Xbox Addict

Gamescom 2013: Fable Legends announced, Xbox One exclusive

Fable Legends will be an Xbox One exclusive from Lionhead Studios, it was announced today during Microsoft’s Xbox One event in Cologne.

The title will be an online iteration of the long-running Fable franchise, allowing users to play as either the hero or the villain.

Earlier this week, it was reported that Microsoft registered two domains called called "Fable Legends."  According to domain name registration lookups, entries for fablelegends.com and fablelegends.net were created on Mar. 21, 2013.

Fable Legends isn’t an MMO, Lionhead studio head John Needham clarified during a presentation in Cologne today; the game will however feature up to four-player co-op with four pre-set character classes.

Xbox One players can expect to find traditional character types in the game, including the tank-like Hero of Strength heroine, the mage-like Hero of Will, the ranged shooter or Hero of Skill and a general damage dealer.

Villain characters can also be played in the game, it was announced. Fable villains will have Tower Defense-like control of the environment and are able to control the spawn points of enemies for the heroes to battle. Users can take on the villain role this via SmartGlass, it was confirmed.

In typical Fable form, the game includes the standard Brit-angled sense of humor and will include a number of recognizable areas across Albion, home to all of the Fable games. An early prototype of the game shown during the event offered a look at enemy types that include Red Caps, while Needham added that enemies will be based on folklore and fairy tales.

John Needham was recently announced as studio head of Lionhead earlier this year. During the presentation Needham emphasized his 13 years of experience in online gaming, which likely will play a large role in the development of Fable Legends.