Fable Legends cancelled and proposals for closure of Lionhead

Microsoft is planning to shut the British video game studio behind the classic Fable series, and the final instalment of Fable Legends, had been in development at Lionhead Studios for more than two years and was to be released in the spring, and work will now cease immediately, along with Press Play studios in Denmark which created Max: The Curse of the Brotherhood and Kalimba will also be closed, These are tough decisions and we have not made them lightly, according Hanno Lemke, General Manager of Microsoft Studios Europe.

He also added “ We have nothing but heartfelt thanks for the members of Lionhead and Press Play for their contributions to Xbox and gaming. A lot talented people worked in these fantastic studios showing proper British sense of humour in its games . This is risk of development when you openly announce a game and raise expectations.”

“The Lionhead Studios team has delighted millions of fans with the Fable series over the past decade. Microsoft are in discussions with employees of Lionhead studios as the UK law requires to create a consultancy period of at least 30 days. This done to explore to avoid redundancies. ”

Lemke confirmed Denmark-based Press Play Studios work on project Knoxville has been suspended.

Lemke said “Microsoft was focusing on “the games and franchises that fans find most exciting and want to play. We remain committed to the development communities in the UK and Europe.”

The studio was founded in 1996 by English Video game designer and programmer, Peter Douglas Molyneux, (56), OBE and was bought by Microsoft in 2006. He won the BAFTA Fellowship award and created the god games Populous, Syndicate, GODUS, Dungeon Keeper and Black and White as well as Theme Park, the Fable series and Curiosity What’s Inside the Cube.