No Fable II for PC, says Lionhead

By Ellie Gibson Published 27 January, 2009

Rumours squashed on developer's forum.

A Lionhead employee has put paid to rumours that Fable II is in development for PC.

Writing on the Lionhead forums community manager Woody stated, "We're not working on a PC version of Fable II."

He added, "If this changes we'll make sure you know about it on our website(s)."

At least there's a glimmer of hope things could change, then. But yeah. In the meantime, Fable II is exclusively available for Xbox 360. It's well worth a look - check out the review if you don't believe us.

Picture of Ellie.

About Ellie Gibson

Since joining Eurogamer in the mid 2000s, Ellie has written about subjects as diverse as the fall of Gizmondo, the rise of Hollyoaks actresses in Red Alert games and the noise a bear makes under NSFW circumstances.

Read more articles from Ellie by visiting the Ellie Gibson archive page.

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Comments (54) Latest comment 3 years ago

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

  • MaxiSleep #1 3 years ago

    "We're not working on a PC version of Fable II."

    Ah but is the company subcontracted to do the work doing so?

    :)

  • the_dudefather #2 3 years ago

    A NEXT FABLE IS = ! = i

  • Darren #3 3 years ago

    Well I always say "Never say never"...

    ... but if Fable II doesn't happen then it would be a shame because a tear-free version with a better framerate and extra features would have been very, very nice...

  • DFawkes #4 3 years ago

    That's a shame, I prefer Fable 1 on PC. Still, if I really want to play Fable II I'll buy it for 360.

  • Vistrix #5 3 years ago

    Theres no viable reason for there not to be a more complete PC version released.

    It makes no sense not to do it, it was successful with Fable I...

  • miiiguel #6 3 years ago

    This is starting to be as boring as the "MGS on the 360" affair.

  • Xerx3s #7 3 years ago

    "Theres no viable reason for there not to be a more complete PC version released.

    It makes no sense not to do it, it was successful with Fable I... "

    Let's see, spend you starteam resources on porting a game to the pc where it will get questionable results or spend those resources on making a new IP for the 360 that is guaranteed to be a success...Yeah, that's a really tough choice.

  • miiiguel #8 3 years ago

    I'd say... cut that "more complete, ultimate yada, yada...", and... beg!

    lol.

  • menage #9 3 years ago

    @Xerxes

    +1

    I think MS wants to keep exclusives like that and Gears 2 to get more hardware pushed.

  • skillian #10 3 years ago

    I'm kinda disappointed by that - would have liked to play it - but to be honest I think I'd rather it didn't come out at all than to be a unstable or unreliable port like a few PC conversions have been recently.

    There's nothing wrong with being a console game, and there's no reason to just shove it out on PC unless you are going to do a proper job with it.

    Having said all that, I stil wouldn't be surprised to see a PC version eventually - maybe it'll be a better game for the wait.

  • ChaK #11 3 years ago

    noooo !

    I want it real bad, and don't wanna buy -again- a 360

  • Vistrix #12 3 years ago

    @Xerx3s What do you mean questionable results? Fable I sold very well on the PC.

    It doesnt take as much effort to port a 360 game (already using direct X architecture) to the PC as it does to create a whole new IP on the 360.
    Edited by 1 at 27/01/09 @ 09:54

  • michaelius #13 3 years ago

    Yeah right :)

    Same as there were no GTA IV PC version in work :D

    And a lot of other games before.

    Not like I care for "casual rpg with three buttons control" anyway :D

  • miiiguel #14 3 years ago

    It's funny to check the profiles (and previous statements) of those who comment this thread :}

  • chessboxer #15 3 years ago

    @ ChaK

    Welcome to the strategy of Microsoft Game Studios. They are forcing PC gamers to buy 360's to play their games. The way that MS is killing the PC gaming, I wouldn't be surprised if Windows 8 didn't contain DirectX.

  • ZuluHero #16 3 years ago

    "It's well worth a look - check out the review if you don't believe us. "

    depending on which one of the EG staff review it at the time...

