Devs of Fable 4 Embrace Skepticism of Its Existence

Fable 4 is truly impressive. I’m not just referring to the exquisitely designed giant Richard Ayoade that was revealed during the Xbox Games Showcase recently, although the game’s environments and lighting are already showing great promise. In fact, Fable 4 looks so remarkable that there are doubts about whether the final game will live up to its sharpness. However, these doubts have only fueled the motivation of the dedicated team at Playground Games as they strive towards a potential release date in late 2024 for Fable 4.

After years of secrecy, we finally had the chance to witness the current iteration of Fable, which has dropped the ‘4’ for its official title. The game made its mark with the introduction of Dave, played by the “vegetable enthusiast” Richard Ayoade. Dismissing any notions of a more serious tone, the game harkens back to the essence of Fable—famous British comedy actors delivering dry and deadpan humor that effortlessly flirts with euphemisms.

Accompanying Dave’s monologue to the camera, we catch a glimpse of the game’s protagonist—a confident and slightly rebellious woman brandishing a mighty sword. She engages in mischievous activities like swiping drinks from the locals, propelling chickens across treetops, and bravely facing off against snarling werewolves. Eventually, she ascends a colossal beanstalk to confront Ayoade’s character.

Visually, the game is a delight, prompting some to wonder if it will truly resemble the trailer. Lukas Koelz, the lead lighting artist on Fable at Playground Games, is thrilled by this skepticism. “People doubting the authenticity or the visual quality is one of the highest compliments,” he states.

Considering the studio’s reputation, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. Koelz reveals that the game is being developed using the same ‘ForzaTech’ proprietary engine created by Turn 10 Studios for the Microsoft driving games. The Forza Horizon series, crafted by Playground Games, is renowned for its stunning visuals on PC.

While the fantasy realm of Fable’s Albion may differ from the racing games’ setting, there’s undoubtedly room for crossover, drawing inspiration from the open-world environments of Horizon. Playground Games has a proven track record of crafting breathtaking worlds adorned with extraordinary lighting.

Ultimately, the final verdict will be rendered with the release of the game itself. However, for now, it seems that the team is quite confident in delivering a visually outstanding experience.

In the meantime, explore the most anticipated upcoming PC games for 2023 and beyond, or join us in the anticipation for the release date of Elder Scrolls 6 if you can’t get enough of classical fantasy adventures.