Fable III teased by New York Times' Style section?

Source: The New York Times' Weddings/Celebrations section. What we heard: Lionhead Studios' Fable II sold like gangbusters as an Xbox 360 exclusive, shifting 2.6 million units as of Microsoft's last accounting in March. It came as little surprise, then, when BBC personality Jonathan Ross said on...

Source: The New York Times' Weddings/Celebrations section.

What we heard: Lionhead Studios' Fable II sold like gangbusters as an Xbox 360 exclusive, shifting 2.6 million units as of Microsoft's last accounting in March. It came as little surprise, then, when BBC personality Jonathan Ross said on his Twitter feed on the night of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards ceremony in March that he had been tapped to provide work on Fable II's follow-up, Fable III.

Though Ross quickly backed off his statement, Microsoft may have one more unexpected outing of the as-yet-confirmed game, this time courtesy of The New York Times. Last week, The Times ran a wedding announcement for Amy E. Gilbert and Joshua Samuels Atkins. Of the latter, The Times said, "Mr. Atkins, 34, is the lead game designer for Fable III, a video game series produced by Lionhead Studios in Guildford, England."

The Times makes a point of noting in its guidelines for submitting a wedding announcement for publication that "submissions are rewritten, fact-checked and edited according to the standards of The Times." As such, it is possible that The Times simply made a typo, adding an extra "I" onto Fable II.

This explanation seems unlikely, however, considering Richard Ham, who in December joined Splash Damage to work on the Bethesda Softworks-published Brink, filled the lead design position on Fable II. Josh Atkins has been involved with the Fable franchise since the original shipped in 2004, though. On Fable II, Atkins served as a go-between for Microsoft and Lionhead as senior design director at Microsoft Game Studios.

It's also worth noting that Lionhead founder Peter Molyneux has previously said that his studio already has the third, fourth, and fifth installments in the franchise mapped out. "We've got plans for Fable III, IV, and V, actually... It's a big story arc, and you can see that if you've played Fable II, you'll recognise things from Fable," Molyneux commented in July 2008.

The official story: "We have nothing to announce regarding future Lionhead Studios projects."--A Microsoft representative.

Bogus or not bogus?: Considering the success of the Fable franchise, it's not a question of if Fable III will be developed, but when. Not bogus.

254 Comments

  • thorfox

    Posted Aug 23, 2009 1:07 pm GMT

    second to sortilegus view on the fable series

  • Rallen6

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 7:10 am GMT

    Fable 3? Fable was a great game, Lost Chapters added some nice stuff to the end, Fable 2 was epic, so No.3? Lol, I predict 10/10...

  • sortilegus

    Posted Aug 7, 2009 10:35 am GMT

    fable 2 was a huge disappointment, as was the original. they need to re-imagine the franchise and look into what a real RPG involves, rather than make another sims game with some adventure elements and a weak ass story thrown in as a side note. gamespot rated fable 2 way too high in my opinion. it deserves a 6.5 at best and they need to do some major rethinking.

  • drummerboi43

    Posted Aug 5, 2009 11:14 pm GMT

    the way i see it...based on the time difference between games...fable 5 will be a thousand years in the future and you'll use a lightsaber and blaster...and instead of a dog you'll have a tursty robot...and instead of "will" you'll use the force...oh wait...don't they already have something like that?

  • NightRaVeN75

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 5:15 pm GMT

    As for Dasim64, Peter Molyneaux, does a great job with talking about his features, he still tells us about why one or two features didnt make final cut, cuz they tested it out, and everything, thats why they release those video diaries.

  • NightRaVeN75

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 5:13 pm GMT

    for fable 3 if they use what blue side studios/phantagram did with kingdom under fire's co-op, they could make fable 3 have four player online co-op with each player using their own cameras, running off on their own, or together. while the offline co-op can remain to be 2 player, but also with both hero and henchmen using two cameras.

  • NightRaVeN75

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 5:11 pm GMT

    oh and dont worry Im sure they might make one more dlc for fable 2 before fable 3 is ready for release, it usually happens

  • NightRaVeN75

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 5:10 pm GMT

    or better yet lionhead studios and bethesdas team up that would be awesome and sweet

  • Dasim64

    Posted Aug 3, 2009 12:56 am GMT

    Well one thing's for certain, I'll never listen to another thing Peter M. says. He always blows the features of the game way out of proportion and makes it sound way better than what it turns out to be. He told a lot of woppers about Fable 2 and I'm not falling for it this time.

  • jamesinho

    Posted Jul 31, 2009 1:17 pm GMT

    Interesting that they said he is and not was lead developer too. They could take a page from oblivion in terms of side quests and it could be more in depth, BUT oblivion is by no means perfect. It just lacked life. Sure it was complex and you could get lost in it, literally, but it needed work on so many things. The animation was stiff and it was still repetitive despite the different quests. In other words, bethesda could have worked more on the artistic side and lionhead could have made fable more complex.

