Nearly 13 years after the series' last mainline entry, Fable was fully revealed at this week's Xbox Showcase. While the game is the fourth mainline entry in the series, Fable's Xbox Showcase trailer confirms 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 a Fable entry 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, Fable seems 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 developing Fable under 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. Fable will 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.
Fable Returns The Series to Its Origins
There were a variety of rumors surrounding Fable, 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.
Fable seems 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. The Fable series' previous entries were renowned for their narrative-shifting morality system and cheeky sense of humor. While Fable appears 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
Fable has 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 to combat and systems in Fable 3, which moved away from a traditional RPG system, in favor of an action-focused experience. With Fable promising 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 that Fable has done just that.
Fable is 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 the Fable series' unique identity. While none of these have been revealed for Fable, it's extremely likely that future presentations will reveal their role in the series reboot. Fans of the Fable series are buzzing, following this week's trailer, and with plenty still left to reveal, Fable is shaping up to be one of the most significant Xbox titles ever made.
Fable is in development for PC and Xbox Series X