Fable Legends Anniversary Announcement

For many gamers, Fable's 2004 debut marked a high-water point for the quirky, irreverent series. With its expansive scope, cosy tone and unashamedly puerile humor, the title earned its way to plenty of plaudits, and even more admiring followers.

Developed by Lionhead Studios —then known as Big Blue Box — the Peter Molyneux-headed title hyped itself as only a Peter Molyneux title could, with vast, speculative suggestions, promises and ideas. Players were told of how a single acorn, planted during the game's early youth sections would sprout into a mighty oak by title's end. That particular feature, and many more like it never made the cut, but their loss didn't stop Fable from delivering an otherwise engaging and enjoyable experience.

Now, for the first time in just under 10 years, fans of the original game are being given the chance to returns the wilds of Albion, (the Xbox to Xbox 360 emulation is plagued with performance issues) via the Fable Anniversary edition. Announced back in June of this year, the project, which sees the game receiving a full HD makeover, audio re-master and optional gameplay upgrade has now also received a firm release date — February 4, 2014, throughout North America and just three days later in Europe.

Fable Anniversary Fire Spell

To celebrate the release, Lionhead Studios has today announced a special Launch Day content pack to be bundled alongside the game. These incentives, collected "inside a shiny, slip-on embossed case" include the following items:

  • Scythe’s Outfit
  • A Black Graduate Outfit
  • A Red Prophet Outfit
  • A Blue Guard Outfit
  • A Red Guard Outfit
  • A Lute Weapon
  • A Will User’s Sceptre Weapon
  • A 10th Anniversary Lion’s-Head Avatar Helmet

For those who had a hard time getting the original game and its expansion pack Fable: The Lost Chapters to run on the 360, it's a real shame that the re-worked effort is also set to become immediately outdated. Developing the game as an Xbox 360/ Xbox One downloadable might have made more sense, given the timing of the anniversary as slap bang in the middle of the second wave of Xbox One titles.

Is Fable the best game in this near-decade old franchise? Which other Xbox Originals could do with a total re-mastering? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to check in with all of the latest Fable news, right here on Game Rant.

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Fable Anniversary will be released on February 4, 2014 in North America and February 7, 2014 throughout Europe. The game is currently exclusive to the Xbox 360 platform. Launch Day bonus content is available for a limited time only.

Follow Sam on Twitter @GamingGoo.