Microsoft's huge Xbox Series X showcase made a big splash on the internet when it debuted late last week, bringing with a slate of new announcements and information on some of the biggest upcoming games. Halo Infinite got a significant amount of screentime, highlighting the title's new gameplay and semi-open-world focus, while Obsidian unveiled a first look at its next major RPG, a fantasy title in the same vein as The Elder Scrolls known as Avowed.
However, it was the show's closing moments that seemed to get the biggest reaction from the internet, with Playground Games finally revealing that it's working on a long-awaited reboot to Lionhead Studios' iconic Fable series. Naturally, many are wondering why a developer that's primarily worked in the racing genre is taking on such a monumental RPG project.
Luckily, Matt Booty, the head of Xbox Game Studios, took a moment to discuss the decision with The Guardian, letting the publication know why Playground Games got the nod to take on such a rampant change of pace. "I just look at what Playground has done with the Horizon series – that attention to detail, the ability to represent these naturalistic landscapes," Booty claims. He continues, "they also have a real passion for the IP and a unique point of view on what’s core to Fable. Everything I’ve seen as the game progresses tells me this is going to be a very high-quality release.” With Playground being a British developer, it seems it will be able to integrate that dry, English humor that makes the Fable franchise so iconic, while its expertise in visual design won't hurt either.
Booty was also quick to imply that the game will be digging into the series past to incorporate what makes it so special while also trying to keep things fresh and new. "With any kind of franchise like that, where you’ve had existing versions, there’s always that balance between what you’re going to bring forward, what still stands up, and what you want to add that’s new," he claims, comparing the concept to "the challenge of making a new Star Wars movie." According to the Xbox higher up, "there’s stuff that everyone wants you to bring along, but then you’ve got a responsibility to that, to new places and I trust Playground has a good vision for that.”
Overall, it seems Fable is certainly in good hands over at Playground Games. Hopefully, the claim that the studio understands the series and is very aware of what makes it tick puts to bed the worrying rumors that the game will be a live service title, with fans already making it evidently clear that they're heavily against the idea.
Fable is in development for Xbox Series X and PC.
Source: The Guardian