Doc Watson from GamersFTW writes: "It is part of the everyday comings and goings of the video game industry that development companies open and close. But when a company as well known as Lionhead Studios - famous for Black And White and the Fable series - goes under, it seems that no one is safe. But what is it that makes developers like this go under? Are they just making bad games? Or is there something else underneath the surface that we should be more concerned with?"
An independent UK developer says it’s been forced to announce and postpone its game on the same day, and lay off more than half of its staff, due to the sharp downturn in investment in the games industry.
10 Years Ago This Month: Microsoft announces Ensemble's closing time months before it wraps development on Halo Wars.
After Microsoft disbanded Lionhead studios, many of the developers moved onto new projects - Deadbeat Heroes was one of them.
Classic example of a studio having their time in the sun, before slipping in to closure, nothing new here, really. Just look at the history of Black Isle Studios...
I'd imagine that the lack of creative freedom such as being forced to make a "family friendly" game (Fable Heroes) and an on-rails Kinect game (Fable: The Journey), leads to some of the talent leaving the studio. And once the talent leaves, things start going into a vicious cycle.
I do hope we get to see another Fable game though as for me this gen is made for open world games. I also think the xbox brand needs a fable type game.
I also wonder what will happen to all the Lionhead IP's as I would love to see so of them come back like Black & White. With the xbox one getting KB and Mouse support could work realy well with that plus windows 10 cross support to.
I do think Fable lost its way a bit along the way but a new mid looking over the game could be a good.
Ide love to see it given to Rare think they could do wonders with it.
I hope the employers of the studios that have been closed find a job soon.