    ;)


  • UncleLou #17 3 years ago

    Of all idiocy you see on the internet these days, the gloating of the intellectually more challenged console nerds at news like this is amongst the most stupid one. No wonder miiguel is on the forefront. \o/

    Good thing it's only Fable. Would have been interested, but I am not too fussed, as the first one was a bit pap.
    Edited by 1 at 27/01/09 @ 10:13

  • DFawkes #18 3 years ago

    Why do developers like to call "No PC version!" so early? Gear of War and GTAIV both did it, and both have PC versions now, so I'm not sure if that's reliable. I certainly believe it's not in development as I type, but it won't surprise me when I see it in the shops.

  • MaxiSleep #19 3 years ago

    @farticusmaximus
    27-Jan-09 09:07:20

    "Ah but is the company subcontracted to do the work doing so?"

    Yes, it's the same team that's porting MGS4 and Mario Galaxy to the Colecovision.

    I dont understand yourpoint - porting fable II to pc would hardly be challenging, and in the past this type of thing is outsourced

    The quote was carefully crafted PR bullshit. I am surprised you do not see through it.

  • Katsumoto #20 3 years ago

    "Good thing it's only Fable. Would have been interested, but I am not too fussed, as the first one was a bit pap. "

    +1

    Also, I thought everyone had Miiguel on ignore since about 2007? ;)

  • menage #21 3 years ago

    @jstar

    Usefull comment there.

    I still play it, 2 months down the road, 2 characters now, firing up nr 3. Love it to death, different tastes I guess. There are no games which everybody likes. Especially not anal people like us gamers.

  • Evolution #22 3 years ago

    Didn't they outsource the Fable PC dev to someone else? Or was it just a different internal team?

  • Xerx3s #23 3 years ago

    "@Xerx3s What do you mean questionable results? Fable I sold very well on the PC."

    It sold just over 1 million iirc. That's a nice figure but why waste time and resources on it when you can make 3 to 5 times that much? At the best you can hope for some port by a b-team outsider.

    "It doesnt take as much effort to port a 360 game (already using direct X architecture) to the PC as it does to create a whole new IP on the 360."

    Yes it has become a lot easier to port but even with the current tools you still need to rework tons of code, there is a big difference between developing for a locked down platform and developing for a platform that has unlimited hardware combinations. That's not even mentioning the art side that has to be completely upgraded, all the new testing, new bugs, etc. We are not talking a single button press thing here (even though the 'convert to windows game' button in the VS solution explorer might suggest that ;p).

    Just a small example, I've been working on a small pet project for XNA. Works like a charm on the 360 but when porting to the pc it just completely went tits up. Things you haven't even thought about rear their head. No shader 2.0 cards i.e. And the 360 supports models with textures in quantifications of 4 while 3 out of 4 pc's I tested only supported quantifications of 2 (meaning that you will have to redo the texturing on the models just for those old machines). etc. etc. etc.

    I can only imagine what kind of awesome bugs pop up when porting a game with years of coding in it.

  • Cylinder #24 3 years ago

    Bah! I was really looking forward to this, the original is one of my favourite games. : (

  • Rash' #25 3 years ago

    Well the 360 could do with some proper exclusives.

    /drools

  • muscleblade #26 3 years ago

    "but if Fable II doesn't happen then it would be a shame because a tear-free version with a better framerate and extra features would have been very, very nice... "

    Games like this arent always technically superior on a PC. See Saints Row 2 review.

  • Goodfella #27 3 years ago

    I guess this is one game PC owners will not be able to download off some porn ridden torrent site. My heart bleeds for them.

    That's right, pretend 360 games piracy doesn't exist.

  • FooAtari #28 3 years ago

    and of course all PC Gamers are thieving bastards...

    Although lets not get started on the piracy debate, again. Until digital distribution numbers are taken into account when discussing sales the impact piracy is having is mostly guess work.

    UncleLou
    "Of all idiocy you see on the internet these days, the gloating of the intellectually more challenged console nerds at news like this is amongst the most stupid one."

    +1 I never understand where the good news is in news like this.

  • Calgon #29 3 years ago


    Welcome to the strategy of Microsoft Game Studios. They are forcing PC gamers to buy 360's to play their games. The way that MS is killing the PC gaming,

    Is this a joke? Please tell me you were being sarcastic there. Forcing PC gamers to buy original 360 IPs on 360? Bwahahaha!

