There is a lot of excitement about the new Fable. With the game currently set to launch this year, a lot of mystery surrounds Fable and what it has in store for players. Despite no official release date in sight, the action RPG still seems poised to be one of the many major titles set for launch in 2025.
However, the recent performance of some Xbox exclusives may shake up the original launch plans for Fable. Because of its exclusive status, Fable is set to launch on PC and Xbox. Microsoft and Xbox have needed a strong exclusive launch, but as it stands, Fable may not be that title. According to insider Jez Corden, Microsoft was unhappy with Hellblade 2‘s exclusive performance. While Hellblade 2 and Fable are quite different, Xbox’s push towards less exclusive titles may put the latter in the position of being a test subject to experiment with launching longtime exclusives to other platforms.
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Microsoft May Use Fable as a Way to Test Non-Exclusive Waters
Xbox Has Been Teasing a Change in Launch Strategy
It’s important to note that Fable potentially no longer being an Xbox exclusive is merely speculation at the moment, but Microsoft has been quite vocal recently about pushing exclusivity aside. Reports have been claiming that Xbox-only games will be rare in the future and just be implemented for some of its biggest launches. It’s possible that Hellblade 2‘s performance could have helped inform this rumored decision, but that remains to be seen.
Fable is by no means a small release for the Xbox, though. The return of one of Microsoft’s most notable franchises is exciting, but it’s also not the biggest project on the company’s horizon. Fable‘s upcoming launch could be an opportunity to bump sales across multiple platforms. Being a large game that has sparked significant interest gives Microsoft a solid window to open up the franchise to an even bigger audience. While the possibility of Fable not being an Xbox exclusive would be strange for some longtime fans, it could also set the stage for one of the industry’s most anticipated titles to benefit better from exclusivity.
It’s important to note that Fable potentially no longer being an Xbox exclusive is merely speculation at the moment, but Microsoft has been quite vocal recently about pushing exclusivity aside.
Fable Could Secure an Upcoming Game’s Rumored Xbox Exclusive Label
If Fable is released to a larger audience outside the Xbox, this could be the strongest way to build goodwill with players and justify The Elder Scrolls 6‘s rumored exclusivity. Bethesda has yet to fully confirm anything about The Elder Scrolls 6‘s launch platforms, but with Starfield being solely a Microsoft game, it would make sense for an even bigger launch to be kept exclusive.
The Elder Scrolls 6 was officially announced in 2018.
Little is known about The Elder Scrolls 6, but Fable serving as a sacrificial lamb to secure the former’s home under Microsoft isn’t too far out of the realm of possibility. It could also be a reason why Fable has yet to have an official release date announced. This speculation should be taken with a grain of salt, but with Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer making it clear that no Xbox exclusives were off limits to get a wider release, Fable could be the first to test this method.
As a fresh year unfolds, it will be intriguing to see which titles Microsoft chooses to launch on other platforms and which ones it keeps exclusive. Even Halo could be multi-platform in the future, and that franchise has served as the heart of Xbox since the console’s inception. Fable‘s launch plans remain unclear, but it has the potential to cause a shake-up in the industry if Microsoft takes a new approach.
