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[Sleeping Lesson]

It probably was. There was a significant amount of content in the game (I was a tester) but it was online only so would need ongoing support.

Ouch. What a shame for everyone that put in so much hard work.

 

[cheezcake]

Damn, sorry to the people who lost their jobs. Will never forget the time I sunk into Fable 1 and 2 as a kid =(

 

[Previous]

Well this is disappointing. RIP Lionhead

 

[Ricky_R]

That sucks.

 

[Primethius]

Woah, out of nowhere. That sucks. Fable looked pretty far along.

Hope those affected find a new job relatively quick.

 

[everyday math]

Man should've just made Fable 4.

 

[mclem]

I remember Brandon Jones (?) from GT playing this like a year ago and saying it was basically complete and not half bad. Weird they wouldn't release it.

I was wondering why it was taking so long - it doesn't particularly interest me (which I guess is kind of part of the problem?), but they seemed to spend a decent amount of time on it at various events. Didn't it appear at two E3s?

 

[Gaspard]

Wow, that's a huge disappointment.

 

[SomedayTheFire]

that's a shock.

 

[Raylan]

FUCK!!

Fable 1 + 2 were awesome. Shit ;(

 

[Alienous]

lollll...Microsoft is ruthless all of a sudden.

If this was a quality control related move, good on them.

The easier option would have been to take it too release, I imagine. As a downloadable title manufacture wouldn't even be an issue.

 

[inky]

Holy shit. Thoughts go out to the affected.

RIP lionhead and Press Start Studios.

*Press Play

 

[kulapik]

What on earth is happening with Microsoft, even if Fable Legends wasn't working, Lionhead developed one of the few strong IPs you've ever had, not a good look.

They're getting pummeled by PS4 and they are not selling well, that's what's happening.

 

[SunBroDave]

Can't say I'm surprised, Fable Legends looked like a trainwreck from the very beginning. But my heart goes out to those who have been let go. I'm sure there were a lot of legitimately talented people at that studio and I hope they land on their feet.

 

[TM94]

That's a real shocker.

Thanks for Fable 1 and II Lionhead, brilliant games.

Such a huge loss to the British video game industry.

All the best to the staff and of course to those at Press Play as well.

 

[Duggie_Brown]

Don't want to sound too dramatic, but I'm honestly expecting Rare to go soon; this will all depend on how their new game does, but every game they've released for MS so far outside of Kinect Sports really hasn't sold that well.

Sad to hear another studio die off though and one which had an exclusive series which seemed a big part of the Xbox brand.

 

[SlasherJPC]

As far as gaming is concerned.... call this jaw dropping! Damn.

 

[thenexus6]

Wow did not expect this.. I have fond memories of Fable. I always felt that franchise was so close to being awesome but just missed it a lot of the time. But they did have a lot of charm and character.

Hope all these guys land on their feet quickly.

 

[iNvid02]

uh wow, that's all I got

 

[MatrixMan.EXE]

Jesus Christ.

 

[Mac@NeoGAF]

Rare next?

Closing Lionhead has probably saved Rare.

 

[Moskalova]

In what world this could be good for Xbox?

These changes are taking effect as Microsoft Studios continues to focus its investment and development on the games and franchises that fans find most exciting and want to play.

 

[DryvBy]

Lionhead Studios closing. Wow. That's a big deal.

 

[Parsnip]

Holy shit.

I had zero interest in Fable, but this suuuucks.

 

[Forerunner]

I was actually looking forward to trying Legends...

Hopefully Fable isn't a dead franchise now.

 

[ironcreed]

Wow I said wow, ms be making changes big time time will till if they mean good for Xbox or not.

Yeah, I can see the strategy behind some of the other moves, but I am not down with closing studios. Despite not being interested in Fable Legends (I wanted Fable 4), I did like Lionhead.

 

[ethomaz]

The studio closing is unexpected.

