFable, prior to its official reveal, but none could have predicted the reveals in this week’s gameplay trailer. When the intermittent scenes of Richard Ayoade and the young hero collide, it is revealed that the former is actually a giant. Discovering the young hero sneaking through his home, the giant confronts her, ushering in a shared awkward moment. However, Ayoade cuts the silence with a sudden attack, initiating a tense and cinematic action sequence. The giant eventually catches the hero, before the trailer cuts to its title card.
Fableseems like a massive departure from recent entries, realigning the series with the mythical fairytales that inspired it. In addition to its gigantic narrator and main protagonist, the game’s trailer features fairies, abandoned towers, a beanstalk, and what appears to be a werewolf. TheFableseries' previous entries were renowned for their narrative-shifting morality system and cheeky sense of humor. WhileFableappears to maintain the latter, the title’s gameplay, world, and storytelling seem to have been realigned with those of classic fairytale adventures.
Fable’s New Trailer is the Tip of the Iceberg
Fablehas a massive weight on its shoulders, as fans have waited over a decade for the title’s release. Many fans were impressed with the overhaul tocombat and systems inFable 3, which moved away from a traditional RPG system, in favor of an action-focused experience. WithFablepromising to reboot the series for modern audiences, the title has to balance the old and new while carving its unique path. Luckily for fans, this week’s trailer provided the first indications thatFablehas done just that.
Fableis sure to break new ground in a variety of areas, and this week’s presentation is likely just the tip of the iceberg, as many staple features of the series have yet to be detailed. Romance, morality, and morphing systems all played a significant role in theFableseries' unique identity. While none of these have been revealed forFable, it’s extremely likely that future presentations will reveal their role in the series reboot. Fans oftheFableseriesare buzzing, following this week’s trailer, and with plenty still left to reveal,Fableis shaping up to be one of the most significant Xbox titles ever made.
Fableis in development for PC and Xbox Series X
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