Summary
The upcoming reboot ofFablepromises to return a memorable series to the limelight, but one problem could end up dooming the game’s chances at success. TheFableseries has had its fair share of issues over the years, starting with the massive promises made for the original 2004 game that were never able to fully materialize. Despite their shortcomings, however,theFablegames provide a charmingly tongue-in-cheek twist on the fantasy formula, and there’s a reason why the franchise still commands attention today.
Development on the newFableis being handled by Playground Games, a studio known for itsForza Horizonracing titles.Fablemakes for a pretty drastic shift from these games, but considering the company’s strong track record, it might not be that much to worry about. TheForza Horizongames do diverge from the classicForza Motorsportseries in offering large open worlds to explore, so Playground Games does have some relevant experience in crafting expansive environments.
New Fable Trailer Is Gorgeous & Includes A Release Window
A new trailer for Fable premiered at the Xbox Games Showcase, introducing more characters and confirming its release window.
Fable’s Alleged Release Window Sets It Against GTA 6
A Late 2025 Release Could Hurt The Game’s Sales
As noted in a Reddit post byNfinityBL, Tom Warren ofThe Vergehas stated thatMicrosoft is targeting a late 2025 release forFable, placing it somewhere between October and December. At first glance, this seems like a reasonably good option, as launching in time for the holiday season could result in a nice boost to sales. When taking the potential competition into account, however, things look much less viable.
Twitter userBen, a common source for Rockstar Games news, notes the danger ofFablepossibly going head-to-head with the launch ofGrand Theft Auto 6.Although Rockstar hasn’t yet confirmed a date forGTA 6, the CEO of publisher Take-Two Interactive hasnarrowed its release window to Fall 2025. Depending on where things ultimately fall, this could still result in a gap of a few months between the games, but it’s cutting things close regardless.
Skipping A GTA 6 PC Release Would Be A Major Blunder For One Key Reason
Grand Theft Auto 6 is one of the most eagerly anticipated games at the moment, but doesn’t seem to be coming to PC alongside consoles in Fall 2025.
2025 is set to be a crowded year for game releases in general, but the media attention and player base thatGTA 6will generate is likely to be on another level. It was revealed back in 2018 thatGTA 5set the recordfor the highest-grossing piece of entertainment ever, and the game has continued to generate profits for six years since. Even a fraction of this success will makeGTA 6a juggernaut, and plenty of publishers will likely end up scheduling games to avoid any direct competition.
A Busy Schedule Works Against Fable’s Success
Fable Desperately Needs A Different Release Date
Fableis a substantially different series fromGTA, but it does promise many of the same things in a more fantastical format. Open worlds full of creative possibilities and plenty of humor characterize the upcoming titles in both franchises, and it seems unlikely that many people will opt to dive into both at the same time.IfFablecan’t get a strong start, it could potentially kill the chance for a continued series comeback, allowing something with a lot of potential to fall by the wayside again.
10 Best Open-World Games
The freedom of open-world games can be magical when everything clicks, and the best titles support their open worlds with great ideas all around.
Part of the problem lies in Microsoft’s own busy schedule, with some other games exhibited at the Xbox Games Showcase 2024 featuring teases for 2025 launch windows.DOOM: The Dark Agesis likely to arrive earlier in the year, and although theprequelGears of War: E-Dayisn’t yet dated, there’s a chance it could also be arriving in advance ofFable.All of Microsoft’s published games need time to breathe, but letting that backFableup intoGTA 6’s territory doesn’t seem like the best solution.
Other 2025 releases from Microsoft includeAtomfall, South of Midnight, andWuchang: Fallen Feathers.
GTA 6can’t claim the entire back half of 2025 for itself, and there’s definitely room for some games to position themselves as attractive alternatives. It’s a big risk forFable, however, and a development cycle that reportedly started in 2018 positions it as a major venture that deserves a strong set-up for success. WhetherFableresonates with its players will ultimately depend on how good the game is, but whether it attracts a community to begin with might end up having a lot more to do with when it releases.