    Really then if there are more people with this idiotic notion then MS can NEVER do right by the haters because you have both sides of the coin smeared in that shit.

    side a) MS doesnt even have any exclusives for 360 so whats the point in buying one? Just wait for the PC port.

    side b) Teh evil MS are destroying PC gaming by not releasing their own AAA games from 360 on the PC.

    Im glad they are starting to see the importance of platform exclusives(and not just console exclusives), it really will shift more hardware in the long run as they pile them up(Gears2, Fable2, Banjo, the Forza's and PGR's and so on)... they will likely make much more money from the extra install base the platform exclusives will bring than the 1million units or so they will sell if they are lucky from the PC port which is sold at a lower price anyway(and often pirated all over the show).

    Really I never thought I'd see that kind of reaction to MS rightfully holding on to their 360 exclusives(their own IPs) for once.
    Edited by 3 at 27/01/09 @ 12:43

  • Cylinder #30 3 years ago

    @Calgon

    But surely for the consumer, exclusives are bad. Much better if every game is released on every platform. Or better yet, only one open platform exists which all games are made for.

  • StooMonster #31 3 years ago

    Welcome to the strategy of Microsoft Game Studios. They are forcing PC gamers to buy 360's to play their games. The way that MS is killing the PC gaming

    I am a hardcore PC gamer, with an embarrassingly overpowered rig; and always get multi-format games on PC (e.g. FarCry 2 @ 2560x1600 everything maxed out and 110+fps).

    But, I bought a Jasper 360 + 120GB hard-drive to play Halo 3, Fable 2, and GoW2 -- so I think you could be right. :-(
    Edited by 1 at 27/01/09 @ 14:32

  • clean515 #32 3 years ago

    This generic reply have been the standard for years before fable 2 was launched....Old news is old.

    Also that guy with the secon reply in that thread is so fucking cool
    Edited by 1 at 27/01/09 @ 14:49

  • mkreku #33 3 years ago

    This is exactly what Rockstar said.. six months before GTA4 came out on PC. They're paid to lie, of course it's coming out for PC. I'd estimate in the middle of summer.

  • menage #34 3 years ago

    @Crofto

    Isn't that coming to 360 and PS3 too?;P

  • sneetch #35 3 years ago

    @Crofto
    But then, do PC gamers really care?

    The Witcher > Fable II

    The Witcher is awesome, Fable II is awesome. Whichever one you prefer is purely personal, it's like saying apples > oranges. If you like apples more, I suppose they are.

    Incidentally, The Witcher is coming soon to a console near you! (Well, it is, depending on your definition of close and soon and providing said console is a 360 or PS3).

    [link url=http://become.thewitche r.com/
    ]http://become.thewitche r.com/
    [/link]

    @farticusmaximus
    @Cylinder

    One single platform would be ideal for consumers, however would not give hardware manufacturers much of a unique selling point to tempt customers with so there's virtually no chance of that happening.

    Yeah, even assuming that you could get them to agree on specifications can you imagine the fight over who gets to run the Xbox Live/PSN equivalent? On a single platform (call it the WiiBOXPC3) that's damn near a licence to print money.

    They'd end up having to free the whole thing up, a services company will host it making "modest" profits and every developer and publisher capable of uploading a file and negotiating a price would have a go. Good for everyone except the current console manufacturers. Naw, Nintendo, MS and Sony are happy as it is, getting a slice of everything sold on their systems. Losing out on the occasional exclusive is a small price to pay.

    Anyway, I'm gonna go brush off my Colecovision in preparation for MGS4 and Mario Galaxy.

  • sneetch #36 3 years ago

    @mkreku
    This is exactly what Rockstar said.. six months before GTA4 came out on PC. They're paid to lie, of course it's coming out for PC. I'd estimate in the middle of summer.

    Incidentally, "we're not working on a PC version of Fable II" is not the same as "we're not considering a PC version of Fable II" in the same way that "we're considering a PC version of Fable II" is not the same as "we're working on a PC version of Fable II".

