Support NeoGAF

[Skiesofwonder]

Microsoft forced Kinect and F2P co-op onto a single-player RPG driven series, and now that each of those directions have failed miserably (go figure), Microsoft is closing Lionhead down.

Wow.

But don't worry Fable fans, Microsoft will find some up and coming game developer to poop out a grey and brown gritty turd of a Fable reboot for them. Because when Lionhead was left alone to provide their own vision of Fable to the world, they moved over 3 million copies, twice (!), with Fable 1 and 2. But instead of an apologize for the awful decisions forced upon them, Lionhead will instead become the scapegoat for Microsoft, and somehow this situation will become even more fucked then it currently is.

 

[Fox_Mulder]

At this point Microsoft feels like a guy who meets an incredible woman (the PC), falls in love and then discovers, to its horror, that she has a kid (the Xbox) and before he knows it he's paying a fortune to keep 'her brat' in short pants and first party studios.

WELL NO MORE!!!!

Well, that's seem pretty accurate

 

[Ninja Scooter]

This is pretty shocking. Lionhead seemed to be one of MS' prestige studios, but their output of late definitely caused their stock to drop. It seems being in the business of owning huge studios isn't always worth the money. The $ is in the IPs, MS could just have anyone make a new Fable game if they wanted, be it outsourced or a smaller studio they own. I wouldn't be at all surprised if we are having this same discussion with regards to Rare in the next few years.

 

[Makareu]

It is always dangerous to read too much into these kind of news, but with all the recent announcements around xbox, it really feels like Microsoft recently issued some objectives / ultimatums to its xbox division. The do or die kind.

 

[callsignkrogan]

hopefully everyone lands on their feet. I am not surprised as I don't feel the studio has produced that great of games as of late. Microsoft is just consolidating their offices at this point.

 

[Miles X]

Seriously tho.

2018; PC only, Gears, Minecraft, Halo, Killer Instinct and Forza on a steam like initiative. No physical console, no Twisted Pixel, no Team Dakota, no Lift London and no Rare.

 

[Steejee]

Rather surprised with how far along Legends seemed. I have to presume they were expecting Legends to fail badly and cost them even more money than it already has.

Looking like Microsoft's developer graveyard could catch up to EA's at the rate they're going.

Good luck to those that lost their jobs.

 

[DagnastyEp]

Wow, I hope we get some more information on this. We've been hearing (via Xbox Execs) that MS is investing more into games now then ever before, I wonder what were the factors in closing those studios, rather than just reevaluating those projects.

Spoiler

Just got into the beta last week too!

 

[LordRaptor]

It is always dangerous to read too much into these kind of news, but with all the recent announcements around xbox, it really feel like Microsoft recently issued some objectives / ultimatums to its xbox division. The do or die kind.

This is my take too.

 

[BlazingDarkness]

Rare is next. No one really asked for a pirate MMO. And when it fails to make bank MS will toss Rare to the wolves, to concentrate on the slim pickings of IP people actually ask for.

 

[Tatsumi Oga]

Microsoft forced Kinect and F2P co-op onto a single-player RPG driven series, and now that each of those directions have failed miserably (go figure), Microsoft is closing Lionhead down.

Wow.

But don't worry Fable fans, Microsoft will find some up and coming game developer to poop out a grey and brown gritty turd of a Fable reboot for them. Because when Lionhead was left alone to provide their own vision of Fable to the world, they moved over 3 million copies, twice (!), with Fable 1 and 2. But instead of an apologize for the awful decisions forced upon them, Lionhead will instead become the scapegoat for Microsoft, and somehow this situation will become even more fucked then it currently is.

How do we know this for sure though? Last I read is that Lionhead actually wanted to make something totally different than the usual Fable this time, and then they went into that direction. I don't recall it being a fact that MS forced them to do anything.

 

[harSon]

I truly do fear for Rare now. I think the talent is in place to create truly fantastic games, but online MMOs are ripe for development issues - and are extremely volatile in terms of getting a return on investment.

I was hoping they'd play it safe with their return from Kinect Purgatory

 

[Miles X]

Rare is next. No one really asked for a pirate MMO. And when it fails to make bank MS will toss Rare to the wolves, to concentrate on the slim pickings of IP people actually ask for.

It's not an MMO. (Not that that makes much difference, just sounds ignorant for people to still call this an MMO tho).

 

[Alienous]

Four year development though.

That's an expensive game for a spin-off. Halo 5 had a shorter development cycle.

 

[AncientDiety]

Rare is next. No one really asked for a pirate MMO. And when it fails to make bank MS will toss Rare to the wolves, to concentrate on the slim pickings of IP people actually ask for.

I hate to say this, but this would not surprise me, don;t see sea of thieves being much of a hit at all.

