Following the announcement of Fable's delay to 2026, insider reports have surfaced, painting a challenging picture of the game's development. Contrary to the official statement that cited the need for additional polish, these insiders suggest that the game is facing significant issues. Extas1s, a well-known insider, has stated that Playground Games is struggling with the ForzaTech engine, which was initially designed for racing games and is ill-suited for an open-world RPG like Fable. According to Extas1s, early gameplay versions were "not particularly engaging," leading to a major overhaul of game mechanics and pacing adjustments.

HeisenbergFX4, another insider, has echoed these concerns, indicating that Fable's development is far behind schedule. There's even speculation that the game might not be ready by the projected 2026 release date. With Microsoft planning to launch Fable on PlayStation as well, the pressure is on to meet the high expectations of Sony's discerning audience. HeisenbergFX4 points out that after the mixed reception of Starfield and the controversial response to Avowed, Microsoft cannot afford another underwhelming release.