Microsoft delays Fable (again) to avoid GTA VI

Microsoft has delayed its upcoming Fable reboot once again. The game was set to launch in autumn 2026, but Microsoft now says that Fable will come out in February 2027. However, it will show a “new look” at the game at its Xbox Games Showcase on June 7th.

“​​This is year is packed with incredible games for XBOX players to enjoy, from Halo: Campaign Evolved, Gears of War: E-Day and Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4 to Control Resonant, Star Wars: Galactic Racer and Grand Theft Auto VI,” Microsoft says on the Xbox account on X. “In order to plan our game launches through the holidays, in a way that works best for players, we’re moving Fable to February 2027 so it can have the dedicated moment it deserves. We’re excited to be giving players a major new look at Fable, as well as our broader lineup, at XBOX Games Showcase on June 7.”

The fall gaming season is already getting pretty full. Grand Theft Auto VI is scheduled for November 19th, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 was announced this week with an October 23rd release date, and Star Wars: Galactic Racer is set for October 6th. Presumably, Microsoft will share specific release dates for Halo: Campaign Evolved, Gears of War: E-Day, and other titles during the Xbox Games Showcase as well.

Fable, developed by Playground Games, was first announced in 2020 as a “new beginning” for the series. Years later, Microsoft gave it a planned release window of 2025, but later pushed that to 2026. It’s set to come to Xbox Series X / S, PC, and PS5 when it is released.

Microsoft also isn’t going to share news about Project Helix, the next-generation Xbox console, during the Xbox Games Showcase, Matt Booty, Xbox’s chief content officer, said in an episode of the the Official Xbox Podcast released on Friday. Earlier this month, Microsoft promised that it would share more about Helix “later this year.”