Summary

• The Fable reboot may struggle if it's released in late 2025.
• Fable faces competition from the fall 2025 release of GTA 6.
• Microsoft's crowded 2025 release schedule might make it hard for Fable to find a good release date.

The reboot of Fable promises to return a memorable series to the limelight, but one problem could end up dooming the game's chances at success. The Fable series has had its fair share of issues over the years, starting with the massive promises made for the original 2004 game that were never able to fully materialize. Despite their shortcomings, however, the Fable games provide a charmingly tongue-in-cheek twist on the fantasy formula, and there's a reason why the franchise still commands attention today.

Development on the new Fable is being handled by Playground Games, a studio known for its Forza Horizon racing titles. Fable makes for a pretty drastic shift from these games, but considering the company's strong track record, it might not be that much to worry about. The Forza Horizon games do diverge from the classic Forza Motorsport series in offering large open worlds to explore, so Playground Games does have some relevant experience in crafting expansive environments.

Fable's Alleged Release Window Sets It Against GTA 6

A Late 2025 Release Could Hurt The Game's Sales

As noted in a Reddit post by NfinityBL, Tom Warren of The Verge has stated that Microsoft is targeting a late 2025 release for Fable, placing it somewhere between October and December. At first glance, this seems like a reasonably good option, as launching in time for the holiday season could result in a nice boost to sales. When taking the potential competition into , however, things look much less viable.

Twitter narrowed its release window to Fall 2025. Depending on where things ultimately fall, this could still result in a gap of a few months between the games, but it's cutting things close regardless.

2025 is set to be a crowded year for game releases in general, but the media attention and player base that GTA 6 will generate is likely to be on another level. It was revealed back in 2018 that GTA 5 set the record for the highest-grossing piece of entertainment ever, and the game has continued to generate profits for six years since. Even a fraction of this success will make GTA 6 a juggernaut, and plenty of publishers will likely end up scheduling games to avoid any direct competition.

A Busy Schedule Works Against Fable's Success

Fable Desperately Needs A Different Release Date

Fable is a substantially different series from GTA, but it does promise many of the same things in a more fantastical format. Open worlds full of creative possibilities and plenty of humor characterize the titles in both franchises, and it seems unlikely that many people will opt to dive into both at the same time. If Fable can't get a strong start, it could potentially kill the chance for a continued series comeback, allowing something with a lot of potential to fall by the wayside again.

Part of the problem lies in Microsoft's own busy schedule, with some other games exhibited at the Xbox Games Showcase 2024 featuring teases for 2025 launch windows. DOOM: The Dark Ages is likely to arrive earlier in the year, and although the prequel Gears of War: E-Day isn't yet dated, there's a chance it could also be arriving in advance of Fable. All of Microsoft's published games need time to breathe, but letting that back Fable up into GTA 6's territory doesn't seem like the best solution.

Other 2025 releases from Microsoft include Atomfall, South of Midnight, and Wuchang: Fallen Feathers.

GTA 6 can't claim the entire back half of 2025 for itself, and there's definitely room for some games to position themselves as attractive alternatives. It's a big risk for Fable, however, and a development cycle that reportedly started in 2018 positions it as a major venture that deserves a strong set-up for success. Whether Fable resonates with its players will ultimately depend on how good the game is, but whether it attracts a community to begin with might end up having a lot more to do with when it releases.

Sources: NfinityBL/Reddit, Ben/Twitter