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Microsoft has confirmed it is shutting down the next Fable game, as well as considering closing the studio behind it.
Fable Legends, the free-to-play role-playing-game that was in development for Xbox and PC, has been officially cancelled, said the technology giant, adding that it was “in discussions with employees about the proposed closure” of UK-based Lionhead Studios.
Danish studio Press Play has already been confirmed as closing.
Hanno Lemke, Microsoft Studios Europe’s general manager said: “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.”
Lionhead Studios was founded by game design royalty Peter Molyneux in 1996, and created business sim The Movies alongside Fable before being bought out by Microsoft in 1996.
The Fable series has classically been extremely popular and the next instalment – Legends – had believed to be close to showing off an open beta. They have been reports in the wake of the announcement that early feedback may have been discouraging, the game still needing enough work for Microsoft to decide to pull the whole project.
In Fable 2 my huge hulking protagonist farted her way to love and a husband while kicking chickens. Brilliant game.
— Holly Nielsen (@nielsen_holly) March 7, 2016
Lionhead closure is very sad. Fable 2 was one of my favourite 360 experiences. Hope those affected find new jobs soon.
— Tom (@VGTomO) March 7, 2016
Yikes. Microsoft has decided to cease development on Fable Legends and is closing Lionhead Studios in the UK.
— Paul Thurrott (@thurrott) March 7, 2016
FABLE LEGENDS is no longer in development???????
WHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT— ZhugeEX (@ZhugeEX) March 7, 2016
The firm did offer reassurance that they were still committed to making games in Europe, though the end of Fable – for now at least – will leave a gaping hole for many. Time to dig out Fable II again.
