14 DAY TRIAL // Video game publisher Microsoft is announcing that it is canceling, effective immediately, the development process for Fable Legends and that it is currently in discussions with the employees of the Lionhead in the United Kingdom about closing their studio.
It's unclear when a final decision will be made, but the company is also announcing that Project Knoxville is no longer in development at Press Play and that the studio in Denmark is also being closed down.
The official Xbox Wire announcement explains that the decisions have not been made lightly and do not reflect the quality of the video games the two teams were working on, but the fact that Microsoft Studios wants to focus its resources on those franchises that players find the most interesting.
The company adds, "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."
Apparently, employees of both Lionhead and Press Play will get chances to work elsewhere in the Xbox One gaming-focused ecosystem and other studios working on the platform are not affected.
Fable Legends was supposed to add a new set of ideas to the Microsoft home console
The Lionhead titles aimed to deliver a cooperatively driven action and role-playing experience that allowed four players to take on the role of heroes and try to thwart the evil plans of a fifth evil mastermind who was supposed to manipulate the world with his powers.
The development team explains that it wanted to explore the myths of the game universe they had created and that everything the title has to offer could be experienced in single player, with the AI able to take over the roles of other players.
The game was announced in 2013 and was supposed to use Unreal Engine 4 to create a bright and colorful world that would be welcoming to both newcomers and long-term fans.
Given that Lionhead Studios is being closed and that Legends will never be launched, it's unclear how interested Microsoft is in using the Fable franchise in the future.
Press Play was working on Project Knoxville, which was chosen by its fans as the most interesting idea that the studio could bring to the market.