Confirmed for the reboot
Fairfax Castle was confirmed as a returning location during the Xbox Developer Direct in January 2026. Players will be able to explore Bowerstone, Bloodstone, Fairfax Castle, and the Heroes' Guild. The castle is visible in the background of Bowerstone footage, dominating the city's skyline.
Visual upgrade
Early impressions note that Fairfax Castle appears "far grander in the reboot compared to its appearance in Fable 2." The scale has increased substantially. In the original Fable II, the castle was large but somewhat understated. In the reboot, it is a proper skyline-defining structure, visible from across Bowerstone and likely from surrounding areas of Albion.
This fits Playground Games' approach to the world. They are not recreating the old games shot-for-shot. They are rebuilding Albion with the density and detail that the ForzaTech engine allows. Fairfax Castle benefits from that same scaling up.
History in the franchise
In the original Fable series, Fairfax Castle was located in the Fairfax Gardens district, off Bowerstone Market. It was the residence of Lord Lucien Fairfax, the primary antagonist of Fable II. Lucien was a nobleman consumed by grief after losing his wife and daughter. His obsession with rebuilding the Tattered Spire drove the events of that game.
The castle itself was built atop the former Bowerstone Manor. In Fable II, players could purchase it after completing the main story. It was the most expensive property in the game, costing one million gold. Owning Fairfax Castle was a status symbol and an endgame goal for players invested in the property system.
Role in the reboot
What role Fairfax Castle plays in the reboot's story has not been revealed. It could be a seat of power, a quest location, a purchasable property, or all three. Given the game's emphasis on the landlord system and the precedent of buying it in Fable II, the possibility of purchasing Fairfax Castle again is reasonable speculation.
The castle's relationship to Lucien Fairfax in the reboot, if any, is unknown. This is a full reboot, not a sequel. Playground Games has said they are not beholden to the original timeline. Fairfax Castle may have entirely different lore in this version of Albion.
Bowerstone's skyline
The castle's prominence in Bowerstone's skyline is a design choice that communicates power and history. Walking through Bowerstone, players will constantly see the castle looming overhead. It is a visual anchor for the city, a reminder of whoever currently holds power there.
Combined with other landmarks like the Old Clock Tower and the Heroes' Guild, Fairfax Castle helps give Bowerstone a distinct silhouette. The city is not just streets and houses. It has vertical landmarks that orient the player and establish the scale of Albion's capital.
Every building is enterable
Fulton confirmed that every building in the game can be entered. This presumably includes Fairfax Castle. Whether the entire castle interior is explorable, or just portions of it, is unknown. But the game's emphasis oninteriors means players should expect to walk through its halls, not just admire it from outside.