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Lionhead Studios and Press Play closed. Fable legends cancelled.
- Thread starter chadskin
- Start date
Unless they're ready to cut dies with the gaming division all together in the not too distant future.
They've done it before.
Are you saying that because they were actually mismanaged or because they didn't produce the games you want?
hmm. might vary based on number of impacted employees. Pretty sure the last time it happened to me it was 30 days.
60 days is pretty good - presumably they won't need anyone in the office because they'll shutter development immediately, so thats two months to sort yourself out before you're even technically unemployed. Hopefully they'll get a decent package too - MS standard is a bit better than statutory
RedSparrows
Member
Heh. 'Damn MS, always releasing the same shit. Then they go and cancel Fable, previously-known-as-the-same-old-shit. God damn them!'
But yes, fuck this MS. You need more variety, not less.
Fable Legends, to me, was the most interesting, inspired thing I'd seen out of Fable in years. It's characters were solid, the effects for the skills and such were gorgeous, and overall, even if it's "Not an RPG", it was on a good path to being something PSO-like with the potential to do much more for expanding the lore of the story than retread RPGs that were put out just to say the Xbox had an RPG series.
Really sad to see that the game won't properly release and be updated; It's season model sounded like it could have great potential if used properly.
Press Play is a shame, too; I don't think I was as impressed by Kalimbra and Max as many, but they were definitely solid games, and the studio deserved to have time to grow into their own, not just get shuttered so swiftly.
I hope Lionhead gets to continue to some degree (since I hear the title is wrong, and they're still in discussion), and I'd totally be fine with getting a playable, never updated version of Legends for like $20 if they'd release it. Seems a real shame for such work to go to waste.
Bleh, this is just nasty news. Not something I'd even expect to hear at all in the next few years, let alone today.
Really sad to see that the game won't properly release and be updated; It's season model sounded like it could have great potential if used properly.
Press Play is a shame, too; I don't think I was as impressed by Kalimbra and Max as many, but they were definitely solid games, and the studio deserved to have time to grow into their own, not just get shuttered so swiftly.
I hope Lionhead gets to continue to some degree (since I hear the title is wrong, and they're still in discussion), and I'd totally be fine with getting a playable, never updated version of Legends for like $20 if they'd release it. Seems a real shame for such work to go to waste.
Bleh, this is just nasty news. Not something I'd even expect to hear at all in the next few years, let alone today.
OverdriveOtaku
Member
I hope the teams land on their feet and get jobs.
Some have mentioned Phantom Dust here, I would be surprised if that game somehow comes back to life because of this situation.
Has Peter Molyneux said anything yet regarding the closing?
Some have mentioned Phantom Dust here, I would be surprised if that game somehow comes back to life because of this situation.
Has Peter Molyneux said anything yet regarding the closing?
Oh man, this is so true.
higgsboson1997
Member
Fable 2 is still my favourite game from last gen.
ThatOneGrunt
Member
In all my time with the Fable Legends beta I always had the lingering thought that they should just stop development on the game and spend those resources elsewhere. It was just not a fun game with clunky combat and restrictive gameplay. Nothing about it was fun, so in a way, this probably for the best.
It's been a long time since Lionhead has made anything as captivating as Black and White and the first Fable.
It's been a long time since Lionhead has made anything as captivating as Black and White and the first Fable.
did halo or gears die when they lost the developers who made them? no. of course not. they'll get someone else to make it that's all.
Mass_Pincup
Banned
If they were actually serious about PC gaming they would've let Lionhead working on some PC games, I don't know if much of the staff from a decade ago is still here but they may have expertise in that field, they at least have the pedigree.
wapplew
Member
MM is founded by Lionhead veterans right? Maybe they could hire some Lionhead Devs.
DeepEnigma
Gold Member
Another?
Yes! The movies! What a greta game.... well, maybe the devs will rebuild and make a sequel/reboot of that game instead
Is it available on any online service? I never actually picked it up but was always kind of curious.
keisuke999
Member
Always a sad day when studios close.
God speed all.
God speed all.
Honestly, the game had some serious design flaws that IMO couldn't be fixed without a complete redesign of the game. Loot and game balance were going to constantly be at odds, and it led to some of the most unsatisfying progression I have ever experienced in an RPG.I was just listening to The Movies soundtrack yesterday. Oh man.
How could they do this with Fable Legends being so close to finished? That is so weird. I don't know what to make of this.