 

[Elandyll]

I knew it would be a rough year for Xbox (baring any out of left field surprises), but it's shapping up to be even more radical than I thought.

With the restructuring into a Windows based platform (to transition Xbox as a brand / service instead of hardware), I am a bit suprised by the cancellation of Fable legends though.
As a F2P with microtransactions, it had a natural place at the very least on PC I imagine, particularly given reports it was "almost finished".

 

[HighResTomato]

Well, that's seem pretty accurate

Not really. They are both MS kids, Xbox is just the young one they want to leave the house before their beloved firstborn.

 

[fabricated backlash]

I haven't enjoyed a Single Fable game to date, but I know plenty of people who do, so this sucks major ass. A sad day for games.

 

[Juke Joint Jezebel]

Sucks for the people working there and they have my condolences, but I can't say I'll miss Lionhead at all. They always came up with interesting concepts but their finished products never really stacked up. The Fable series went on a sharp downward spiral in quality in my opinion, and they really haven't been relevant to me since their debut, Black & White.

They were never a quality developer IMO.

 

[Doug Heffernan]

MS is winding down from the games industry, is all I really get from this. They'll attempt a PC initiative but fuck it up, then slowly close/sell off their franchises and studios bar Halo.

LOL Yup, Microsoft is out, it's all over, pack it up!

ffs

 

[Busty]

Rare is currently phoning round its friends to see if it can sleep in anyone's shed for a few nights before boarding a freighter to the orient to start a new life developing mobile phone games and crushing the hopes of its fans expecting a comeback.

 

[Zedox]

I don't think that's what happened, apparently some people at Lionhead were not informed of the closing, and the fact that they announced that both Lionhead's and Press Play's closure lead me to think that it was decided at least sometime ago.

True. Good points. If so...you would think that with "that much time" they would start removing Fable Legends stuff from their sites. I guess it doesn't really matter though. It is very telling though that Fable as I recall was supposed to be a Spring game and it wasn't at the showcase. I didn't even think about that. So yea, I agree with you. They knew.

 

[RedSparrows]

What? That was Maxis.

Precisely.

'I called this, ps here's an unrelated fact'.

 

[Broank]

Oh God why couldn't they just have made Fable 4.

Fable 3 was so underrated, had some really interesting ideas people shit on for some reason I'll never understand. Plus wasn't it the best selling Fable?

 

[Stone Ocean]

It is always dangerous to read too much into these kind of news, but with all the recent announcements around xbox, it really feel like Microsoft recently issued some objectives / ultimatums to its xbox division. The do or die kind.

I mean, haven't we known for a while some suits have been wanting to drop the division? They have been in "do or die" mode for a while now.

 

[Gamezone]

Wasn't this game very far into the development progress? Can't anyone finish it?

 

[Shalashaska161]

Damn, I won't cry for the loss of Fable Legends but Lionhead deserves better. RIP to a great studio and good luck to those affected.

 

[Miles X]

LOL Yup, Microsoft is out, it's all over, pack it up!

ffs

Did you miss the part I said they'd have five major studios? It's that or they actually will leave gaming, not sure how you think that's a crazy idea given how things have been last few years.

 

[Obliterator]

It is always dangerous to read too much into these kind of news, but with all the recent announcements around xbox, it really feel like Microsoft recently issued some objectives / ultimatums to its xbox division. The do or die kind.

Yeah I have never really got into this topic of conversation around Xbox, but things are really starting to feel strange over there

 

[Neuromancer]

I think Rare is next.

To be honest I'm surprised they've hung in there as long as they have.

 

[Bungie]

:[

 

[Guymelef]

Seriously tho.

2018; PC only, Gears, Minecraft, Halo, Killer Instinct and Forza on a steam like initiative. No physical console, no Twisted Pixel, no Team Dakota, no Lift London and no Rare.

And no Victoria Studios, they closed it before giving an opportunity.

 

[Ninja Sharingan]

Wasn't this game very far into the development progress? Can't anyone finish it?

I think it's more of a case that the game was just not that great. I have friends who were in the Beta and they said it looked good but played completely mediocre at best. Might have been more damning to release it.

 

[RedSparrows]

I hate to say this, but this would not surprise me, don;t see sea of thieves being much of a hit at all.

I think if there's one thing this thead reminds us of is just how ignorant we all are about games and their future. It's why I get a little sick of this kind of navel gazing.

 

[Lashley]

You are the real victim here.

I am.

Being serious for a second, feel very sorry for all the workers and their families.

What was the last game the studio produced? Think the last one I played was Fable 3.

 

[Mr. Giggles]

Why are people trying to spin this as a "Mattrick game" when Phil Spencers job has involved directly overseeing Lionhead since 2008?

Gotta find someone to scape goat... It's silly really

 

[Garrett Hawke]

I called this back with Fable 2.

