It’s Worth the Wait

Microsoft’s first-party game studios are now performing exceptionally well, consistently releasing games that receive broad praise upon launch. The latest installment of the Indiana Jones series was released towards the end of last year, offering one of the most accurate video game adaptations of the franchise yet.

Additionally, Xbox’s latest release, Avowed, received acclaim from both critics and enthusiasts, and Microsoft has more highly anticipated titles like DOOM: The Dark Ages lined up for later in the year. Gears: E-Day, Ninja Gaiden 4, Blade, and others suggest a promising future for Xbox Game Pass in both the short and long term. However, it’s worth noting that one of the most eagerly awaited upcoming Xbox games has experienced a delay.

It appears that recent speculation about the release date of the forthcoming action-RPG “Fable,” developed by Playground Games, creators of Forza Horizon, is accurate. Today, Microsoft officially acknowledged this delay in its announcement.

In a discussion on the Xbox Official Podcast, Xbox Game Studios head Craig Duncan announced that the release date for Fable has been shifted from its initial 2025 window to 2026 instead.

In response to Xbox’s Tina Amini’s query about Fable’s development status, Duncan clarified that Playground Games are making significant strides with Fable and they are genuinely excited. Originally, they had announced Fable for 2025, but they have decided to grant it more time for refinement. Now, the game will be released in 2026 instead. Although this might not be the news people were hoping for, Duncan emphasized that the wait will be worth it as the game is definitely promising.

Duncan praised Playground Games’ reputation, highlighting the excellence of Forza Horizon and the high standards the team sets for themselves. Duncan considered Fable to have outstanding gameplay, presenting the most developed version of the world of Albion yet. The podcast video also showcased some fresh footage of Fable, giving a sneak peek at the current project. Let me tell you, it looks absolutely stunning! Definitely worth checking out (and it includes the werewolf I previously hinted about in my Xbox Two Podcast a few weeks back).

Not entirely unexpected

It’s not surprising that Fable has been pushed back in release. After all, it’s one of the costliest and most ambitious projects currently under development at Xbox Game Studios. Playground Games has brought on board top-tier talent from studios like Rockstar and CD Projekt RED to create a AAA role-playing game (RPG) experience that Microsoft hasn’t managed since the Xbox 360 era, particularly with narrative-driven, character-focused games. It’s also possible that they are aiming to steer clear of the launch window for Grand Theft Auto 6, which is expected in late 2025, as many other AAA games might want to avoid direct competition.

It’s fantastic to observe the clarity in all aspects, and it’s my hope that Fable will come to symbolize a significant milestone in Xbox’s original content. I can’t help but ponder what the Xbox environment might shape up to be as we journey towards 2026.

Lately, there’s been quite a buzz about Xbox’s dedication towards its own hardware platform. During a recent podcast, Tina Amini from Xbox asked this exact question to Craig Duncan, who gave a somewhat evasive answer.

Tina Amini inquired of Craig Duncan, “What key points should the Xbox community grasp from our choice to release games across multiple platforms?

Craig expresses that he believes it’s beneficial both for the gamers and their studios. By having their exceptional games accessible across various platforms, they aim to maximize their reach, allowing as many players as possible to enjoy them. In his previous role as studio head of Sea of Thieves, he personally experienced the advantages of multi-platform availability, as it facilitated cross-play and fostered a more inclusive gaming community.

Regarding Craig Duncan, he didn’t provide a clear response when Tina Amini asked about the key points for the Xbox community following their discussion. The conversation seemed somewhat peculiar as they both steered clear of directly mentioning “PlayStation” and instead spoke vaguely about “other platforms.

Microsoft’s communication regarding the “Latitude” Xbox strategy has been disappointing up to this point, lacking convincing evidence that their internal hardware initiatives are not faltering. The quality of Xbox hardware has decreased noticeably for several quarters in a row, with minimal marketing or advertising efforts to bolster Microsoft as a reliable hardware provider.

The opinion among Xbox users is roughly balanced about potential harm to Xbox devices’ appeal, which might eventually cause outside developers to leave the platform. However, there’s currently not much proof of this occurring, but it’s easy to imagine how things could unfold in the future.

Regardless of the competition, Microsoft is continuing to develop unique Xbox console hardware, focusing on standing out through “differentiation,” thanks to its substantial financial backing from PlayStation support. This could potentially mean that the upcoming Xbox platform may possess an exceptional feature or aspect that will appeal to new demographics. If Fable turns out to be as successful as anticipated, it might also boost sales of the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S in 2026.

During the program, Craig Duncan talked about Expedition 33, DOOM: The Dark Ages, South of Midnight, and other exciting Xbox releases that fans can anticipate soon. Be sure to tune in!

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2025-02-25 19:10