For a good few years, the future of theFablefranchise seemed dark, but after the official announcement in 2020 that Playground Games was developingFable 4things started to look a lighter brighter for fans. Although it’s still not completely clear what kind of shapeFable 4will take or what the next chapter in the beloved series will look like, players have still been speculating wildly. From where it will be set to how it will weave in the stories of the olderFablegames, the next installment is still a hotly debated topic, but Playground Games may take inspiration from some unexpected places, including collaborator Eidos-Montreal.
At first, the developer didn’t seem like the obvious choice for a fantasy RPG, asPlayground Games had only produced titles in theForzafranchise. However, the upcoming title’s publisher Xbox Game Studios has reassured fans thatFable 4is in the right hands and that the developer has the necessary understanding of how to create an interactive narrative and pair this with creative systems and gameplay. Still, Playground Games is probably looking to similar IPs for inspiration, and Eidos-Montreal’s 2014 gameThiefcould be the answer, given that Eidos-Montreal is working with Playground now.
RELATED:The Fable Reboot Has a Massive Weight on Its Shoulders
Fable 4’s Possible Thief Influences
On the surface, 2014’sThiefand theFablefranchise as a whole don’t seem to have much in common. The first is a moody stealth game with a gothic Victorian aesthetic, and the other is a cartoonish and comedic fantasy series that tends to revolve around a hero with plenty of renown instead of a hooded pickpocket who prefers the shadows. Although the IPs are very different in their sensibilities and presentations, there are still some similarities. Both take advantage of a fantasy setting and focus, and theFablegames have some surprisinglydark aspects and themes likeThief, despite its more colorful and cheery design.
In the laterFablegames, the settings incorporated more steampunk elements and weaponry as industrialization took place across Albion, which also matchedThief’s city setting. They both combined elements of magic within their various societies as well, and this often had a profound impact on the characters and the world they lived in. Players don’t yet know when orwhereFable 4will be set, but with the teaser trailer and some information released so far, it seems like the next game will be embracing its fairytale inspirations, which leaves plenty of scope for some darker elements to creep in as well.
What Fans Know About Fable 4 So Far
Details remain scarce at the moment, so while some things have leaked or have been revealed by Playground Games, players don’t yet have a clear picture of whatFable 4’s setting will be. The announcement trailer didn’t reveal much, but it did give a flavor of what fans might be able to expect from the return of theFablefranchise, including its irreverent humor, its focus on fairy tale aspects, and its retention of some of the things that shapedthe originalFablegame.
Although it’s been pretty quiet since the game was announced, subsequent leaks have emerged that shed some interesting light on a few surprising elements. According to one, an asteroid has apparently completely destroyed the Albion that players knew and loved, and the kingdom has had to start from scratch. It seems likethe nextFableis looking to reboot the seriesand present players with something fresh, while still keeping some of the features that made the original games so magical in the first place. Turning to different games likeThiefcould be one way to introduce some compelling darkness and danger toFable’s fairytale world, while not straying too far from the familiar.
Fable 4is in development for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE:Why Fable 4 Should Take Place During the Fall of The Heroes’ Guild