I just feel really bad for the folks at Lionhead. I've been wondering for awhile now how they were going to manage making Fable Legends successful, but I never imagined it would lead to the entire studio being shut down. Sad day.
I hope the Lionhead actually got to try things other than Fable but just didn't work. Fable needed to be put aside years ago.
If Microsoft don't do well with the new IPs, more Gears, Halo, Forza. Yikes. Fingers crossed that doesn't happen.
Shame about Press Play, not even wanted for smaller development games.
If Microsoft don't do well with the new IPs, more Gears, Halo, Forza. Yikes. Fingers crossed that doesn't happen.
Shame about Press Play, not even wanted for smaller development games.
Sucks that people are losing their jobs, but honestly this type of Fable game was the wrong way to go. Either make Fable 4 or move onto a new ip. Also this game should've been out like a year ago.
Sucks about Press Play. Max was the only game of theirs that I played and I loved it.
Sucks about Press Play. Max was the only game of theirs that I played and I loved it.
SnowFlakeCake
Member
How in the fuck does this happen? Fable 2 sold crazy well and 3 was shit but also sold fine. Lionhead was made to do stupid shit like the kinect game and now Legends, they should have been working on Fable 4 and nothing else. Fable 2 was a game I loved, Fable 3 not so much but felt Lionhead could get it right again.
What a total and utter fuck up, really hope everyone there gets jobs quickly because that tweet makes it pretty obvious this decision was only known recently.
What a total and utter fuck up, really hope everyone there gets jobs quickly because that tweet makes it pretty obvious this decision was only known recently.
Jawmuncher
Member
Surprised. The game was pretty far ahead and even just last week there was a new update. Guess someone higher up didn't like the progress and just decided to restructure. Hopefully they can reuse a lot of what is here to make a new fable game.
Mackmannen
Member
Even if i most likely never would play a MP Fable it's still sad. Fable 1 & 2 and also Black and White had such a otherworldy feeling going what a waste if those worlds is to be put on a shelf and never seen again.
Crazy times ahead.
I mean I never saw great things in Fable Legends, but have thought MS would give Lionhead another chance with a new IP.
I mean Molyneux leaving around 4 years ago. Problems with Fable Journey for Kinect. In 2014 another lead leaving Lionhead. Obvious problems with appeal of Fable Legends.
I hope MS besides shudowns is also building some studios up.
We heed competition, but it seems MS cuts its loses and retreats in the video game space. Especially when MS does not have a strong 1st party studio structure in the first place.
I mean I never saw great things in Fable Legends, but have thought MS would give Lionhead another chance with a new IP.
I mean Molyneux leaving around 4 years ago. Problems with Fable Journey for Kinect. In 2014 another lead leaving Lionhead. Obvious problems with appeal of Fable Legends.
I hope MS besides shudowns is also building some studios up.
We heed competition, but it seems MS cuts its loses and retreats in the video game space. Especially when MS does not have a strong 1st party studio structure in the first place.
Holy shit! I did not see this coming at all. I didn't have a lot of interest in Fable Legends but it never seemed to be in danger of getting canned.
I guess that's it for the Fable franchise. I enjoyed each of the main titles in their own way but I felt like the series never quite managed to reach its potential. I always hoped they'd take another crack at a mainline series entry but there's no chance of that now.
I guess MS just decided to cut their losses, I hope everyone in the studio lands on their feet.
I guess that's it for the Fable franchise. I enjoyed each of the main titles in their own way but I felt like the series never quite managed to reach its potential. I always hoped they'd take another crack at a mainline series entry but there's no chance of that now.
I guess MS just decided to cut their losses, I hope everyone in the studio lands on their feet.
So sad. Fable 1 was one my fondest games. Repurchased it probably a few times lol. Made me love Xbox even though I was a PS guy. This is unfortunate. Best of luck to everyone.
So this is where my "?" moment creeps in.
What's happens to the assets/art/media/data when a project like this is cancelled? Is MS bankrolled or can most game companies shelve projects and afford it? Just curious. Take care Gaf.
So this is where my "?" moment creeps in.
What's happens to the assets/art/media/data when a project like this is cancelled? Is MS bankrolled or can most game companies shelve projects and afford it? Just curious. Take care Gaf.
CecilRousso
Member
They weren't, but the foundation the studio had, with B&W, Fable 1, The Movies should have resulted in something better then this. Each of them were flawed, but also very creative and entertaining.