Playground Games’ reboot of the Fable series has launched without a feature that many fans had hoped for: a canine companion. The dog, which was once part of the game’s original plans, was ultimately cut during development. According to director Ralph Fulton, the decision wasn’t made lightly. “The feature that I get the most grief about is the dog,” he said. “Now that I’ve opened the door, as I have said before, it was in the plans. And I made the call during development to cut it. We didn’t feel we could do it justice with the time we had available, and the other things that we needed to dedicate the resources to.” Fulton was asked if there were any iconic elements from the earlier Fable games that the team wanted to bring back but couldn’t. He joked that the question was “begging me to talk about the dog,” a topic that clearly hasn’t been far from the developers’ minds. “Great,” he said. “Now I’ve brought up the dog because I’m a f***ing idiot.” In Fable 2 and 3, the dog had a number of useful functions, such as helping players find buried treasure, attacking enemies, and assisting with navigation. However, the feature was ultimately removed, and the decision lies squarely with Fulton. The absence of the dog has sparked questions, especially since Fable 2 introduced a sophisticated AI companion that was well-received. Some argue that if Lionhead Studios could achieve this in 2008, Playground Games should be able to replicate or improve on it in 2027. However, Fulton explains that simply reviving the mechanic wouldn’t be enough. “In a world as detailed as Fable’s, it would have to be a significant improvement, executed with a much higher level of fidelity,” he said. He compared the need for a technological leap to the evolution of horses in Red Dead Redemption and its sequel, where Rockstar Games vastly improved the feature over time. Instead of focusing on the dog, the team has invested heavily in the game’s characters. According to Fulton, every character in the game has a unique routine based on their personality and preferences. For example, an NPC might be a bookworm who reads on a bench, or a social drinker who frequents the pub. Characters follow a daily cycle of sleeping, working, and leisure. A tailor, for instance, would sleep near their shop, work throughout the day, and then enjoy their preferred hobby in the evening. These intricate routines apply to the 400 handcrafted characters in the game’s largest city, Bowerstone, and extend to villages and farms across the world. The game’s release date was also subject to change. Originally scheduled for October 2026, it was moved to February 27, 2027, to avoid competing with GTA 6, which was expected to be a major media event. However, the official Fable social media account mistakenly announced the original release date. Fulton clarified that the delay was not due to a lack of polish, but a strategic decision to avoid overshadowing GTA 6. “I don’t hate that decision at all,” he said. “February is further away, but it’s a great window for us.” While the dog may not be in this version of Fable, Fulton leaves the door open for its return in the future. “It will always be a future possibility,” he said. Whether it comes as a free update, a paid DLC, or remains a hopeful idea is still uncertain. “There’s always scope for everything,” he added. “You can do anything but you can’t do everything.” Fable is set to release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC on February 23, 2027.