The next Fable game has a lot of challenges ahead of it, and the identity of its villain is definitely a prominent one. When it was announced back in 2020 that Playground Games would be making the fourth mainline installment of the popular Fable franchise, fans were pleased that the end of Lionhead Studios wasn't going to mean the end of the series. This next entry will act as a reboot and spiritual successor to the previous titles, so it's not yet clear to what extent the new Fable will be drawing from the old games, and whether returning characters – and more importantly, villains – will make an appearance.
While Playground Games has made it clear that it's sticking to the formula for the most part laid down by past Fable games, like the elements of classic fantasy with a twist and the irreverent humor that ran like a connecting thread through previous entries, this is also a fresh start for the franchise. Villains can be incredibly important in games and can be instrumental in the success of a story, so whoever the next one (or ones) will be is a big deal. The new foe for the next Fable also faces a major dilemma, with players wondering if they could be a familiar face from another title, or if they could be someone entirely new.
Resurrecting Old Foes Or Featuring Fresh Ones
Reusing classic antagonists from previous games can be an effective way of tying the entries together, as well as giving the players an extra incentive to root against the villain. A popular example of a previous Fable villain would undoubtedly be Jack of Blades, an ancient and enigmatic enemy who was the main antagonist of the first game. His terrifying mask and impressive abilities made Jack a formidable foe, and he's been a fan favorite ever since his first appearance. With his ability to take on new hosts and essentially live forever, it could make sense for him to appear in the new Fable, even if the timeline is far removed from the previous entries.
However, there would always be the concern that the new Jack wouldn't live up to his depiction in the first game and Fable: The Lost Chapters, and this could quickly sour fans' perception of Playground Games' Fable. Taking over a property from another studio can be tricky, especially when there's an established fanbase to appease, so the developer may choose to forgo the challenges of resurrecting old characters and instead opt for a new one. While this may seem like the safer choice, a new antagonist could still suffer by comparison to older Fable villains, and might not be able to fill the sizable shoes left by characters like Jack.
The Importance Of A Good Baddie
Jack of Blades aside, some past Fable villains have been a little forgettable, and this can have a huge impact on the overall story. The antagonist is definitely something the game needs to nail, and there are compelling arguments on either side for returning or new villains. While players may be anxious to see how it all turns out, the announcements since Fable was first revealed about the talent that Playground Games is accumulating around the title are still exciting. Anna Megill was announced as the narrative lead for Fable, which bodes well for fans as she was on the writing teams for successful titles like Dishonored 2's DLC Death of the Outsider and Remedy's Control, among others.
There are already a lot of eyes on Playground Games and the development of the next Fable installment, and the developer's silence over the past months has left plenty of fans worried. While the studio has assured players that rumors of scaling back the game due to technical issues are just a natural and expected part of video game development, this hasn't been enough to fully lay gamers' fears to rest. With few solid details about Fable's story, characters, or setting, there are still a lot of questions about what the game will actually look or play like, but it seems like the story at least should be in safe hands.
Fable is in development for PC and Xbox Series X/S.