Xbox has officially announced that the highly anticipated Fable reboot has been delayed, with a new release window set for 2026. The delay marks another chapter in the long history of the Fable franchise, which has been absent from the gaming landscape for nearly a decade, sparking excitement and high expectations for its return.

The announcement comes via Xbox Studios head Craig Duncan during an episode of the official Xbox podcast.

“We previously announced Fable as 2025,” Duncan said while talking about his excitement for where the game is. “We are actually going to give Fable more time. It’s going to ship in 2026 now. While I know that’s not maybe the news people want to hear, what I want is to assure people that it’s definitely worth the wait.”

Duncan added: “I just have unequivocal confidence in the Playground team. If you think about their history and legacy for Forza Horizon—the last two games critically acclaimed…and just what they’re bringing to Fable as a franchise, just think of the visuals of what you expect of Playground Games plus amazing gameplay.”

Lastly, Duncan said the new Fable is the “most beautifully realized version of Albion” players have ever seen.

You can check out the newly released Pre-Alpha Gameplay Below