Summary
Peter Molyneux, best known as the creator of theFablegame series, believesMasters of Albionmay be his last game due to health reasons. The newly unveiled title is not technically part of theFableseries, though it takes place in the same world, and Molyneux sees it as one last chance to create something truly great.
Molyneux revealed his new god gameon August 20 during Gamescom 2024’s Opening Night Live presentation. The creator founded Lionhead Studios, the developer of the first three mainlineFablegames and a handful of spin-offs, in 1997. The development studio was dissolved in 2016, though Molyneux had already left four years prior to found his current company, 22cans, which is developingMasters of Albion. While the title is set in the same world as theFablegames,Masters of Albionwill be something entirely new, as theFablefranchise is currently owned by Microsoft.
The upcoming game may be the last for the famous developer. At 65 years of age, Molyneux expects that if he were to start another new project, he’d be in his 70s before it saw the light of day. “I smoke and drink and don’t sleep enough,” hetold GameIndustry.biz in an interview, implying that he may not live incredibly long. While he once said hewould have loved to makeFable 4, his realization has prompted him to go back to the beginning in more ways than one, heading up production of the upcoming PC-based title and switching back to his god game roots, something he saw success with in games likePopulous,Black & White, andDungeon Keeper. That being said, he’s not announcing his retirement, and he expects to keep working for the rest of his life, however long that may be.
Masters of Albion May Be Peter Molyneux’s Last Game
Molyneux also seems extremely critical of his past work. While he has praised colleagues who have worked with him over the years to create many beloved games, he insisted in the same interview that being part of those people’s lives does not make him a great developer. “I’ve never made a great game,” Molyneux said bluntly. That self-critical trait isn’t something he’s just developed, either. Last year, heaccepted some of the fault forFable 3, a game that received generally good critical reviews but also rushed through its late-game stages due to strict development deadlines.
While it’s yet to be determined whetherMasters of Albionwill beMolyneux’s best game, it may be the culmination of his life’s work, combining his experience with both god games and action RPGs. Players will be able to manage almost everything in the town of Oakridge, down to the sandwich ingredients used in the local eatery. The god game controls will expand to combat as well, with players able to command heroes and cast spells to take down hordes of enemies.
Fable
Xbox Game Studio’s Fable franchise is a series of action role-playing games consisting of three main series games and a handful of spin-offs.The Fable games are known for their charming characters, gorgeous fantasy worlds, and alignment mechanic that sees players become good or evil depending on the morality of their choices.
