Summary
When speeding through picturesque locales like the Nurburgring Grand Prix Track in the recently releasedForza Horizon, it’s easy to become entranced by the stunning scenery surrounding players. But not only does Turn 10 Studios’ latest AAA racer do a fantastic job of replicating some iconic real-world racetracks, it also gives gamers a glimpse of what they can expect in terms of visuals from Playground Games’ upcomingFable.This is because, while the two titles couldn’t be more dissimilar when it comes to their core gameplay, the same ForzaTech engine that powers the realistic racer will be used to bringFable’s world of Albionto life.
It’s unlikely there will be many racing-related missions inFable, but the comedic fantasy title should still benefit immensely from sharing an engine with some of the biggest names in racing games. Developer Playground Games, known for itsForza Horizonseries, should be able to tap into the same skills used to bring the eye-catching open worlds of its acclaimed arcade racers to life to deliver a sprawling and stunning new vision of Albion. This technical prowess, when combined with the improvements to the ForzaTech engine on display inForza Motorsport, should ensure thatFableis a graphical powerhouse whenever it releases.
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Playground Games’ Open-World Expertise Should Pay Dividends for Fable
While Playground Games has always been praised for the gorgeous open worlds featured in its games,Forza Horizon 5took things to another level in terms of graphical fidelity. From picturesque coastlines stretching into the distance to the smoldering caldera of an active volcano, theray-traced world ofForza Horizon 5showcases Playground Games’ skill at creating visually stunning landscapes in the ForzaTech engine. This is good news forFablefans, as it means that Albion’s latest incarnation should have no problem featuring a wide variety of fantasy environments.
AlthoughtheFablefranchisehas often been praised for the breadth of content packed into its open world, it’s never been at the forefront of tech when it comes to visuals. This should change drastically with the ForzaTech engine’s use in the upcoming entry, finally bringing the quality of the graphics up to the same level as the gameplay. And whileForza Horizon 5showcased the impressive scale of the worlds that can be created with ForzaTech, it’s the visual improvements introduced withForza Motorsportthat will truly makeFable’s Albion shine.
Forza Motorsport’s Impressive Level of Detail Hints at What’s to Come in Fable
Giving players a massive open world to explore as part of theirhero’s journey inFableis a good start, but it’s the small details that will sell its version of Albion as a living place. Luckily,Forza Motorsportshows that the ForzaTech engine is just as adept at handling these sorts of visual flourishes as it is at rendering large landscapes. Improvements to the engine like a fully procedural cloud system, physically based rendering, and light-reactive shaders that pair withForza Motorsport’s ray-traced lighting to create stunningly lifelike visuals should be even more refined by the timeFablereleases.
Even therealistic dirt onForza Motorsport’s carsthat accumulates throughout a race shows the level of detail players should expect fromFable. This ability of in-game assets and textures to reflect real-world wear and tear over time should pair nicely withFable’s often-rustic locales, allowing players to get suitably grimy as they traverse the game’s forests and fields. When combined with the impressive weather effects on display inForza Motorsport, an unexpected rainstorm inFablecould turn both players and Albion into a beautifully muddy mess.
The sim racing ofForza Motorsportmay be worlds away from the fairy tale lands ofFable, but the gorgeous graphics of the former give a tantalizing taste of what to expect from the latter. And although players still have awhile to wait until they get their hands onFable, its almost assuredly stunning visuals should make that patience worth it.
Forza Motorsportis available on PC and Xbox Series X/S.