    They are not currently working on a PC version, they may start at some stage in the future but they're not, at the moment, working on a PC version. This seems clear to me and I see no reason to call them liars over it. As for GTA4, maybe if Rockstar had spent more than six months porting to PC it'd have been a better version. :)

  • UncleLou #37 3 years ago

    Really I never thought I'd see that kind of reaction to MS rightfully holding on to their 360 exclusives(their own IPs) for once.

    Let's assume for a moment Microsoft would lose interest in consoles and tried to push PC gaming more. First step would be the release of sequels PC-exclusively where the original was also on the 360. Sounds great, no?

    Their strategy (and they openly said it's their strategy in the past) to basically make PCs look less attractive to shift more consoles is a very strange one, considering PC gamers already own a gaming platform Microsoft is responsible for. Now all that wouldn't be so bad if they had a clear direction, but they absolutely have none. Lies about exclusivity which turns out to be none, oiginals on the PC where the sequel is suddenly exclusive, on the other hand lip services like joining the PC Gaming Alliance, or the mess that is GfW.

    If you are able to look just a little bit beyond your own little world, you should be able to see why they don't have the best reputation. That you applaud them for this just because it happens to be in line with your current interests is as short-sighted as it is worrying.

    Do I believe I have any "right" to get a PC version of Fable 2? No, absolutely not. Doesn't mean I have to agree with their policy.

  • ronuds #38 3 years ago

    Just buy a 360 you cheap bastards! :D

    The "I don't need a 360 because all of its exclusives go to PC anyway" excuse is losing water by the day. Maybe MS heard you and is listening.

  • UncleLou #39 3 years ago

    Just buy a 360 you cheap bastards! :D

    Nothing to do with the price, I just don't want one. I don't like the whole philosophy and business model behind consoles.

  • #40 3 years ago

    i don't believe them.
    halo3, fable2 and gears of war2 will all be realised for pc. fable2 this year, halo3 and gears of war2 in 2010...
    Edited by 1 at 27/01/09 @ 15:52

  • UncleLou #41 3 years ago

    I know you're here to troll, but at least try to understand the context. Thanks.

  • ronuds #42 3 years ago

    "Nothing to do with the price, I just don't want one. I don't like the whole philosophy and business model behind consoles."

    Well, then you're going to miss out on some games - that's something you'll have to accept. Conversely, you'll get some games that console-only owners won't. Give and take, man.

    Don't know how you can disagree with the strategy, though I do see your point that it's not a very consistent one. Maybe in the future that'll change? All of the grumblings about not needing a 360 due to the exclusives going to PC may have set MS on a new course.

  • UncleLou #43 3 years ago

    "Well, then you're going to miss out on some games - that's something you'll have to accept."

    Why of course. I never said anything else.

    Don't know how you can disagree with the strategy

    I have no idea why I should agree with it. I can understand it as a business strategy - doesn't mean I need to agree with it. Not because I want them to go out of business, of course, but because I think there'd be alternatives which would be a lot more consumer-friendly than what they're doing right now. I think it's wiser in the long run to give costumers something they want than to try and sell them something they don't really want.

    And again (Fable 2 is a bit of a shitty example, admittedly, so this really is more of a general point) - it's their half-arsedness that's annoying. If they announced today that all gaming will be banned from Windows, I'd buy an Apple and be done with it. ;)

  • chessboxer #44 3 years ago

    Is every PC gamer a lost 360 gamer?

    This is part 2 of the interview. Here they also state that getting people to buy the 360 over the a PC is goal. Although they mention Germany, you can be sure that this is a worldwide strategy (backing up what Uncle-Lou said):

    http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/ microsoft-game-studios-europe-part-2

    @ Calgon

    Chill the fuck out dude.

    @ farticusmaximus

    I agree with your point about them not making much money from the PC world. They don't have many big name IP's to cash in on.

  • ronuds #45 3 years ago

    "I have no idea why I should agree with it. I can understand it as a business strategy - doesn't mean I need to agree with it."

    Bad choice of words on my part. I didn't mean "agree" so much as I did "understand," which you seem to have no problems with.

    "If they announced today that all gaming will be banned from Windows, I'd buy an Apple and be done with it."

