Compassion or Cruelty? The Race for the Crown of Albion Begins in "Fable III" Exclusively on Xbox 360

August 19, 2009

Compassion or Cruelty? The Race
for the Crown of Albion Begins in "Fable III" Exclusively on Xbox 360

Microsoft and Lionhead Studios
unveil a thrilling new adventure in the multimillion-selling "Fable" franchise,
while introducing episodic distribution of "Fable II" only on Xbox LIVE.

Alexander the Great. Genghis Khan.
Queen Elizabeth I. Che Guevara. Throughout history, revolutionary leaders have
taken very different paths to power, bringing about prosperity and poverty,
peace and sometimes anarchy to their people. Now Microsoft Corp. and Lionhead
Studios will explore the journey to rule, with you in pursuit of a kingdom, in
“Fable III,” the exciting new game in the critically acclaimed “Fable”
franchise. The title’s debut was confirmed today at gamescom in Germany by Peter
Molyneux, Lionhead’s creative director, and will be available exclusively on
Xbox 360 in the 2010 holiday season.

“Be not deceived. Revolutions do not
go backward.” — Abraham Lincoln

Since its inception, the blockbuster
“Fable” franchise has offered players the opportunity to choose their own
destinies as a hero, villain or someone between, where the possibilities are
limitless and the consequences can weigh heavily on the path to greatness. In
this new adventure, players will witness tyranny, poverty and injustice plague
their land. They will see a people divided, and they will be compelled to stand
up for change. They will also be forced to answer a question: What would you
sacrifice to secure the crown of Albion? Will you uphold the values and
principles that led to your ascension, or will you be corrupted by the station
you’ve strived to acquire? Will you be a monarch of the people, or bring the
entirety of Albion to the brink of collapse?

“We’ve spent a lot of time at
Lionhead thinking about how we can innovate the gameplay and progress the world
of the ‘Fable’ games for its third chapter, and we’re confident that players
won’t second-guess what we have planned for ‘Fable III,’” said Molyneux, who
also serves as creative director of Europe, the Middle East and Africa for
Microsoft Game Studios. “Though I can’t give too much away right now, players
should expect to have to make much tougher choices with far wider consequences
than ever before in Albion — and with many more interactive adventure elements.”

In the epic story of “Fable III,”
the journey to rule the throne of Albion begins five decades after the events of
the last chapter, and you play as the child of your hero from “Fable II.” As you
rule your kingdom as king or queen, you will be called upon to make choices and
sacrifices that will test your morality and can affect your entire kingdom.
Themes of heroism, leadership and consequence are taken to a grand scale as you
fight to unite a divided people.

“Fable II” in Single-Serving Sizes

While “Fable II” has become the
best-selling role-playing game of all time on Xbox 360, there are some who still
have not experienced the magic and adventures that await them in Albion. For
those who have watched from the outside, unsure if they were hero material, a
surprise awaits. Microsoft and Lionhead Studios are about to embark on a new
journey with the episodic release of “Fable II” on Xbox LIVE. The launch of
“Fable II: Game Episodes” will debut Sept. 29 with the release of the first
episode for free download exclusively on Xbox LIVE.

In the first episode, players will
experience childhood and the trials of being a young adult in the world of
Albion. After completing the chapter, players have the choice to then purchase
the next installment or the entire game (in select regions). “Fable II: Game
Episodes” delivers the entire “Fable II” experience in five consecutive
installments, with all the Achievements, challenges and excitement of the
disk-based game, as well as full compatibility with the previously released Game
Add-ons, “Knothole Island” and “See the Future.” The episodes are also fully
compatible with the disk-based, retail version of “Fable II,” allowing players
to enter Albion and continue their story should they purchase “Fable II” at
retail. All editions of the game offer cooperative play with friends on the same
couch as well as on Xbox LIVE.*

“With the launch of Games on Demand
on Xbox LIVE, we have a great tool in place to deliver classic titles in an
incredibly convenient fashion,” said Phil Spencer, general manager of Microsoft
Game Studios. “With the ‘Fable II’ episodic model, we’re encouraging people to
experience the first chapter of the game for free, then move onto other chapters
when they are ready. It’s a unique model and one that will appeal to gamers
who’ve been hesitant to dive full into the original retail release.”

“Fable III” will deliver a sweeping,
powerful story and new innovations in gameplay and Xbox LIVE functionality when
it is made available in the 2010 holiday season, only on Xbox 360. More
information about “Fable III” and the episodic release of “Fable II” will be
made available at a later date at
http://www.lionhead.com.