After Forza Horizon, Fable devs wanted to prove "we could cut it in a different genre," lead says: "There was a little bit of pride"

Playground Games, the development studio widely recognized for its successful open-world racing franchise, is currently preparing to launch its highly anticipated revival of the classic fantasy role-playing series Fable. Following the critical success of their latest racing title, the developer's transition into the role-playing genre has sparked considerable curiosity among players and industry observers. Many are eager to see how a creative team primarily experienced in designing automotive gameplay will handle a traditional fantasy setting. Studio leadership explained that the team was highly motivated by the challenge of establishing their capabilities beyond their traditional niche, viewing the project as an ideal opportunity to demonstrate their versatility and artistic range in game development. Although shifting from high-speed racing to fantasy adventure represents a substantial change in gameplay mechanics, the studio emphasized that their extensive history of crafting expansive, immersive open-world environments serves as a highly transferable foundation for the upcoming RPG. The acquisition of the studio by Microsoft's gaming division paved the way for this transition, and when the opportunity to revive the beloved franchise arose, the team reportedly accepted it without hesitation. According to project directors, the chance to work on the iconic intellectual property was an easy decision that instantly energized the entire development team, who are themselves longtime fans of the original trilogy.