  • handofthedragon

    Posted Jul 30, 2009 7:28 pm GMT

    if and when they make Fable2, the developers should take a page out of the OBLIVION book in terms of and in-depth and more powerful main quest.More and I mean more side quest, It was fruastrating playing this game trying to find new enemies, new quest,and new regions.

  • Allbritt0n

    Posted Jul 26, 2009 11:40 pm GMT

    They still need to put more work into fable 2! We need more DLC and patches!!!!!!

  • secretgamer666

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 5:07 am GMT

    also better co-op

  • secretgamer666

    Posted Jul 23, 2009 3:35 am GMT

    fable 3? if so bigger areas and more quests and a epic story is needed to create the fable game that we've been waiting for and will be a must buy

  • shani_boy101

    Posted Jul 17, 2009 10:23 pm GMT

    5 Fables? if you plan something like that then without a doubt it'll go stale.

    They planned like 6+ Shreks and then what happened? franchise ended with the third.

    i don't really care for a Fable 3, just give me Fable 2+extras on PC first.

  • NobleAssassin93

    Posted Jul 13, 2009 11:52 pm GMT

    I would love it to be near the same as Fable2 just have the Co-Op with your own heroes not as the pre-set ones and also not to have the multi-player limit so each player can freely roam around with out the camera screwing them over. I know that's a lot of work to put into a game but it would make it a must buy for me and plenty of my friends that are fans of the Fable Franchise.

  • PS2Dude89

    Posted Jul 12, 2009 10:29 pm GMT

    I hope Fable III is a lot more like Fable II than the first Fable. The first one bored me and I never finished it, but the 2nd Fable was great and is one of my favorite 360 games. I had no idea Lionhead already has planned 5 Fables...

  • elaia

    Posted Jul 8, 2009 9:59 pm GMT

    give me my fable 2 pc version first! thats unfair planning fable 3 for 360 while pc users still looking forward for their pc release.
    p.s im not going to buy a 360 just to play fable 2

  • Spikedjester

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 4:16 pm GMT

    BouncerKantus23 Posted Jul 7, 2009 12:15 am GMT I cant wait for fable 3 it should be amazing. Im just hoping that it has a longer story line and has more interactions and decisions with the 3 hero's like it did with fable 1.

    This is what we all said in between 1 and 2, and it didnt happen! But as pertaining to the story, that is quite hilarious. Trying to keep everything secretive and then oops! Hahah would love to see the look on the teams face when they found out about this newspaper article. Good story!

  • dakan45

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 1:00 pm GMT

    agreed with the poster below me oblivion>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> fable

  • B3tches_Killz

    Posted Jul 7, 2009 12:43 pm GMT

    fable 2 sucked and i dont want to see fable 3.. please just give me The Elder Scrolls V and i'll be happy.

    (none can argue with that though Elder Scrolls is a much better game than Fable is.)

  • BouncerKantus23

    Posted Jul 6, 2009 4:15 pm GMT

    I cant wait for fable 3 it should be amazing. Im just hoping that it has a longer story line and has more interactions and decisions with the 3 hero's like it did with fable 1.

  • W3En

    Posted Jul 5, 2009 2:45 pm GMT

    Peter Molyneux is just a P.R. guy. You can believe somethings he says but most of it you should disregard, especially if its anything remotely interesting or something never seen in a game. I enjoyed Fable II for what it was worth. After playing games such as The Elder Scrolls IV:Oblivion, I take for granted how long it is. It took me like 6 hours to beat the game and 2 to beat the expansion knot hole glade ( which was a rip off) Fable is a great game but is under developed.For a game that took since '04 to make Fable 2 was not anything special to me.

  • Raykuza

    Posted Jul 4, 2009 10:01 pm GMT

    I've been a Fable fan for a long time. Every time Peter Molyneux gets in front of the press and promises great things, I believe every word of it. Then my hopes are expertly dashed. That's not to say Fables 1 and 2 were not good, it's just that they are never what Peter says they will be, and that dulls the experience. As a fan, I'd rather there not be a Fable 3. I'd like for the series to be put to an end with dignity. I DON'T want Peter to make an ass of himself yet again.

    Let's not have another Indiana Jones on our hands.

  • Excedra

    Posted Jul 3, 2009 11:20 pm GMT

    Fable 3 is sure to be a hit. 2 made me proud to own a360

  • Nightrain50

    Posted Jul 3, 2009 4:40 pm GMT

    I still wish I had my money back for the turd cloud that is Fable 2. I'm never buying another game from this pos.

  • necronaux

    Posted Jul 3, 2009 9:58 am GMT

    And I'm sure there will be movies to follow.

  • Jmorphman

    Posted Jul 2, 2009 9:24 pm GMT

    "Here's a poem I call New York Times:
    New York Times?
    NEW YORK TIMES!?
    You think you're better than us?
    Us?
    US! U-S. USA? No way!
    The end."
    -- Coach McGuirk

  • NightRaVeN75

    Posted Jul 2, 2009 5:23 pm GMT

    Im looking forward to Fable 3 it will be even greater especially if it uses Natal Tech, making it the perfect roleplaying experience.

