Microsoft Ceases Fable Legends Development, Closes Two Studios: Other studios closed too?

[DD_Bwest]

While MS seems to be shutting things down,  Sony looks to make a talent grab.

[Aura7541]

While MS seems to be shutting things down,  Sony looks to make a talent grab.

The new recruits could may in handy for Horizon development considering their experience with WRPGs.

[darkknightkryta]

The new recruits could may in handy for Horizon development considering their experience with WRPGs.

Can't remember who said this, but the Lionhead that made Fable isn't the Lionhead making Fable Legends.  The wisdom in those words were that people go in and out of the studio.  The people who made the amazing (overrated I feel) Fable 1,2,3 probably aren't around anymore :/.

[the-pi-guy]

Microsoft readded Lionhead to their studios list.  
Microsoft Studios – Working with developers, users and fans to build the next generation of entertainment experiences.

[Legend]

Microsoft readded Lionhead to their studios list.  
Microsoft Studios – Working with developers, users and fans to build the next generation of entertainment experiences.

What is happening!?!?

[darkknightkryta]

What is happening!?!?

Maybe people are figuring out that Microsoft is exiting the dedicated hardware business and they're trying to hide it to maximize Xbox One sales.

[Aura7541]

What is happening!?!?

I think Microsoft is keeping Lionhead in the list until Fable Legends beta is officially over.

[the-pi-guy]

I think Microsoft is keeping Lionhead in the list until Fable Legends beta is officially over.

Well, they didn't just keep it on.  They removed it, to just now putting it back on.  
It's a little strange to back out of it.  

[Legend]

I think Microsoft is keeping Lionhead in the list until Fable Legends beta is officially over.

That could be it.

[Raven]

Likely a formality. Lionhead isn't legally closed, yet. They have a little less than a month before they can close the studio completely by UK law.

[Horizon]

I found this article interesting:

OPINION: Dear Xbox, I think you're making a mistake with Lionhead | Games industry news | MCV

Microsoft's management, especially Phil Harrison's management sounded truly idiotic and they had such a myopic view on the market. How could they think everyone wanted always online games with microtransactions, it just does not jive me with me. It seems like Phil Spencer actually has his head on but it surrounded by utter buffoons. The startling contrast in approach to not only game development but the choice of games between SCEE and Microsoft Game Studios Europe is evident. The fact they wanted all of Microsoft's studios except Remedy to work on non traditional games is something I cannot comprehend. There attitude stunk of European devs are inferior to American devs so they can work on non-traditional concept games. It's baffling as Europe and the UK is full of talented developers and people who are just as good as American devs. Rockstar North need I say more. I feel sorry for Phil Spencer, he is trying to turn Xbox around but it just seems like he is too late.

[BananaKing]

I found this article interesting:

OPINION: Dear Xbox, I think you're making a mistake with Lionhead | Games industry news | MCV

Microsoft's management, especially Phil Harrison's management sounded truly idiotic and they had such a myopic view on the market. How could they think everyone wanted always online games with microtransactions, it just does not jive me with me. It seems like Phil Spencer actually has his head on but it surrounded by utter buffoons. The startling contrast in approach to not only game development but the choice of games between SCEE and Microsoft Game Studios Europe is evident. The fact they wanted all of Microsoft's studios except Remedy to work on non traditional games is something I cannot comprehend. There attitude stunk of European devs are inferior to American devs so they can work on non-traditional concept games. It's baffling as Europe and the UK is full of talented developers and people who are just as good as American devs. Rockstar North need I say more. I feel sorry for Phil Spencer, he is trying to turn Xbox around but it just seems like he is too late.

ehhh, Phil Spencer was the head of first party way back in the 360 days, and their output has been going down for a long while. he was one of the main characters behind the original xb1 reveal as well, lets not act that he wasnt a huge part of xbox back then. he has as much to do with lionheads failings, even more so, than harison.

phil spencers words of focusing on 1st party is full of shame. he is all talk.

[Raven]

ehhh, Phil Spencer was the head of first party way back in the 360 days, and their output has been going down for a long while. he was one of the main characters behind the original xb1 reveal as well, lets not act that he wasnt a huge part of xbox back then. he has as much to do with lionheads failings, even more so, than harison.

phil spencers words of focusing on 1st party is full of shame. he is all talk.

Yeah. The rallying around Spencer when he became the new head of the division was so hollow. It wasn't because of any of his accomplishments. He was latched onto because it was a different face at a time when that particular fanbase was soiling its collective pants over what the guys who came before him had created. No matter how many great ideas he supposedly had, few of them came to fruition and more studios have shut down or been consolidated under his watch than anyone else we're publicly aware of.

People who swallowed his words as the truth about Microsoft's dedication to first party should be vomiting profusely right now. Eight studios disappeared over the years and one of them was one of their biggest. Most of these studios were gone long before news broke. The complete lack of transparency on the status of those studios allowed Spencer to battleship people freely into believing Microsoft had this huge stable of developers ready to kick some dog. Now, he's once again doing what he does every year before the conventions. Talking about the new games they will announce. Which no one should take seriously after how the last two years of conventions have gone. Especially last year.

You don't close down that many studios, including one of your biggest, and claim you're still dedicated to first party unless you really just want to see how many times you can make idiots out of your own fans.

[Horizon]

ehhh, Phil Spencer was the head of first party way back in the 360 days, and their output has been going down for a long while. he was one of the main characters behind the original xb1 reveal as well, lets not act that he wasnt a huge part of xbox back then. he has as much to do with lionheads failings, even more so, than harison.

phil spencers words of focusing on 1st party is full of shame. he is all talk.

Whilst I do agree the projects he has green lighted have been traditional games and no online focused crud like Fable Legends. We also must remember Phil and MS consider stuff like Scalebound,Recore and Quantum Break 1st party.I do not think he is the saviour he is made up to be but I do think he is a dang sight better than previous people at MS. I am also puzzled at Phil Harrison as he greenlit games like Little Big Planet and Motorstorm.

[darkknightkryta]

Whilst I do agree the projects he has green lighted have been traditional games and no online focused crud like Fable Legends. We also must remember Phil and MS consider stuff like Scalebound,Recore and Quantum Break 1st party.I do not think he is the saviour he is made up to be but I do think he is a dang sight better than previous people at MS. I am also puzzled at Phil Harrison as he greenlit games like Little Big Planet and Motorstorm.

Let's not forget that Phil quit Sony because he was frustrated with the higher ups ignoring his idea of casual gaming right before the Wii hit it big.