Fable’s Morality System Was Made Due to Good and Evil in the World Being “Entirely Subjective”

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Ralph Fulton, head of Playground Games, recently revealed that the new Fable game will explore morality in a more complex way than previous installments. Instead of simply choosing between ‘good’ and ‘evil’ options, the game’s characters will react to your actions based on their individual personalities. Fulton explained to GamesRadar that this approach reflects the fact that very few things in life are universally considered good or evil.

Fulton explained that they discussed how some recent games have become more nuanced in their exploration of morality. They realized that good and evil aren’t absolute concepts – what one person considers good, another might see as evil. There’s no universal agreement on these things, it’s all a matter of perspective. They found this idea fascinating, both from a philosophical standpoint and as a design element for their game, and it became a central focus of their work.

Games often simplify moral choices, presenting actions as simply good or evil. However, some games, particularly role-playing games (RPGs), have taken a more complex approach. For example, the Dragon Age series by BioWare frequently bases its morality system on how your companions react to and judge your decisions.

Our morality system isn’t about simple good or evil. It’s based on actions and how people perceive them. The more you do something, and the more others witness it, the more you’ll become known for it in a given town or region. As Fulton explained, this system aims to reflect how morality actually works in the real world – it’s rarely black and white, and reputation plays a big role.

Fulton previously explained that the morality system in Fable wouldn’t be based on a simple good-versus-evil scale. He recently clarified that the system will focus on the consequences of the player’s actions.

Essentially, your actions become your reputation, especially when others witness them. We often use the example of kicking chickens – it’s a classic scenario in the game Fable. This system offers more possibilities because you’re not only focused on what you do, but also who sees you do it, and whether you’re comfortable with how others perceive you.

The upcoming RPG Fable is scheduled to release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S later this year. The game will feature a world populated by 1,000 uniquely designed characters, which meant the art team had to create detailed environments, including making beds for each one. Interestingly, the game world will be smaller in scale compared to Forza Horizon titles. Additionally, the new morality system focuses on reputation and won’t physically change your character’s appearance, a departure from previous Fable games.

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2026-01-26 18:12