    Maybe not all gaming, but all MS Published games. :p

  • UncleLou #46 3 years ago

    I agree with your point about them not making much money from the PC world

    Yeah - and if you look at Blizzard or Valve, they have to ask themselves what went wrong, especially considering the starting position they're in. And they should have (and obviously do have, hence Games for Windows, PC Gaming Alliance) etc. a meta-interest in PC gaming, because it supports their bigger interests.

    What I find rather amusing is that the some of the people who insist the most that it's a viable strategy are the ones that cry the loudest how Nintendo ruins gaming with their new-found love for the casual market. :)
    Edited by 1 at 27/01/09 @ 16:11

  • craziii #47 3 years ago

    am I one of the few that plays mmos and don't give a damn about these console exclusives?

  • chessboxer #48 3 years ago

    The only thing I play on my PC now is CS:S (over 3000 hrs and still enjoying it), UT2004 (over 800 installed custom maps and it's better than UT3) and recently Left 4 Dead.

    Microsoft Game Studios have nothing of interest to offer me as a PC gamer. Of the 2 "games" they are publishing for the PC, 1 will not be out in 2009 and the other "a simulator" has been cancelled.

    Steam is a much better platform than GFWL and Valve are better devs.

  • smoison #49 3 years ago

    AMEN To That, chessboxer

  • Shalafi #50 3 years ago

    @chessboxer
    Not to forget Blizzard

  • JayG #51 3 years ago

    I got a xbox, can't say I'm surprised at MS attitude, fast enough to close down ensemble when they couldn't adapt to console. Funny thing is pc is their bread and butter, yet didn't do too well for them last year. Done all they can to kill off pc gaming. Fable 2 is the usual Lionhead mccdonald's like experience, nice at the time, u ain't gonna remember it very long though.

  • -Hex- #52 3 years ago

    Fable 2 will come to the PC, quote me on that (never had the amount of conviction to do that before :p)

  • Calgon #53 3 years ago

    Unclelou I think saying MS are responsible for PC gaming is taking it a bit far, MGS were never worth mentioning much before the Xbox arrived(infact did they even exist?) so for PC gamers to pretend console gamers are stealing whats theirs is silly. The decline of PC gaming is nothing to do with MS(which is what the person I was responding to was getting at), would the MGS games help? Sure but they are rightfully 360 games... they probably wouldnt exist if there was no Xbox devision.

    What I said was right though you have to admit, which ever way they choose to go they will either turn off console buyers by giving away the exclusiveness or annoy PC gamers. I just didnt agree with idea that the strategy of releasing the big 360 games on the PC several months later has worked out in MS' or the 360s best interests(I say they could make far more money from 360 only exclusives in the long run, which means they can then spend more time and money on future 360 releases too).

    I for one think its a good move for the reasons stated as long as they stick to the strategy; if these games stay exclusive then 360 has become a more worthy purchase even for the PC gamers waiting for certain titles, buying a 360 would be a good decision under those circumstances.

    I think uncertainty is what might be bothering some though because obviously buying the console and then finding out those games were coming to your PC afterall wouldnt make you feel as good about the purchase... so yeah I agree MS has to make up their mind and stick to the plan.

    You being a PC gamer will obviously see this negatively but really though I doubt you upgraded only for MGS published titles, there are plenty of other devs/publishers that will keep your PC stocked for gaming, which is probably why MS has less emphasis there... its hard even for MS to compete with publishers and studios who have been at it long before MS cared much about gaming(like those examples you gave), they also only have so many resources for their gaming devision and it makes more sense to use most of that on the 360/Xbox platform.

    Console gamers will see this as a positive move though... perhaps its time you showed 360 some love? Jump in my friend, Jump in! ;)
    Edited by 10 at 28/01/09 @ 16:25

  • UncleLou #54 3 years ago

    Unclelou I think saying MS are responsible for PC gaming is taking it a bit far, MGS were never worth mentioning much before the Xbox arrived(infact did they even exist?) so for PC gamers to pretend console gamers are stealing whats theirs is silly.

    I never said console gamers are stealing anything, God beware. And I wasn't talking about the Microsoft Game Studios when I said MS have a responsibility for PC gaming - I was talking about Windows, DirectX, etc. Vista was also heavily marketed as a "platform" for gaming. I might be showing my age here, but the "console strategy" is a pretty recent one, and just because it might be in MS's best business interest, at least in the short term, doesn't mean I have to agree to every change.

