I could not believe this myself when I looked on Twitter/Xbox News portal just now. The news that Fable Legends is being canned and Microsoft are proposing to close the studio 'Lionhead' is all a bit shocking! On top of this Press Play Studios in Denmark, the team behind Max: The Curse of Brotherhood has definitely been closed!
It’s also ironic that I have only just got around to downloading the Fable Legends BETA on the Xbox One platform today! I was 53% through the download, so it looks like I had best cancel it!
Either way I feel for all those who spent hours-upon-hours developing Fable Legends and of course the fans who were testing it!
Here is the official statement on the matter via the Xbox Wire News portal...
Hanno Lemke, General Manager, Microsoft Studios Europe
“Today, I have some difficult changes to announce that affect some of our Microsoft Studios teams and projects in the UK and Denmark.
After much consideration we have decided to cease development on Fable Legends, and are in discussions with employees about the proposed closure of Lionhead Studios in the UK. Additionally, we will close Press Play Studios in Denmark, and sunset development on Project Knoxville.
These have been tough decisions and we have not made them lightly, nor are they a reflection on these development teams – we are incredibly fortunate to have the talent, creativity and commitment of the people at these studios.
The Lionhead Studios team has delighted millions of fans with the Fable series over the past decade. Press Play imbued the industry with a unique creative spirit behind games like Max: The Curse of Brotherhood and Kalimba, which both captured passionate fans. 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 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.
We have nothing but heart-felt thanks for the members of Lionhead and Press Play for their contributions to Xbox and gaming. We are committed to working closely with those affected by today’s news to find them new opportunities at Xbox, or partnering with the broader development community to help place them in jobs elsewhere in the games industry should they desire.”