Playground Games Wanted to Tackle Fable Years Before Forza Horizon 3 Shipped
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Playground Games general manager Ralph Fulton revealed that the studio wanted to expand beyond Forza Horizon and build a second team as early as 2017, ultimately leading to the upcoming Fable reboot.
For years, Playground Games has been synonymous with top tier racing through the Forza Horizon series. According to a recent interview with GamesRadar by contributor Fran Ruiz, the studio actually started plotting an escape from the asphalt as early as 2017. Following the massive success of Forza Horizon 3, leadership began laying the groundwork for a second team with a clear goal in mind. The objective was to challenge the studio, learn new skills, and step outside the comfort zone of driving sandboxes.
Transitioning from high speed racing to a sprawling fantasy RPG was no small hurdle, but the team realized their core strengths mapped well onto a new genre. As Playground general manager Ralph Fulton explained, the studio recognized that their transferable skills lay in open world game design, technology, and streaming. They had to heavily modify and optimize their proprietary tech to power a massive RPG, but the moment someone tossed out the Fable name, the direction was locked in. Rather than trying to be a carbon copy of Lionhead Studios, the team approached the project with a fresh perspective, aiming to build their own version of Albion while respecting the legacy of the franchise.
With Fable currently tracking toward an Autumn 2026 release window and confirmed for a multi-platform rollout spanning Xbox Series X/S, PC, and PS5, the long gamble is finally paying off. Fans of the original series have high expectations after waiting nearly a decade since Lionhead closed its doors, but knowing this project stems from a genuine multi-year desire to evolve as developers adds a lot of credibility. If Playground can inject the same level of polish and player engagement found in their racing titles into an open world RPG, the wait might just be worth it.
Tags: Fable, Playground Games, Xbox, RPG, Gaming News
Original article: Eurogamer