Peter Molyneux regrets giving up on Fable 3 so easily: “I should have fought”

Fable 3, released in 2010, was the last major project from Lionhead and remains a polarizing entry in the series. Its creator, Peter Molyneux, has acknowledged that the chief cause of its issues was a lack of development time.

In an interview with Edge, he explained the original plan required three years, but Fable 3 was completed in just eighteen months.

“The concept was straightforward: ‘You were a hero — now become a king and experience the moral burden of power.’ But we were only given 18 months.”

Molyneux left Lionhead in 2012, a decision he now regrets. After his departure the publisher initially wanted to close the studio, but he persuaded management that it could still be profitable. As a result, Lionhead remained active until 2016.

“I should have fought for more time. If I had stayed, I would have said, ‘The game isn’t ready.’ That worried me for years. I shouldn’t have walked away. I ought to have stayed to help finish Fable 3.”

Molyneux also revealed the studio still had concepts for Fable 4 and another title called All Of Us after he left.

“It was utterly mad — a blend of world-building tools, RPG mechanics and what today might be called a battle royale. It was exciting, but the project needed a visionary lead.”

Peter Molyneux remains a figure both influential and controversial. He’s responsible for many well-known games but also for bold promises that often went unfulfilled. He has since admitted his mistakes. A new Fable, being developed by Playground Games and announced in 2020, is intended to carry on that legacy, but no release date has been set.

Source: iXBT.games