About Fable was expected... the game was supposed to be launched last year and right now nada.

 

[ChaosZeroX]

Wow. Sucks for the employees.

 

[Akoi]

Dang.... I played the beta at PAX last year and it was pretty fun... So sudden.... So RIP fable now?

 

[justsomeguy]

Can't say I'm surprised, Fable Legends looked like a trainwreck from the very beginning. But my heart goes out to those who have been let go. I'm sure there were a lot of legitimately talented people at that studio and I hope they land on their feet.

FL was shaping up to be a lot of fun from what I played of it.

That's devastating news. Close friends are directly hit by this, and if I'd got the job I went for the other day I would have been too. Wow. :-/

 

[wapplew]

What happen to the secret Sci fi project?

 

[Superfrog]

Wow, that was totally unexpected. Fable Legends must have been almost complete, too. Also worried that they closed Press Play, which MS only acquired in 2012. I don't like this development.

By the way, the Fable Legends artbook was released already last November, lol. I just ordered a copy.

 

[Sanpei]

I think Fable Legends Beta not played so much....Well, i looked at it once and never played again. It was boring i confess...

I wish they developed a new Fable rpg game...Big mistake

 

[nynt9]

Sucks. I wonder why they decided to turn Fable into a f2p shooter instead of an RPG. Fable was basically Microsoft's big RPG IP so this sucks for them as well.

 

[Jintor]

God damnit

Terrible news

 

[RedSparrows]

Wtf, how shit is this. I feel especially bad for PressPlay, they're a small team as I understand and it Kalimba was bloody brilliant.

GG MS, what a shitshow.

 

[The perfect Dark]

So we will never get a sequel to The Movies. Fuck this

 

[PsihoPerihelion]

Lionhead noooo. End of an era.

 

[Auctopus]

They're getting pummeled by PS4 and they are not selling well, that's what's happening.

This is a bit to do with it. PS3 started axing great studios back when it was losing in the 7th gen.

 

[ekim]

Btw - title is misleading. Lionhead is not closed just yet. They are still discussing this.

 

[Orakio Rob]

This is the saddest part:

These changes are taking effect as Microsoft Studios continues to focus its investment and development on the games and franchises that fans find most exciting and want to play.

I've only played the first Fable (very, very late, on PC, a few years ago), but I liked it a lot. It's one of those few games I know I'll remember fondly in the future. It's sad to hear that apparently few gamers are excited about the franchise

 

[Duxxy3]

Rare next? :-/

Wouldn't put it past them. I'd just sell the assets back to Nintendo.

It's not like Microsoft ever really used the assets.

 

[Nugg]

Didn't expect much from Fable Legends, but still. Holy fucking shit. Lionhead is/was a huge part of why I love games.

 

[Cow Goes Moo]

wow that's really something else

good luck to those on the market again

 

[NippleViking]

What.... And just when it sounded like MS were bolstering the Xbox business, this happens. Surely this hints at MS pulling out - or at least, back - from gaming. They're short on first-party studios as is. Dropping one of their biggest teams is just bizarre.

 

[RelentlessRolento]

Sad for those who enjoy their games, but never liked what they made personally. Still crazy though.

 

[mclem]

These changes are taking effect as Microsoft Studios continues to focus its investment and development on the games and franchises that fans find most exciting and want to play.

Yeah, this always bothers me, due to often having a nagging feeling that in most cases, those fans aren't me. Consolidation behind the majority fanbase still rearing its head.

 

[Joseph Merrick]

Real shame as well, I always saw Lionhead as the studio that were the real remnants of Bullfrog, as they demonstrated across Black & White and The Movies.

the the movies team got fired a long time ago though, ten years ago actually.

 

[BobTheFork]

Damn this is was unexpected. Good luck to those employees : (

 

[maquiladora]

Damn, Lionhead is gone?

Best of luck to all the employees there and in the other locations. Hope you all find work soon.