Fable II to get episodic release on Live

By Oli Welsh Published 19 August, 2009

First chapter free, all out next month.

Fable II is to be released as episodic downloads on Xbox Live, Peter Molyneux revealed at his press conference this morning.

The five instalments of Fable II: Game Episodes - covering the entirety of the original disc release of Fable II - will appear on September 29th, and episode one will be free to download.

When you get to the end of one episode, you can decide whether to buy the next one, or commit to buying the whole game online (although the latter option will only be available in some regions). You'll also be able to buy the regular game on disc and continue your save from where you left off, if you prefer.

All the Achievements are in there, as well as the co-op play, and the Game Episodes version of Fable II will be fully compatible with the existing DLC releases Knothole Island and See the Future.

It's an interesting new twist on the just-launched Games on Demand service, and Microsoft couldn't be trying it with a better game - not according to our 10/10 review, anyway.

Molyneux also revealed that a sequel is in production and due out next year. Read our exclusive Fable III preview for more.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (19) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • LiveForever #1 3 years ago

    "The five instalments of Fable II: Game Episodes - covering the entirety of the original disc release of Fable III - will appear on September 29th, and episode one will be free to download. "

    Early for Fable 3? Mistake me thinks

    Fixed *
    Edited by 1 at 19/08/09 @ 10:26

  • Eraysor #2 3 years ago

    Great idea, I just hope Fable 3 won't be purely episodic. How long have we been waiting for HL2: Episode 3 now?

  • DFawkes #3 3 years ago

    That's nice, I always wanted to try Fable II, so I can use this as a demo, then buy it a bit each week. I'm loving this concept, though pricing could be an issue. Except the free bit :)
    Edited by 1 at 19/08/09 @ 10:40

  • dr_zoidthrob #4 3 years ago

    Any idea how much the episodes are going to cost? Or has that not been mentioned yet? Although it'll probably work out cheaper to buy a 2nd hand copy

  • CreepinJesus #5 3 years ago

    @dr_zoidthrob: It'll probably work out cheaper to buy a brand new copy!

  • Darren #6 3 years ago

    The episodic format and the fact that the first one will be given away free effectively means that Fable II gets a demo at long last. That's great for anyone who hasn't played the game yet but knowing Microsoft buying the full game this way will probably work out more expensive than buying it the boxed version locally or online.

  • cyacomini #7 3 years ago

    Is this just Fable 2 broken up into sections?

    I thought it was new content like Knothole, See the Future etc. No more new Fable 2 DLC then?

  • Metalfish #8 3 years ago

    I applaud the expansion of choice in the gaming market. Much as I shake my fist at those who shun retail or downloads without good reason. Choice!

  • Tomo #9 3 years ago

    Isn't Fable II cheap as chips now though?

  • Freek #10 3 years ago

    You can continue your save with a disc version, so it's still a good idea.
    Try chapter one for free, get the rest on disc for cheap.

  • chubster2010 #11 3 years ago

    This seems a tad pointless to me - especially bearing in mind you can probably get the full Fable II on disc for about £15.

    If it was a new game...fair enough...but just chopping up an ageing title smacks of money-grabbing to me. Heck...couldn't they even stick the whole game on Live?

    re 'Try chapter one for free, get the rest on disc for cheap.'

    Why not just release a demo?
    Edited by 1 at 19/08/09 @ 11:21

  • monkeywithnoeyes #12 3 years ago

    you know what would really help MS in their push with digital medium? Having a HDD as standard on the 360... not kill off the cheapest SPU entery with a HDD, and rise the price of the Core without one.

    Elite will probably come down to £200... but you can get a ps3 now for £50 extra.. and i'm no genuis but if somebody offered me a wireless adapter, a blue ray player, and free online gaming (i dont care about lives better service..just give me the actual online gaming part) for £50 i'd think it was of unbeatable value.

    MS need to sort their act out. They need to keep the core/arcade at £99, and they need to get that Elite at £150...because theres no way the Elite will compete in sales with the ps3 only £50 more

  • adamskidunc #13 3 years ago

    Agree with your thoughts monkeywithnoeyes (can't believe i just wrote that). I would say futher to add a years xbox live with the sku purchase. Also to open up the hdd updgrade, i don't want to spend £90RRP on a 120GB drive when for that money i could get a 500GB drive off novatech (its 2.5" right?) All they have to do is release a quick release bay you can snap a drive into. I am sure that would make alot of customers happy especially with DVD installs and games on demand not to mention downloadable movies.

  • Sunyavadin #14 3 years ago

    dr_zoidthrob: Any idea how much the episodes are going to cost? Or has that not been mentioned yet? Although it'll probably work out cheaper to buy a 2nd hand copy

    @dr_zoidthrob: It'll probably work out cheaper to buy a brand new copy!

    THIS.

  • schnide #15 3 years ago

    I can only see four Fable-related stories on the front page at the moment. Can you remove everything else or at least relate them to Fable? Thanks!

    ;)

  • miiiguel #16 3 years ago

    Come back yesterday and write the same thing, just replace Fable for Slim.

  • Shadders #17 3 years ago

    Oh.

    Reading the conference transcript I thought this was 5 new episodes, I was all aflutter. How disappointing.

    Good news for those that haven't played the game though, as it's absolutely AWESOME!

  • Bravestinsane #18 3 years ago

    I with more games done this, that way when i play something that's so god damn awful i can just not buy the next episode.

  • jjolley #19 3 years ago

    The concept here is super. Being able to decide whether or not a game is of interest in this way is good for some folks. Obviously, until it all goes downloads, it's probably easier enough to rent Fable but i'm sure this approach of episodic downloads will take in the future.