    Like I said before - if MS changed that strategy - either going all casual, or leaving the console sector again - I doubt all 360 gamers would be too impressed. In fact, I remember lots of people complaining when the original Xbox was dropped like a hot potato by MS as soon as the 360 was out. Which is why it annoys me somewhat when people insist on MS's business interests as their sole argument, just because that happens to be in line with their own current interests. As a PC gamer, I can tell you that that can change very, very quickly. So can many long-term Nintendo fans of old.

    And again, it's the fickleness and uncertainty that annoys me most. Either do it properly, or don't do it all. But half-baked stuff like Games for Windows Live, pseudo-exclusivity that is lied about etc. just doesn't cut it. Neither do lip services like their commitment in one interview, only to be followed by stuff like this

    ""But in Germany for example, we want more gamers to buy our Xbox 360. If we launch a game that is on 360 and PC simultaneously, we basically shoot ourselves in the foot by allowing the German market to choose to play the PC version - because they are more likely to buy that than spend their money on the Xbox 360."

    Source

    While that is on the one hand refreshingly honest, I hope you can see how it's also somewhat irritating. They realise they'd have a big market in Germany and decide not to serve that market, but to push another product people don't really want instead of giving them the choice. After they sold me Vista, no less. Again, do I have any "right" to be treated better? No, it's a free market. Which is why I also take the liberty of not buying a 360.

    I hope it's clear at that point that I am not an MS-hater - not at all. Though you also won't find me shedding a tear if that strategy mabye bites them in the back one day. ;)

  • Calgon #55 3 years ago


    I never said console gamers are stealing anything, God beware. And I wasn't talking about the Microsoft Game Studios when I said MS have a responsibility for PC gaming - I was talking about Windows, DirectX, etc

    That was more to the suggestions from the person I was responding to in that first post I made, which in turn you responded to.
    Well maybe you should be talking about MGS then as DirectX and Windows are two different things from where you are coming from(you are talking about original 360 games being ported to the PC afterall) they have those responsibilities covered the games you are talking about dont come under that.

    Im not saying you are one of these gamers but too often we hear PC gamers who regard consoles as inferior and often come into topics to tell 360 owners especially they would be better off with a PC("stupid to buy a 360 I can play it with 16x AA at 1080p" ect... its often used by PS3 fans too when in all likelyhood they dont even game on a PC its just a way of dismissing 360s exclusives in their minds)... so in a way maybe its that kind of elitist talk thats backfired and maybe MS have now realised a way of making the 360 more attractive. In an ideal world it wouldnt matter that these games made it to the PC eventually but gamers arent all that rational these days, its a constant battle of worth the platform holders will have to uphold to keep their install base happy and attract more gamers.

    So really what I was saying is ok you had it good before with MS porting games for PC gamers(which theyd then use to tell console gamers how much smarter they are for not getting one... so thats why Im not feeling so bad for them, its not really the end of the world to play them on the platform they were intended for) from xbox platforms but what you dont seem to be acknowleging is without the consoles there'd be no games to port... so really its not something they are taking away from you with games like GOW and Fable, maybe with more success they can expand and make games for PC only too(I dont think the division is large enough to do both right now is the problem) which would be the best way.

    I can see you dont like the 360 or is it console gaming in general you have a problem with? Regardless they are in that business now and Nintendo and Sony dont have to deal with that kind of backlash just because they want to keep their exclusives on one platform rather than porting them to PC. As I said MS will still support the devs through DirectX and the windows platform as usual, Im not sure why you think they arent supporting PC gaming by not releasing 360 games for you, other devs that lead on PC are a much better area to focus on anyway... they have always been the reason people choose to be PC gamers I thought.

    Maybe if those were originally PC games/IPs you were waiting for that were being kept as 360 exclusives I could understand the level of bitterness but thats not the case. It sounds like some dont want to accept that the 360 looks like a more worthwhile purchase if thats the only place you can get those games now but they simply arent ready to admitt it and choose to lash out saying they are "being forced" to want a 360(damn Nintendo in that case making good games you cant get anywhere else... the cheek of it, I want to play those games on my PC).
    Edited by 9 at 28/01/09 @ 19:18