Playground Games had ambitions to step away from the Forza Horizon franchise as far back as 2017 in order to "learn and grow as developers", according to recent reporting. The studio's long-gestating Fable reboot has continued to evolve since its initial announcement, and last week Microsoft and Playground confirmed the game will arrive on PlayStation 5 as well as Xbox Series X|S and PC.

The move away from Forza represents a deliberate attempt by Playground to broaden its portfolio beyond the award-winning open-world racing series that established the studio. Sources indicate the team has treated Fable as a dream project for some time, using it as an opportunity to tackle new systems, tone and scale compared with its motorsport work.

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Fable's development has not been straightforward, with reports over the years chronicling restarts and internal changes. Recent updates suggest the project now has clearer direction and momentum, with an Autumn 2026 window emerging as a likely release period for the title across multiple platforms.

The decision to bring Fable to PS5 marks a notable shift in platform strategy for a franchise closely associated with Xbox. The cross-platform approach positions Fable to reach a broader audience while allowing Playground to apply lessons learned from its Forza pedigree to a different genre.

As the next year approaches, attention will remain on how Playground leverages its experience in open-world design to deliver a distinctly different experience in Fable, and on whether the studio can translate its long-held ambitions into a successful return for the franchise.