Lionhead, Peter Molyneux’s former company is know for its mostly single player, offline games. That’s changing, and it’s becoming a “games as a service” company.
In an interview with Edge, Lionhead’s new boss and Microsoft European publishing head John Needham said he’ll take the expertise he’s garnered at companies like Cryptic Studios and Gazillion Entertainment and transform Lionhead as a company.
“I think the real magic in the industry now is taking great traditional gameplay and IP, and this new connected world, and mashing them together,” he said. “I am the person pivoting Lionhead into a games-as-service studio. Legends is quite different from previous Fable games.”
“My plan is that Legends is essentially a platform for almost everything Fable going forward. It’s a long-range plan, of five to 10 years, where we’re going to build and keep building onto Fable Legends. That’s the nature of games as a service — you keep adding systems and features and content,” he said.
I’m not sure what that means, really – but it sounds like a lot of what’s happening in the industry at the moment; instead of games being sold as products, they’re services – which means microtransactions and DLC. that could be just the sort of thing to turn Fable fans right off of the studio’s latest game, Fable Legends. Needham insists that it’ll be true to Fable’s core.
“The trick with Legends, and the question we’re constantly asking, is: ‘Is it Fable?’ Even with the connected aspects,” he said.
“That’s why Fable Anniversary’s launch in February was perfect, because it grounds us – we want to make sure we’re maintaining what makes Fable great. Now we’re looking at all these great online features we’re building into Legends. We’re bringing both of them together, taking what’s great about Anniversary and [Fable] 2 and 3 and bolting on features that make it a great connected experience.”
Fable Legends is coming to the Xbox One, though we have no idea when this might actually be. We also don;t know if it’ll be a boxed, retail product, or some sort of free-to-play exercise.
Last Updated: February 12, 2014
VampyreSquirrel
February 12, 2014 at 14:36
Sounds like they’re killing Fable completely. Reading up on Legends; it sounds like a glorified multiplayer RPG (I’m looking at you Diablo 3), which is going to be riddled with Micro-Transactions and DLC after DLC.
I’ll pass, thanks anyway.
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 12, 2014 at 14:37
Don’t forget the best part of games as a service. You don’t fucking own it, you just get to pay full price for it & they get to tell you how long they’ll feel like letting you play it.
Fuck this day. I’m out.
SheHulkNigri
February 12, 2014 at 14:47
I’m with you. Xbox and PS3 for sale. Cheap!
Hammersteyn
February 12, 2014 at 14:55
Liike TESO?
Macethy
February 12, 2014 at 14:39
Sooooo it’s an MMO with DLC then?
VampyreSquirrel
February 12, 2014 at 14:41
It’s Diablo 3 in the Fable Universe.
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
February 12, 2014 at 14:42
So pay-to-progress then?
Skoobaz
February 12, 2014 at 14:47
puke
Umar Reborn
February 12, 2014 at 14:48
Ashley!!
Skoobaz
February 12, 2014 at 14:48
Yes, I have no soul
Umar Reborn
February 12, 2014 at 14:49
No, you didn’t kill your wife and child
Skoobaz
February 12, 2014 at 14:59
I used to like picnics
TiMsTeR1033
February 12, 2014 at 15:01
Till the ant monster came.
Umar Reborn
February 12, 2014 at 15:19
I know man, your kid was so happy…Being a Risk Breaker is tough
VampyreSquirrel
February 12, 2014 at 14:50
Not the normal response after someone pukes…
Hammersteyn
February 12, 2014 at 14:55
extra chunky
Umar Reborn
February 12, 2014 at 14:47
And so, the end begins
TiMsTeR1033
February 12, 2014 at 14:52
Now Lionhead too, fuck EA and fuck Peter Molyneux so sick of this microfucktations every bloody turn you make and “Please make $5 payment to continue the game” or “to kick a chicken $10, or $25 for a season pass” Screw these people why not have a pay for it bloody all and you’re done option.
Jaded_Reprobate
February 12, 2014 at 14:59
uhm????
TiMsTeR1033
February 12, 2014 at 15:01
yes?
Skoobaz
February 12, 2014 at 15:01
That’s why the townsfolk kept turning on me in Skyrim, I didn’t pay $10!!
Hammersteyn
February 12, 2014 at 15:01
So it wasn’t about killing their chickens?
TiMsTeR1033
February 12, 2014 at 15:02
yes but thats because you robbed someone and killed three women that were busy trying to walk in the forest.
Hammersteyn
February 12, 2014 at 14:56
That’s good, everyone ride the F2P DLC wagon. The bubble will burst one day.
TiMsTeR1033
February 12, 2014 at 14:56
at this rate they killing the industry.
SheHulkNigri
February 12, 2014 at 15:18
Meh… I am tempted to say that it’s only Fable. If Fable goes down the toilet, I won’t cry my eyes out. The danger comes in, as you say, that everyone is trying to get in on the ‘action’ One of these days, we are going to be charged per clip for our ammo in game. If studios don’t hear ka’ching-ka’ching-ka’ching, players will only hear click-click-click
Kensei Seraph Moe Ninja
February 12, 2014 at 15:20
Hopefully it doesn’t take the industry with it.
Hammersteyn
February 12, 2014 at 15:42
All the big rotten apples should die off. Indie market will be fine.
Rags
February 12, 2014 at 15:33
If the content is solid why not? I’d buy all my Mass Effect dlc over again and it would be awesome if they continued just to expand the universe even now. Star Citizen is going the same way, continually adding content after release. If you love the universe/ip it can be awesome.
JJNutter
February 12, 2014 at 16:18
Who misses the good ol days when you bought a game, which came in a big ass box, with a thick ass manual, maybe a poster, no micro transASStion, no DLC, just the pure bliss of playing a kick ass fun game.
Brady miaau
February 12, 2014 at 16:24
me?
Xwing. Civ 1. Master of Orion 1
Galbedir
February 12, 2014 at 16:26
I do! I miss those days, I still have my original Diablo 2 box, from release day. I got home, started the install while i read through the manual with all the class lore and monsters ect. I Miss it! Only game which has done the same since then has been Witcher 2. Amazing Box, awesome manual, and extra goodies. Im praying Witcher 3 is the same.