Fable 1 was to me the best. Regardless of peoples expectations the gameplay was solid and the story was enjoyable and it was very funny at moment. (See Chicken Kicker.).

Fable 2 was the first time I get really worried about Lionhead. I had been paying attention to a lot of the hype around the game and what the devs had been claiming would be in the game. It seemed like it would become a classic. Within 20 mins of playing it I realised that the one thing I really cared about, the gameplay, was not great. It felt really artificial and lack luster. I couldn't even finish the game. I got close, but each time I just couldn't find the will to carry on. It was missing a huge amount of the features promised and while I didn't feel cheated, I wasn't happy.

Spore was the kicker though. It was not what was promised. It was the bare minimum and it was clear it was never going to be more than that. Fable 3 was just a bigger indicator that Lionhead was heading the wrong way.

Lol what. Maxis (RIP) developed Spore.

 

[CassidyIzABeast]

Baseless speculation: Lionhead was missing Peter's direction. Fable Legends was taking way too long. A Remedy game beat their F2P game to release. Release Legends and move on to a new IP was probably the plan but that wasnt happening any time soon. Press Play? No idea.

 

[AncientDiety]

I think if there's one thing this thead reminds us of is just how ignorant we all are about games and their future. It's why I get a little sick of this kind of navel gazing.

The your free not to read or respond to it.

 

[Hanmik]

I think Rare is next.

from the wire:

I speak for all of Xbox when I say that despite this news, we remain committed to the development communities in the UK and Europe, and Xbox will continue to support new IP and originality in the games we offer on our platforms, whether they’re AAA blockbusters like Quantum Break from Remedy, adventurous new IPs like Sea of Thieves from Rare, or unique new creations from independent developers like Moon Studios with Ori.

they are making clear that they are not "next".

 

[ironcreed]

Time for a new quest indeed. I am still excited for what is on the horizon with Quantum Break, Recore, Gears 4, Forza Horizon 2, Crackdown and Scalebound. But Microsoft really need some aces up their sleeve. I mean something big to get people excited again.

 

[Quazar]

True. Good points. If so...you would think that with "that much time" they would start removing Fable Legends stuff from their sites. I guess it doesn't really matter though. It is very telling though that Fable as I recall was supposed to be a Spring game and it wasn't at the showcase. I didn't even think about that. So yea, I agree with you. They knew.

Oh wow that's pretty damning. Didn't know FL wasn't showcased.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Why are people trying to spin this as a "Mattrick game" when Phil Spencers job has involved directly overseeing Lionhead since 2008?

Gotta find someone to scape goat... It's silly really

As I said here, lol...

No no no, Phil is a savior, Mattrick is to get all the blame for the next 10 years. Stop messing with the mental gymnastics.

 

[kinoki]

To be honest I'm surprised they've hung in there as long as they have.

If I was working at Rare I'd be looking for new employment. They probably are. Thus this becomes more a self-fulfilling prophecy than anything else.

 

[CrispyBoar]

Wow, that's huge news.

I can only hope that the ones from that studio (or those studios) were to easily find new work elsewhere.

 

[Quazar]

Is Phil Harrison still with MS?

 

[Memorabilia]

Not too surprised at Fable Legends being canned. However Lionhead closing, that's surprising.

+1

The game had flop written all over it. I wonder if MS basically couldn't figure out how to monetize it effectively.

The studio closing is sad. I would've much preferred they go back to the drawing board. Fable deserves a proper sequel on current gen. Legends just seemed like a misuse of the franchise.

 

[harSon]

This is pretty shocking. Lionhead seemed to be one of MS' prestige studios, but their output of late definitely caused their stock to drop. It seems being in the business of owning huge studios isn't always worth the money. The $ is in the IPs, MS could just have anyone make a new Fable game if they wanted, be it outsourced or a smaller studio they own. I wouldn't be at all surprised if we are having this same discussion with regards to Rare in the next few years.

Yeah, like I said - I'm both surprised and not surprised. Fable 2 wasn't awful, but it was definitely a step in the wrong direction that Lionhead never recovered from. They've been a legitimately awful studio since Fable 3, and any other studio lacking the history and prestige of Bull Frog / Lionhead would have been shut down after the stretch they've had for the last 5-7 years. Their output simply wasn't deserving of a 100+ person studio, and if it weren't for the fact that they were under a platform holder's protection - the market would have fallen out from beneath them a while ago.

As a fan of the studio, it's sad to see.... but it's the truth. Really sucks

 

[JimiNutz]

I really liked the Max games

 

[Dlacy13g]

"are in discussions with employees about the proposed closure of Lionhead Studios in the UK" Sounds like maybe they are looking to see if they can find a way to downsize them enough to be impactful but still viable and/or....maybe MS is giving them option to go indie and go Bungie route maybe?