Initially developed by Lionhead Studios and helmed by famous game creator Peter Molyneux, the Fable series is a collection of RPGs set in a fantasy world. The Fable franchise proved to be popular with fans of RPGs and fantasy settings, though it seemed like there wouldn't be any new entries in the series after 2016 saw the close of Lionhead Studios and the cancellation of Fable Legends. However, in 2020 Fable fans were given a teaser for a new entry in the franchise, known to many as Fable 4.
The new game is being developed by Playground Games, a studio mostly known for the Forza Horizon games. Despite many calling the game Fable 4, too, it seems that the newest entry will be a reboot more than a direct sequel. Since Microsoft's announcement that a new Fable is coming, though, there haven't been any new updates for the upcoming RPG. Some believe that Playground Games does not want to repeat the mistakes of games like Scalebound and show off a trailer for Fable long before the game will be ready for release. One former designer at Playground may have a different explanation for the lack of news on Fable 4, though.
According to a recent interview with former combat designer Juan Fernandez, Fable's development is taking its time due to Playground's inexperience with RPGs. "PlayGround is a series company, very organized and production driven," Fernandez began. "Every two years they release a Forza Horizon with incredible quality," though he then went on to say that the company "wanted to expand with something different" and that it lacked the people with knowledge of open-world RPG systems and what made them work.
Fernandez was one of the people brought on to help Playground better understand open-world action RPGs and what made them attractive to gamers. He describes the attitudes at Playground as "doing more with less" and "ambitious." According to Fernandez, the technical foundations have been laid out for Fable 4, though there's no indication on a possible release window or time when fans can see some gameplay.
This news may not be great for fans hoping to see Fable 4 sooner rather than later, though this does indicate that Playground Games is taking its time to ensure that the next Fable title is done right. With plenty of fans speaking on the changes they want to see or returning elements from early Fable games like the Heroes' Guild, Playground Games seems to be rightly taking its time to ensure fan disappointment is as unlikely as possible.
Fable 4 is currently in development.
Source: Reddit