Prepare to be heartbroken, Fable fans! One of the most beloved and iconic features of the series, a feature even the developers themselves were fond of, has been unceremoniously cut from the upcoming reboot. We're talking about your loyal canine companion, the dog that followed you through thick and thin, helped you find treasure, and even influenced your moral standing. But here's where it gets controversial... the decision to remove the dog was met with resistance within the development team itself.
Following the recent Xbox showcase and whispers of a possible Nintendo Switch 2 port, new details about the highly anticipated Fable reboot have surfaced. The game, helmed by Playground Games, the studio known for the Forza Horizon series, is leaning heavily into nostalgia, drawing inspiration from the classic Fable titles.
Considering it's been over 15 years since Fable 3, the last mainline entry, and Playground Games has taken the reins from the now-defunct Lionhead Studios, the development team seems to be playing it relatively safe by aiming for a familiar feel. They want to recapture the magic that made the original games so special.
However, a closer look at the new footage reveals a glaring omission: the absence of your trusty dog companion. First introduced in Fable 2, this furry friend wasn't just window dressing. The dog was an integral part of the gameplay experience. It followed you everywhere, assisted you in combat by distracting enemies, sniffed out hidden treasure, and even guided you towards your next objective. And this is the part most people miss: the dog's appearance would dynamically change based on your moral choices, reflecting whether you were a paragon of virtue or a ruthless villain. This visual representation of your actions, mirrored in your companion, added another layer of depth to the game's morality system.
The dog returned in Fable 3, albeit in a somewhat diminished role. Despite being less prominent, its inclusion was almost mandatory; by that point, the loyal canine had become a symbol of the Fable franchise. So, the burning question remains: why isn't there a dog companion in the new Fable?
When GamesRadar directly asked Playground Games' general manager and Fable director, Ralph Fulton, about the missing mutt, his response was telling. He admitted he was 'hoping that nobody would ask that question' and definitively stated, 'We do not have a dog in this game.'
IGN pressed Fulton further, and he confessed to cutting the dog 'a while back.' He acknowledged that this decision was controversial, even within the studio. 'There are some folks on the team that were relishing me getting this question because I cut it a while back,' Fulton admitted. Annoyingly, he didn't provide a clear or satisfying explanation, simply citing vague 'development reasons'.
Fulton elaborated, 'I don’t need to go into any more detail than that, except to say there are a substantial number of people on the team who have yet to forgive me for that decision.' This suggests that the removal of the dog wasn't a universally agreed-upon choice and that some developers strongly disagreed with it.
Here's where it gets even more perplexing: Fulton considers Fable 2 his 'point of inspiration' and his favorite game in the series. Many fans would agree that Fable 2 is the pinnacle of the franchise. Therefore, cutting the dog companion feels like a counterintuitive move, especially since it was one of the most recognizable and beloved features of the series. Was this truly the right call?
To add insult to injury, Pokémon developer Game Freak showcased their new action RPG, Beast Of Reincarnation, before Fable in the Developer Direct, and guess what? That game does feature a dog (or rather, a wolf) that assists you in battle. The irony is palpable.
At the same time, Fulton has emphasized that Playground's goal isn't to simply copy Lionhead's work. This is why the new Fable is considered a reboot, a fresh start, rather than a direct sequel.
'This has to be a Playground game because I’m a really firm believer that the personality and the character of a team is visible in the work they do and the games they make,' Fulton explained in an Xbox Wire post. 'And I think you can see Lionhead in that original trilogy. It would be pointless, I think, for us to try and ape that. And that’s really at the heart of the reboot question, right? It felt imperative to me that this was a reboot because we’re starting again as Playground Games, and making Playground’s Fable.'
The new Fable has been in development since 2018, with a formal announcement in 2020. It's a massive undertaking, so much so that Microsoft enlisted Deus Ex studio Eidos-Montréal to help with development.
Originally slated for release last year, the game has been delayed to 2026. Microsoft stated that it needed more development time. There's speculation that the delay might also be related to preparing a PlayStation 5 version, as the game is now set to launch on Sony's console day one, alongside the Xbox Series X/S and PC versions. This is a significant shift, as other Playground Games titles, like Forza Horizon 6, have remained exclusive to the Xbox ecosystem.
Speaking of platforms, there's growing buzz about a potential Nintendo Switch 2 version. Windows Central's Jez Corden has claimed that it's being considered internally, but it's not '100% definite.'
Microsoft is clearly aiming to get its games on as many platforms as possible these days. While a few Xbox games, such as Hi-Fi Rush and Pentiment, have made their way to the original Switch, there hasn't been any Xbox presence on the upcoming Switch 2.
Xbox head Phil Spencer has repeatedly expressed his desire to support Nintendo's new console, but the company has yet to make any official announcements.
So, what do you think about the decision to remove the dog companion from the Fable reboot? Is it a betrayal of the series' core identity, or a necessary step to allow Playground Games to create their own unique vision? Do you trust their reasoning, or do you suspect there's more to the story than we're being told? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! We're eager to hear your opinions and start a discussion about this controversial choice.
