'We were bored of traditional fantasy cliches': inside Playground Games’ 10-year effort to revive Fable
The distinctively British RPG is returning courtesy of the makers of Forza Horizon – with comedy talent such as Richard Ayoade and Natasia Demetriou voicing sweary characters. We had our first play and spoke to its developer
TL;DR
- Playground Games is reviving the Fable RPG series, which was dormant for 10 years after Microsoft closed Lionhead Studios.
- The studio aims to recapture Fable's unique British charm, player choice, and blend of farce and fantasy.
- The Fable reboot features a cast of British comedians, including Matt King, Richard Ayoade, and Natasia Demetriou, known for sharp and often sweary dialogue.
- The developers have focused on making combat feel impactful and the writing distinct from typical fantasy tropes.
- Meaningful player choice remains a core element, with the main story's significant consequences reserved for the climatic ending.
- This project is considered important for both Xbox and the video game industry as a whole, offering a unique combination of elements.
- Playground Games transitioned from developing driving games (Forza Horizon) to action RPGs, leveraging transferable skills in open-world design.
- Building the Fable team from scratch was a significant challenge, requiring the integration of diverse talents.