Microsoft certainly goes all out when it creates an HD port of one of its classic Xbox titles. It turned Halo: Combat Evolved into an almost entirely new game with its HD port, and it looks to be doing the same with Fable Anniversary this year.
In a new trailer released this week, Microsoft gives us a look at the upgraded visuals and gameplay that players will find in Fable Anniversary. While Fable Anniversary contains all the same content found in the original Fable and its Lost Chapters expansion, it improves the experience with better audio, visuals, achievements and gameplay enhancements.
Fable Anniversary is only the first game to be released in 2014 to celebrate Fable’s 10 year anniversary. The team at Lionhead Studios is also hard at work on Fable Legends – a 4 player co-op RPG being developed for the Xbox One.
At the start of the Xbox 360’s life, Microsoft owned a variety of studios that developed a wide range of content for the console. As the last console generation moved on, however, the number of studios Microsoft owned sharply dropped. Now the company is down to just a few with Lionhead Studios being the only studio Microsoft owns that’s more than a decade old.
So, what gives Lionhead that special spark that keeps Microsoft so interested in the developer? You could argue that founder Peter Molyneux kept everything together as he helped to develop Fable into a multi-million unit selling franchise, but he’s no longer with the developer. Even with him gone, the studio continues to work on evolving Fable into the must own RPG franchise on the Xbox One.
In a new behind the scenes video, we’re given a rare glimpse into what goes on at Lionhead as it works on two projects – Fable Legends and Fable Anniversary. The first is a co-op RPG being developed for the Xbox One while the latter is a remake of the first Fable for Xbox 360.
Some may feel that Fable has lost its way after the disappointing Fable III and the numerous spin offs that added nothing to the franchise. With these latest games, however, it looks like Lionhead is securing its spot as one of the few trusted developers that Microsoft can turn to when looking to deliver an RPG experience on its consoles.
Fable Anniversary will be out in North America on February 4. There’s no word yet on when Fable Legends will be released.
It’s that time of year. The time when publishers and studios begin sheepishly announcing that their original release date predictions for games were far too optimistic. Gamers can expect at least a few game delays for titles that are currently scheduled to be out by the end of the year, probably with new tentative February or March 2014 dates.
That’s exactly what has happened with the HD remake of Fable. Lionhead Studios today announced that Fable Anniversary has been delayed until February of next year.
Fable Anniversary was announced for the Xbox 360 back at this year’s E3. In addition to upgraded visuals, the remake is expected to have better controls and a better save system.
The specific reasons for the delay were not revealed, though Lead Designer Ted Timmins did say in his Lionhead blog post that the studio needs “a little more time in order to meet our ambitions and give you, the fans, the best game possible.” He also teased some new announcements about the title in the coming weeks. From the blog post:
It’s not easy making these decisions and I know that us asking you to wait a little longer whilst we get to play test the game every day is downright unfair, so over the next few weeks we’re going to be sharing with you more screenshots, more game footage and perhaps even some… top secret announcements!
Though it would seem to be a simple matter to upgrade Fable with new graphics, the remake probably isn’t a priority for Lionhead. The studio is currently working on the next-gen co-op-enabled Fable Legends for the Xbox One. Speaking of the Xbox One, porting Fable Anniversary to Microsoft’s next-gen console before release would also explain today’s delay announcement – though that’s pure speculation.
The Fable franchise has been kind of running joke in gaming ever since former Lionhead boss Peter Molyneux over promised what his ambitious Xbox RPG series could do. Despite Molyneux’s unrealistic ambitions, the original Fable is still one of the best RPGs on the system. Now it’s getting a second chance at a larger audience.
Microsoft announced today that Fable would be getting the HD treatment on the Xbox 360 later this year. There’s not a lot in the way of details just yet, but Lionhead confirmed on Major Nelson’s podcast that it would be getting a visual upgrade along with upgrades to its save system and control scheme.
Here’s the first teaser:
Fable HD is only the second HD remake to be published by Microsoft this generation after Sony popularized the trend with its numerous HD remakes of classic PS2 titles. Microsoft went above and beyond the call of duty with its Halo remake, however, so it will be interesting to see if Fable HD gets the same treatment.
We’ll probably see Fable HD at E3 in some capacity. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Lionhead announce a new project for the Xbox One as well.
Peter Molyneux, creator of Populous, Black and White, and Fable, has announced he will be leaving Microsoft for new ventures.
Kotaku reports that Molyneux announced his departure this morning. He will be with Lionhead Studios as a creative consultant for the currently in development Fable: The Journey for Kinect. In a statement to Kotaku, Molyneux said, “It is with mixed emotions that I made the decision to leave Microsoft and Lionhead Studios, the company that I co-founded in 1997, at the conclusion of development of Fable: The Journey.”
What will Molyneux be working on once he leaves his position as creative head of Microsoft Studios Europe? His Twitter feed reveals that he’ll be working for a new indie studio called 22 Cans.
I have left the lovely amazing Microsoft and lionhead. Now for something really amazing, scary and brave a new company called 22 Cans
Microsoft issued a statement to Kotaku as well regarding the departure of Molyneux:
“As co-founder of Lionhead and an integral part of Microsoft Studios, Peter was the creative visionary behind the blockbuster Fable franchise, and one of our most passionate and influential developers for the Xbox 360 platform. He has made an indelible mark on the games industry and we wish him all the best of luck in his future endeavors.”
Molyneux’s impact on the gaming industry can not be understated. While Fable may not have been as ambitious as he previously claimed, gamers were enraptured when he made those first bold claims about the future of interactive entertainment and storytelling. Outside of games, he was a master storyteller that could sell you on his games based solely on his voice and vocabulary.
Here’s the speech Molyneux gave at the 2011 BAFTA awards:
Fans and game industry peers took to Twitter to wish him well:
Sad to see Peter Molyneux leave lionhead, one of the first devs I saw give a presentation, so inspirational and passionate about his work
