Peter Molyneux, regarded as a leading visionary in the gaming world, has announced he will part ways with Lionhead Studios.
In a statement that was quoted by Kotaku.com, Molyneux said, “It is with mixed emotions that I made the decision to leave Microsoft and Lionhead Studios, the company that I co-founded in 1997, at the conclusion of development of Fable: The Journey.”
Fable: The Journey will be the latest entry in the heralded Fable series, and will rely heavily on the ability for players to use Kinect-powered motion controls.
Molyneux’s departure draws questions on whether or not it was fully his decision. Though he has a brilliant mind and has created games that brought in millions of dollars, he was perhaps better known for his high-concept marketing speak.
Molyneux often praised his games as revolutionary and genre-defining in a way that didn’t really materialize. In other words, Fable was a well built fantasy RPG, but it wasn’t the groundbreaking experience Molyneux would have had you believe.
In his statement, the developer said, “I remain extremely passionate and proud of the people, products and experiences that we created … However, I felt the time was right to pursue a new independent venture. I’d like to thank the team at Lionhead, as well as our partners at Microsoft Studios for their support, dedication and incredible work over the years.”
The fate of Molyneux’s series, including Fable, remains uncertain but Lionhead Studios, it goes without saying, will continue on with new leadership.
