The upcoming reboot of the popular game series, Fable, is set to introduce over 1,000 non-playable characters (NPCs) that will significantly enhance gameplay. Developer Playground Games has created an innovative feature dubbed ‘The Living Population,’ where each NPC will react differently to players’ actions, such as heroic or villainous choices. This ambitious plan has raised eyebrows among the studio’s art department, tasked with creating individual beds for each character.
In an interview with GamesRadar+, studio general manager Ralph Fulton explained the team’s vision for an immersive experience. “We knew that we wanted every NPC to be persistent, which is to say, you could, if you were so minded, follow an NPC around all day, and they will autonomously do the things that they do every day,” Fulton stated.
This means players can observe NPCs as they go about their daily routines, including waking up, working, enjoying leisure time, returning home, and going to bed. Fulton highlighted that the NPCs’ locations, such as where they work or sleep, may change based on players’ decisions. For instance, if players acquire all buildings in the game and evict NPCs, their lives will reflect those choices.
The requirement for each NPC to have a bed presented a unique challenge for the art team. Fulton recalled a moment of realization: “And immediately, you know when you hear that, certainly as a developer, you start going, ‘Oh, okay, so every NPC, and there’s more than 1,000 of them in the game, needs a bed.’ And you have that conversation with the environment art team, and they’re like, ‘they need what now?'” This reflects a shift in game development, focusing on functionality alongside aesthetics.
The Fable reboot is set to launch later this year on multiple platforms, including Xbox Series X|S, Game Pass, PC, and PS5. However, Fulton confirmed that the beloved dog companion from previous iterations will not be part of the new game. “I was hoping that nobody would ask that question,” he said, indicating that the team is focused on other innovations for this installment.
As players eagerly await Fable‘s arrival, the introduction of such a rich and dynamic world promises to deliver a unique gaming experience. The meticulous attention to detail in the game’s development reflects the growing trends in RPGs, where player choices profoundly influence the game environment and character interactions.