It looks like Fable may not be coming as soon as fans had hoped. In late February, Xbox Studios head Craig Duncan confirmed that Fable wouldn’t make its planned 2025 launch window. Fans were reassured with a beautiful pre-alpha gameplay video, promising that while the game was in good shape, it just needed a little more polish before release.
However, insider Shpeshal Nick now suggests that the game could miss its 2026 window too.
During a recent XboxEra podcast, Nick shared information from two separate sources indicating that Fable’s release might be delayed even further, possibly slipping into 2027. “I don’t think Fable’s next year,” Nick stated. “I’ve heard it from two different people now that Fable may slip to 2027. It’s not a problem with the game, just taking longer than expected.” Although Nick has correctly predicted some Xbox-related rumors in the past, his track record isn’t flawless, so it’s important to take this news with a grain of salt.
If this rumor proves true, it could deal another blow to Microsoft’s already shaky reputation. Fans are still upset about the cancellation of the Perfect Dark reboot and the loss of the ZeniMax Online Studios MMORPG, along with the layoffs that followed. What makes the delay even more concerning is that Microsoft had promised a return of several iconic franchises for the 25th anniversary of Xbox, including Fable, Forza, Gears of War, and potentially Halo. A delay would make it difficult for Microsoft to fulfill this promise.
However, while rushing Fable out before it’s ready would be a mistake, fans may be feeling the frustration of the long wait. Playground Games, who are working on Fable, have reportedly been developing the game for around eight years, and although they got help from Eidos Montréal, it’s still taking much longer than expected. A delay into 2027 could seem excessive, especially since Playground Games only has experience with racing games. But Microsoft still has other games lined up for 2026, like Clockwork Revolution, a new Forza game, Gears of War: E-Day, and the rumored Halo: Combat Evolved remake. Even without Fable, 2026 could still be a good year for Xbox. However, a further delay of Fable would likely frustrate fans even more.