PC Fable III delayed

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 3 August, 2010

MS optimising for each platform.

The PC version of Lionhead role-playing game Fable III has been delayed, Microsoft has confirmed.

It was slated for release alongside the Xbox 360 version on 26th October.

"The console and PC versions are now on different schedules as we're focusing on building experiences optimised for each platform. We aren't announcing a ship date for the PC SKU at this time, but expect news soon," read a statement given to IGN.

In June Microsoft said the arrival of Fable III on PC will be the "first step" of a much larger push by the US company to boost the profile of gaming on Windows 7 desktops.

"In terms of revenue, Windows is far and away the largest gaming platform in the world, so it's an incredibly important part of Microsoft's business. From core games like Fable III to casual, social and Facebook titles, more gaming happens on Windows than anywhere else.

"Windows 7 is a world-class gaming platform, and you can bet Microsoft has a vested interest in using it as a platform for amazing first party content. Fable III on Windows as well as Xbox 360 this holiday is a great first step, and we'll have more news for you later this summer."

Lionhead had nothing to add when asked for comment.

Eurogamer chatted with Lionhead boss Peter Molyneux last month and found the Fable III head honcho in sparkling form.

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (20) Latest comment 2 years ago

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

  • CygnusReactor #1 2 years ago

    Guess Peter Molyneux will not be able to claim fable 3 was rushed when fable 4 rolls round.

  • NimbusTLD #2 2 years ago

    In other words, we're not quite ready to let you download it for free just yet.

  • schnide #3 2 years ago

    Oh, technical reasons. Yeah, that's it.. ;)

  • bad09 #4 2 years ago

    "In June Microsoft said the arrival of Fable III on PC will be the "first step" of sweeping years of neglect under the carpet by the US company as they try to boost the profile of the human waggle gaming on Windows 7 desktops. "

    Fixed. MS, Pete and Epic can all sod off back to 360 IMO, I don't want your waggle so don't pretend you care about PC.
    Edited by 1 at 03/08/10 @ 08:40

  • Nephirion #5 2 years ago

    Fable 3 in delayed development shocker ..... nothing to do with piracy I suppose.

  • SixFootHalfling #6 2 years ago

    "From core games like Fable III"

    Fable is a core game? I would have said 2 was the most casual aimed game I've played on the 360.

    Other than that, its a MS game, so no doubt it'll use GFWL, in which case most people won't buy it on the PC anyway.

  • shadowaspect #7 2 years ago

    I like your style, ClubHeaven. :)

  • dingo75 #8 2 years ago

    Noticed you have no PC games' programers down at Microsoft anymore eh?
    Just stay away from PC gaming MS we are doing just fine without you!
    Go and code some waggle for Kinnect!

  • paketep #9 2 years ago

    Surprise surprise. Nothing we didn't expect from PC lovers Microsoft.

  • OverWind #10 2 years ago

    Great. Microsoft prioritizing the xbox 360 instead of the PC yet again. I own an xbox 360, but playing on a pc is SO much better.

    I don't think Microsoft realizes how strong a card they have on their hands in making sure Windows is still the number 1 gaming platform in the future... If they lose that status, then people can just switch to Mac and have a console on the side.

  • Rack #11 2 years ago

    Fingers crossed this means it will be half-way decently optimised and offer a choice of mouse/keyboard or pad control. The last one crashed whenever you tried to move while casting a spell so some bug testing wouldn't go amiss either.

  • Darren #12 2 years ago

    I can wait for the PC version although the cynic in me can't help thinking that it might have been delayed to 'encourage' sales of the more expensive Xbox 360 version. ;)

  • oceanclub #13 2 years ago

    "Windows 7 is a world-class gaming platform, and you can bet Microsoft has a vested interest in using it as a platform for amazing first party content."

    So vested that they're deliberately delaying the PC release 'til everyone who also has an XBox 360 has already bought the game.

    Then they'll only sell it through a single, notoriously buggy, online store.

    Then, when it fails to sell in millions, they'll blame piracy.

    So much for Fable 3 being the "first step" of a "big PC push": [link url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/fable-iii -first-step-of-big-pc-push
    ]http://ww w.eurogamer.net/articles/fable-...[/link]

    Oh pur-lease.

    P.
    Edited by 2 at 03/08/10 @ 13:29

  • sneetch #14 2 years ago

    Gosh! What a enormous surprise. My jaw dropped when I read that. PC version of much touted PC/360 title delayed, what an amazing development. Wow that's not at all predictable in any way.

    I'm waiting for announcement that they've cancelled it because it's much better suited for playing it from the couch than the intimacy of the PC and - as we all know - the customer can't make that kind of decision for themselves.

    @oceanclub

    You can buy a physical, retail edition too.

    @Darren

    I don't think that's the cynic in you, it's the realist. ;)

  • UncleLou #15 2 years ago

    If they lose that status, then people can just switch to Mac and have a console on the side.

    While I am being a PC gamer primarily, at least that's a consolation. I'll buy a Mac in a heartbeat, should PC gaming die. \o/

  • bluem4gic #16 2 years ago

    lol no shit

  • hiddenranbir #17 2 years ago

    They said this for Vista and the birth of Games for Windows. Microsoft need to stop dicking about with the Windows platform.

  • subedii #18 2 years ago

    "In June Microsoft said the arrival of Fable III on PC will be the "first step" of a much larger push by the US company to boost the profile of gaming on Windows 7 desktops"

    Believe_it = See_It(When_I);

    There are any number of ways that MS could have made a push with GFWL and made it a better service. They could do it any time, all they need is the inclination to invest in it. Waiting for the late release of a mediocre game doesn't exactly herald some "ideal opportunity" to try and develop a platform they've neglected for years.

    Invest in it, or don't. But don't pretend that when Fable 3 inevitably falls through the floor taking your new initiative with it, that you even made the effort to compete. You didn't.
    Edited by 1 at 03/08/10 @ 20:23

  • MrSpadge #19 2 years ago

    Well, I know I'm a miserable old bastard these days, forever in fact, but I'm not buying this on principal now. Much like Alan Wake before it, for which I waited a half decade looking forward to that "DX10 dual-core-powerhouse" (lulz)for a half decade to then never arrive.
    Fable Three, earlier in the year, obviously too long ago for anyone's memories to still retain simple data, was promised to be simultaneous release across platforms with "groundbreaking" support for cross-platform-play, and presumably NATAL-REVOLUTION support, seeing as at a time, I'm sure you can dig on google, BILL GATES promised that the NATAL-distraction was going to also be aimed at desktop PCs, and would herald a new era in video conferencing and OS interaction, phasing out the mouse (he previously pushed heavily for tablets for exactly the same reason, if anyone remembers that).....maybe I dreamt all this.......dreams, reality, nightmares; all the same these days.

    Where the hell are the new crop of consoles? We're playing on 5 year old tech that can hardly push 720@30 ....my PS3 is basically PS2-HD (sub-full) and I was looking forward to some high-res PC, cross play FABLE with my PC hating, cult-machine-indoctrinated "friends" over the xbox-live-fight network I pay thirty-five quid a year to never use.

    ....more sad times for intelligent, long-standing gaming fans; ad infinitum.

  • dirk_aircool #20 2 years ago

    MrSpadge. Well said that man. where is the new console tech?. and natal can sod off,I'm not jumping about and waving my arms around at 3am.or Pm for that matter.