15 Years Ago, We Got the Last Game In An Iconic Xbox Fantasy Series (& We’re Still Waiting on the Sequel)

by

Xbox is shifting away from making games only for its consoles, but it still owns popular franchises like Halo and Forza. When it comes to fantasy games, Fable is Xbox’s biggest success. The original Fable came out in 2001, but became truly popular with an expanded version in 2005. Fable 2 and Fable 3 quickly followed, building on that momentum. However, it’s been 15 years since a brand new Fable game was released.

Fable 3 came out as a game exclusive to the Xbox 360 on October 26, 2010. While it received good reviews, it wasn’t as popular or critically acclaimed as the previous game, Fable 2. Sales were also a bit lower, which may explain why there haven’t been any major new Fable games since. Though there have been some spin-offs and remasters, fans have been eagerly awaiting a true sequel. The next Fable game is planned as a mix of a fresh start for the series and the long-anticipated Fable 4, but its release has been pushed back to 2026. This leaves many wondering: what caused this once-great series to be put on hold?

What Happened with the Fable Series After Fable 3?

While Fable 3 didn’t quite live up to all the hype, it was still a successful game, selling over 3 million copies. Though it didn’t sell as well as Fable 2, it did reasonably well, and the series continues to have a dedicated fanbase, hinting that a fourth game could have been popular. However, it’s been 15 years since Fable 3 came out, and we haven’t seen a proper new game in the series yet.

There are a couple of reasons for this situation. Lionhead Studios had different ideas for what came next after Fable 3. Instead of immediately making Fable 4, they tried out some smaller, experimental games. One of these was Fable Heroes, a multiplayer fighting game set in the Fable world, but with a simpler art style and more fast-paced gameplay. The game received mixed reactions, though some players enjoyed its lighter, more family-friendly approach. Ultimately, however, this experiment wasn’t very successful.

Lionhead Studios didn’t make a direct sequel to the original Fable. Instead, they created a spin-off game tied to the Xbox Kinect, similar to many other unsuccessful Xbox projects from the early 2010s. Fable: The Journey focused on action RPG gameplay, but uniquely used the Kinect to allow players to control magic with physical movements. Unfortunately, because the Kinect wasn’t widely adopted, the game didn’t succeed.

After the spin-off games, the creators of Fable planned to continue the series in a new and different way. In 2013, they announced Fable Legends, a cooperative game with a dynamic, unpredictable style. However, the game was never released. Microsoft cancelled the project as part of a large company reorganization, and shortly afterward, Lionhead Studios, the game’s developer, was shut down.

After the cancellation of Fable Legends, the Fable series has been quiet for a long time. A collectible card game created by former developers was released in 2016, but that was about it. However, in 2020, Xbox announced a new Fable game was in the works. It’s not a direct sequel to previous titles, but rather a fresh start for the series, aiming to reimagine the classic Fable experience. Whether or not it will actually be released remains to be seen.

Fable 3 Was the Last Main Series Game, But We’re Getting a New One Soon

Many fans believe Fable 2 is the strongest game in the Fable series. While Fable 3 was also a good game, it ended up being the last truly well-received installment. With the series turning 15, it’s clear fans have been eagerly awaiting a return to this fantasy world. A new Fable game was initially planned for release later this year, but it’s now been pushed back to 2026. Some sources within Xbox are even worried that the 2026 release date might not be met.

The upcoming Fable game is a fresh start for the series, updating it for modern gamers. It’s being developed by Playground Games, the studio known for the popular Forza Horizon series. With a new team at the helm, it’s natural for this new Fable game to explore different ideas. However, it’s still a question of how much it will capture the spirit of the Fable games that fans enjoyed years ago – that remains to be seen.

We’ve seen a few trailers for the upcoming Fable game, and it looks like it will feature new characters and a fresh storyline. It might feel more like a brand new fantasy series than a direct continuation of Fable 3. We’re hoping it captures the magic of the original games, but if you’re looking for that classic experience, the original trilogy is still available to play on Xbox Series X|S and with Xbox Game Pass Premium.

The next Fable game is currently planned to come out in 2026. Originally, it was intended to be available only on Xbox Series X|S consoles, and Xbox hasn’t announced any changes to that plan.

Did you play Fable 3 back when it came out? Have you revisited it since?

https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/best-fantasy-rpg-games-like-skyrim/embed/#

Read More

2025-10-26 17:16