Back in December last year, we reported that Lionhead Studios were on track to release the brand new Fable Legends game this spring, but in the last couple of days Microsoft has announced that they are cancelling the release of the game and also completely shutting down the studio responsible for all the previous instalments. Fable Legendswas promised to be completely different from any of the previous titles, being a free to play game and very focused on multiplier modes, also the game was one of the first announced to feature the new Xbox and Windows 10 multiplayer capabilities along with cross buy and game saves across both platforms.

Despite this news, Microsoft Studios Europe General Manager Hanno Lemke said in the blog:

“I speak for all of Xbox when I say that despite this news, we remain committed to the development communities in the UK and Europe, and Xbox will continue to support new IP and originality in the games we offer on our platforms.”

Microsoft’s decision to close Lionhead Studios is odd, but the copay has produced the Fableseries of course along with Black & White but back in 1997 the small game studio based in the UK was founded by Peter Molyneux, a famous game designer. Later in 2006 Microsoft acquired the company and then shortly after in 2012, Peter left the company.