It's the end of an era: Video game visionary and all around awesome guy Peter Molyneux announced today that he is leaving his role as the head of development house Lionhead Studio, and also walking away from his role as creative director of Microsoft Studios Europe.
“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,” Molyneux said in a statement.
“I remain extremely passionate and proud of the people, products and experiences that we created from Black & White to Fable to our pioneering work with Milo and Kate for the Kinect platform. However, I felt the time was right to pursue a new independent venture. I’d like to thank the team at Lionhead, as well as our partners at Microsoft Studios for their support, dedication and incredible work over the years.”
Molyneux is leaving to form a company with Lionhead’s former chief technical officer Tim Rance. Be on the lookout for 22 Cans. We don't know what Molyneux will be up to at his new company, but we'll keep you appraised as it develops.
Molyneux has been making games since the mid 1980s, creating seminal titles like Populous, Syndicate, Fable, Black & White. We have previews of Lionhead's most recent two games. Check out our Fable The Journey preview, and ourFable: Heroes preview.
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gamerassassin
I wish the man luck and can only hope all bad fable projects, fable: the journey, Fable:heros, die with him, as i keep saying and keep getting hated on :- ( that fable 1 is the only good fable game. 2 was ok and 3 was just bad, but i still wish him luck.
Bloodthr0e
The dude just couldn't get Fable right so he raged quit.
UnJakeable
Thats ok never really liked fable to much
Socrates'sMind
Interesting to see him go. Wonder what he has up his sleeves.
Tmidiman
Well this could be a good thing.
Let's see what Fable 4 is like with him gone.
No, never mind. MS is now focused only on motion games.
hadlee73
This is very much a case of history repeating. Peter co-founds Bullfrog software - makes a few hit titles - Bullfrog is aquired by EA - Peter becomes EA Vice president - Peter leaves EA and Bullfrog - Peter founds Lionhead - makes a few hit titles - Lionhead is aquired by Microsoft - Peter becomes Creative Director of Microsoft Game Studios - Peter leaves Microsoft and Lionhead - Peter founds 22 Cans...
Evllink
This is a sad day. Good luck Peter! Hope the new company does well.
MasterOfWeed
This is the guy who though it was the coolest thing ever that his in game characters could "hold hands" only Fable 1 was good Fable 2 would have been just as good but it was way to short and Fable 3 was just awful.
Blue_Vortex
I'm happy he has a new company, that forces him to focus on new creative ideas. Here's hoping he makes another god centered rts
Renegade60
He killed the Fable franchise so I'm not sad to see him go
CujoSWAoA
Fable 3 was sheet.
\
So either he's not got what it takes or the people that were working for him couldn't cut it.
crocodilius
i'm sure one of the fable games was good, never played them...
but come on, a facebook and railshooter games..
this guy has probably been embarassed by microsoft or maybe
just out of ideas.
Setta
Wow! Peter Molyneux leaving Lionhead! This is a huge deal for Microsoft. But I think after Fable 3, it was kinda over. You had 3 actual good games and then he was probably forced to work on the sellout Kinnect game Fable" The Journey and that kiddy XBLA game Fable: Heroes was probably just the last straw. Microsoft ruined his franchise.
Dirtyj78
all the talent at Lionhead had already left, I think Peter had seen this coming for awhile now. Once you partner with Microsoft your are doomed, selling out will only get you so far.
DaddyMatt
:< but what about Black @ White 3
TranceMuse5
Utter proof that the Kinect is an insult to gamers everywhere.
VicVega55
I understand why. He poured his heart and soul into Fable for 10 years and the result was making the same crappy game 3 times. Adding insult to injury, Big Huge Games realizes his vision in their first shot with Kingdom's of Amalur and you aren't even forced to play patty cake and fart on people of a minimum of 20 hours to enjoy the experience. Seriously, this guy must be a BLAST to hang out with, because based on his work I do not understand the infatuation.
WhiteWolfAssassin
I wish Peter Molyneux luck in his future endeavors and hope to see more games from him. To be honest, I think that the Fable franchise has stagnated a bit since Fable 3 and needs a new direction. So maybe it's for best that Peter Molyneux has left, so someone new can lead the the Fable franchise forward.
jjfan1
Its telling that he's leaving to form a new company. Wish him the best with this new venture.
bolo73
Sad to see him leave, I wonder what he is planning on creating. Maybe make a Dungon keeper Game (Keeping fingers crossed).
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