  • cpstraus1

    Posted Jul 2, 2009 1:31 pm GMT

    i was kinda dissapointed with fable 2 i hope fable 3 will be better

  • hannify

    Posted Jul 2, 2009 8:34 am GMT

    I think its pretty obvious that fable III was gonna be released but just ross couldn't keep his mouth closed with the excitement.

    Its like saying theres not going to be a football manager 2010. Ofcourse there will

  • cldntthnkofasn

    Posted Jul 2, 2009 4:30 am GMT

    i just got fable 2 not a bad game. plently of play time

  • cockneyscouse

    Posted Jul 2, 2009 1:35 am GMT

    I'm still looking for the 'news' in this story.

  • zuljin11

    Posted Jul 2, 2009 1:19 am GMT

    I'll always give him the benefit of the doubt because he made Dungeon Keeper. The other games he's made like Black and White and yes, even Fable, had a couple of really good mechanics buried in them to be worth a play even if the games themselves weren't exceptional. If he can take all of these ideas he has and just spend a bit more time meshing them together, leaving the story more open and giving a bit more freedom to the player rather than shepherding us down the route he wants. If he can he has it in him to make a truly awesome game like DK or DK2 again.

  • Bballplaya8217

    Posted Jul 1, 2009 11:09 pm GMT

    The rumors of Fable III are false in that it was just a typo. This typo will not occur when the development of Fable IV is leaked.

  • fazedjb

    Posted Jul 1, 2009 10:51 pm GMT

    fable 3 will be a fable 2 ripp off

  • electroban

    Posted Jul 1, 2009 6:48 pm GMT

    I think its quite sad for gaming, Peter Molyneux was an inventive genius back in the day, creating some of the most unique and interesting games ever designed. E.g. Theme Hospital, Syndicate Wars, Dungeon Keeper, Black n White etc.

    I think it's a waste of talent and creativity to bother spawning another Fable game, just because it's an easy and already established franchise, theres less risk for them to bring out Fable III than it is to work on a completely new game. This goes for alot of games developers that sacrifice creativity for the cashing into the ever predominant cash cow franchised games.

    I think in about 5/6 years time, games arnt going to be worth playing if all they r doing is re-baking existing ideas all the time.

  • swordsweep1

    Posted Jul 1, 2009 6:45 pm GMT

    this game is gowing to be epick

  • cloudkiller99

    Posted Jul 1, 2009 4:35 pm GMT

    didn't the last dlc more or less confirm another game in the pipeline?

  • Glade_Gnarr

    Posted Jul 1, 2009 4:17 pm GMT

    That was probably a typo.

  • swordsweep1

    Posted Jul 1, 2009 3:54 pm GMT

    i hope they have a better story line and a new dog in the story line and the dog dosent die

  • grant4500neo

    Posted Jul 1, 2009 2:15 pm GMT

    Think...""Mr. Atkins, 34, is the lead game designer for Fable III, a video game series produced by Lionhead Studios in Guildford, England."" They say 'is'. If it was Fable II, it would have said '...was the lead game designer..."

  • lazy_trash

    Posted Jul 1, 2009 1:22 pm GMT

    kreusel, totally agree with you. I loved fable one, and then fable two was... crap? What the hell happened? What was broken about the first one that they felt they needed to fix everything? the gamespot review said the dog was the coolest part, when It was actually the worst programmed part of the game! the sparkly trail was introduced to lead you through, with the nice side note of "you should explore away from the trail for more treasures", but with armor that has no rating, WHO CARES?? all this coupled with a terrible magic system... I traded the game in two days after i bought it.

  • nicgamer1

    Posted Jul 1, 2009 12:42 pm GMT

    Fable 2 was awesom!!! I own the game and have played it many times...Obviously some people dnt enjoy the series nut why buy it then? Anyways i hope the next sequel will be just as good or better lol

  • Kreusel117

    Posted Jul 1, 2009 12:04 pm GMT

    I said it before and ill say it again. Fable 2 was absolutely terrible. For one the boss fights sucked hard. And the Final boss Lucien or w/e his name was i mean common you dont even fight him. You use a stupid magic box that you get from a dream you have and then it drains all his power so you either just one shot him or the stupid pirate does it. Also there was really nothing special from what Molyneux was raving about. Only thing i give him credit for was the Dog because that was actually an interesting idea the dog finding treasure for you. Other than that over all it was a bad game And if you add both male and female genders you should at least beable to customize them.

  • fattass21

    Posted Jul 1, 2009 12:00 pm GMT

    BAH, i knew it was only a matter of time XD

  • xJuice_Boxx

    Posted Jul 1, 2009 11:57 am GMT

    This should be good I really enjoyed Fable 2.

  • Dark_Lord777

    Posted Jul 1, 2009 11:39 am GMT

    yay something else to make millions for Mr. Pete!!! dont think ill be buying it.

  • ebookerd1

    Posted Jul 1, 2009 11:39 am GMT

    They need to add Natal as part of it to make it the ultimate game

  • smzee27

    Posted Jul 1, 2009 11:24 am GMT

    Wish they'd release Fable II for PC already.

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