Fable is Already a Breath of Fresh Air for Xbox RPGs in One Obvious Way

From its beginnings, Fable has carved out a unique identity in the RPG sector. It took inspiration from a heavy British flavor (as the original studio, Lionhead, was based in England) and combined this with cartoonish art and an offbeat narrative presentation. After the series went quiet for a while, it was announced in 2020 that Forza Horizon developer Playground Games would be taking over development duties for the upcoming fourth main entry, which is envisioned as a soft reboot for the franchise. Fable seems to be returning to its roots in many ways but also looking to evolve from some of the more simplified aspects that marked previous entries.

Though it was initially set for release this year, Fable was delayed to 2026 back in February, with the new window being briefly mentioned and reiterated at the Xbox Games Showcase during the Summer Game Fest earlier in June. While this was certainly disappointing, as fans had been patiently awaiting it, and now will have to do so a little bit longer. However, from what has been revealed about it, Fable seems to be holding onto one of its core designs that could serve to set it apart from Xbox’s other notable RPGs.

It’s also rumored that Fable may release on PlayStation 5, as Microsoft has been increasingly bringing its first-party games to other platforms, such as with Id’s Doom: The Dark Ages and Obsidian Entertainment’s upcoming The Outer Worlds 2 being available for the competing console at launch.

Why the New Fable Game Can’t Let Go of Its Weirdest Side Quests

As the Fable reboot’s launch date approaches, Playground Studios would do well by fans by taking a look at the franchise’s weirdest side quests.

Fable’s Likely Third-Person Perspective Could Help it Stand Out from Other Xbox RPGs

Most of Xbox’s Major RPG Series Have Been Designed With First-Person in Mind

Along with Fable, some of the other well-known RPG franchises that are now under Microsoft’s banner include:

The Elder Scrolls
Fallout
Avowed
The Outer Worlds

One trait shared by these IPs is that they have all traditionally been designed to be played in first-person (at least starting when Bethesda acquired the IP in Fallout‘s case.) While they did usually offer a third-person view, this often felt secondary and not quite as robust.

To be fair, the developers have been giving more attention to this area. Both Avowed and The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered touched up the third-person option, making it more viable for players who prefer it. The Outer Worlds 2 also promises to ensure this is the case. But by and large, first-person was generally more immersive and played better in these, whereas Fable has always been in third-person, which could help distinguish the newest title as well as enhance its other elements.

Fable’s Use of Third-Person Will Probably be a Big Part of the Experience Again

Alongside its stylized art and lighthearted, humorous overtones, one of Fable‘s defining features is the moral choices and paths players can go down. The results of these are then directly reflected in their character’s appearance, with models sprouting demonic horns and glowing red eyes, or surrounded by a golden halo, depending on which end of the scale fans choose. This remains an important aspect, as the changes that characters can undergo are a large part of Fable‘s appeal and identity, much more so than many of its contemporaries.

Based on what can be gleaned from the latest trailers for Fable so far, it seems like it will retain the third-person perspective that the franchise has utilized thus far. This will then likely go hand-in-hand with the above, as well as with other items like Fable‘s extensive character customization and the range of colorful outfits and gear that fans can acquire. Continuing to focus on this perspective will again let players better appreciate these elements, while at the same time keeping to the familiar third-person gameplay that has worked well so far could serve to preserve its personality and flair compared to other Xbox titles in the same genre.