New Fable Reboot Concept Art Reveals Werewolves and Bloodstone

Playground Games has shared new concept art for its upcoming Fable reboot, showing werewolves, the return of the location Bloodstone, and other spots in the world of Albion. The art comes out as the Xbox Developer Direct on January 22 nears, where the game will get more attention. This is the first big Fable game in over a decade, set for release in 2026 on Xbox Series X/S and Windows.

Background

The Fable series started with the original game in 2004 from Lionhead Studios. Players took on the role of a hero in Albion, making choices that changed their looks and the world around them. The games mixed action, role-playing, and humor, with talking dogs and giants telling the story.

Lionhead made three main Fable games and some spin-offs. The last one on consoles was Fable: The Journey in 2012. Lionhead closed in 2016, and a planned game called Fable Legends got canceled. Fans waited years for news.

In 2017, Xbox head Phil Spencer said on Twitter that Fable had room to grow. Reports in 2018 said Playground Games, known for Forza Horizon open-world racing games, started work on a new Fable. They announced it in July 2020 at the Xbox Games Showcase with a trailer featuring British comedian Richard Ayoade as a character named Dave.

Playground uses its skills in building big, detailed worlds from Forza Horizon. The studio said it would keep making those games while working on Fable. Development hit full production by early 2023. The release slipped from 2025 to 2026 to give more time for polish.

Xbox confirmed last week that Fable will appear at the Developer Direct on January 22 at 10 a.m. PT. That event will show games from various studios. Fable has shown trailers in 2020, 2023, and 2024, with pre-alpha footage of combat and environments.

Key Details

The new concept art shows never-before-seen parts of the game. It includes werewolves, which fit the series' mix of fantasy and dark creatures. Bloodstone returns, a key spot from the original Fable with beaches and caves where players fought early quests.

Other art highlights locations across Albion. The world looks bigger and more alive than before, with forests, castles, and towns. Trailers have shown Bowerstone Castle, a landmark from later Fable games. No Spire appears in the distance, pointing to a time before Fable II events.

The story seems set in the Age of Innovation, after the Age of Heroes. A giant in trailers tells a new tale, maybe during the Fall of the Guild between the first and second games. Five hundred years pass between Fable I and II, so this fills a gap in the timeline.

Development Team and Tech

Playground leads the project, with help from Eidos-Montréal since 2024. Key staff includes Lukas Koelz as lead lighting artist, Kostas Anagnostou as lead rendering engineer, and David Pumpa as lead cinematics animator. Writers like Anna Megill, former lead writer, and Andrew Walsh from Horizon Forbidden West shape the story.

The game runs on ForzaTech, the engine from Turn 10 Studios used in Forza games. It handles open worlds well, promising detailed landscapes and smooth action. Combat may echo The Witcher 3, with sword fights, magic, and choices that matter.

Richard Ayoade voices and models Dave, a snarky guide. Matt King plays Humphry, an old hero pulled back into action. The trailer shows a player character training under him.

"Playground Games will continue to work on Forza Horizon, and they're bringing their open-world expertise to an entirely new project." – Xbox official statement, 2017

What This Means

These concept art pieces build excitement for the Developer Direct. Fans get a peek at how Playground recreates Albion with modern tech. Werewolves and Bloodstone nod to classic elements, suggesting the game keeps the heart of Fable while updating it.

The 2026 release puts Fable as a big Xbox title. It comes with other games, but stands out as the series revival. Delay to 2026 means more time for quality, especially after early trailers impressed with visuals.

Playground's open-world know-how from Forza Horizon could make exploration shine. Expect large maps to roam, with towns that react to player actions. Choices might still change your hero's look—good deeds for a glow, bad for horns and tattoos.

The art shows attention to small details, like weather and lighting. This fits Playground's style. Combat looks fluid, mixing melee, ranged, and spells. Pre-alpha footage from last year showed strong fights.

For series fans, Bloodstone's return means familiar ground with new twists. Werewolves add danger in wild areas. The Age of Innovation setting lets new stories unfold without copying old plots.

Xbox aims to draw players back to Albion after 14 years. The game skips PlayStation, staying on Xbox and PC via Game Pass. This could boost subscriptions.

As Developer Direct nears, more info on release date, editions, or features may come. Playground stays quiet on exact details, focusing on the show. The concept art keeps talk alive online, with fans sharing theories on lore ties.