Highlights
- Fable will launch on Feb 23, 2027, on Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam), and PS5 after its delay to a crowded release window.
- Hayley Atwell plays antagonist Isabel in Fable, joined by a large ensemble cast.
- Gears of War: E-Day will release on Oct 6, 2026, as an Xbox console exclusive on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Game Pass.
Xbox used its Games Showcase 2026 event to lock in launch plans for two of its biggest first-party titles, confirming that Fable will release on Feb 23, 2027, while Gears of War: E-Day is scheduled to launch on Oct 6, 2026. The announcements provide clearer timing for Microsoft's upcoming lineup after months of delays and speculation surrounding both projects.
For Playground Games' Fable reboot, the release date marks the first time the game has received a specific launch window since its reveal. Microsoft announced last month that Fable would be delayed to February 2027.
At the time, the company said the move would allow the game to have "the dedicated moment it deserves." The decision was made in the context of a packed release schedule that included the following titles:
- Halo: Campaign Evolved
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4
- Gears of War: E-Day
- Control Resonant
- Star Wars: Galactic Racer
- Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA VI)
Fable Trailer Introduces New Villain and Confirms Platforms
The new showcase trailer also revealed that Hayley Atwell will play Isabel, a character described by narrative director Craig Owens as "a driven, powerful Hero on a quest to make right a tragic injustice." According to Owens, Isabel's grief and conviction place her in conflict with the Hero of Briar Hill and her former guardian, Humphry.
The cast includes Lily Nichol and Ukweli Roach alongside Matt King, Susan Wokoma, Richard Ayoade, Nathan Foad, Kwame Augustine, Natasia Demetriou, Nina Wadia, and Robert Whitelock.
Xbox has also opened pre-orders, with the Standard Edition priced at $69.99 USD and the Premium Edition at $99.99. Players who pre-order will receive a content pack featuring a Chicken Suit and other in-game items. The game is slated for Xbox Series X|S, PC, including Steam and PlayStation 5 (PS5).
Gears of War: E-Day Launches in October
The showcase revealed gameplay footage from Gears of War: E-Day before Xbox CEO, Asha Sharma, confirmed that the game will be an Xbox console exclusive. The title will launch on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Game Pass, but not on PS5.
A subsequent Gears of War: E-Day Direct presentation detailed the game's campaign, which follows Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago during Emergence Day, 14 years before the original Gears of War. Developer The Coalition also stated that the project was rebuilt from the ground up, with no assets or animations carried over from previous entries.
