Fable will feature over 1,000 unique NPCs and none will be created with AI

The new Fable bets on handmade characters and a living world with its own routines.

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During the latest Xbox Developer Direct, Playground Games made it clear that Fable not only wants to recapture the spirit of the series, but also take its world a step further in coherence and credibility. Beyond combat or missions, the studio has focused on one of the game’s pillars: its inhabitants.

According to the team, the world of Fable will feature over 1,000 distinct NPCs, all of them manually designed and without relying on artificial intelligence tools for their creation. A decision that aims to reinforce the game’s artisanal character and avoid generic or repetitive behaviors.

A living world built NPC by NPC in Fable

Project director Ralph Fulton detailed that each of these characters has their own persistent routines, allowing cities and villages to change appearance depending on the time of day. During the workday, some areas may seem more empty, while at night they come back to life with the return of their inhabitants.

This level of detail is reflected even in everyday aspects. For example, homes have beds that match the number of characters living in them, and relationships with NPCs go far beyond simple dialogue. It will be possible to interact with most inhabitants, establish lasting bonds, get married, have children, and even get divorced, reinforcing that sense of a world that reacts to the player’s decisions.

Playground Games has emphasized that none of these NPCs were generated using AI, but rather all were created by hand by the studio’s creative team. A clear bet on artistic control and careful design, in line with the project’s ambition.

With this approach, Fable is shaping up to be one of the most worked-on RPGs on Xbox, focusing not only on the adventure, but on the life that surrounds the player in every corner of the world.