Molyneux: Fable 3 will not include Kinect functionality at launch

by Randy Nelson on Aug 4th 2010 9:45PM

Lionhead boss and Microsoft Game Studios Europe director Peter Molyneux has revealed on the Engadget Show that Fable 3 will not ship with any Kinect functionality, despite past confirmations to the contrary. Joystiq spoke with Molyneux following his appearance on the show and learned that some form of Kinect content may be available post-launch, and that whatever was initially planned to be built into the game just wasn't up to snuff.

We've spoken with Microsoft PR, which was unaware of Molyneux's exact comments. It reaffirmed that the legendary designer is a strong proponent of Kinect, and has spoken of its use in Fable 3 before, but also told us that it can't discuss what role the hardware will play in the game "at this time."

Look for our full interview with Peter Molyneux tomorrow morning, August 5.

[Thanks, Blacked Out]

Tags: Fable-3, Kinect, microsoft, Microsoft-Game-Studios, Peter-Molyneux, xbox

Reader Comments (55)

Another nail in the hardcore coffin of Kinect.

@context

more like the nail in the womb

@JoeJoeCastillo

Speaking of womb, Microsoft should about this piece of crap.

@context
I'm against aboutions ;p

I already knew they would ditch Kinect functionality in Fable, they've been dodging this one the most from the start of this year.

And you are welcome Joystiq, it feels good to contribute.

@Premature ejaculation man It's Microsoft's choice, not yours.

@context

Is that the same coffin they use for 360's sent in for repair, or an entirely different coffin?

@Premature Ejaculation Man - Why would you be against aboutions? You about last long enough every time!

The funny part about this is that if gamers didn't already think Kinect was a farce, they would be bitching about how Molyneux "broke another promise."

I would only consider paying $150 for a gimmicky device with no quality game support at launch...

...when they combine the power of Kinect and the 3DS to make fully interactive holograms.

Even then, I don't think I would buy it right away.

Aaaaaand is anyone truuuuuly surprised at this?

Guy couldn't even handle co-op competently, what made him think he could even get this functional before launch?

@DevilSei
"Buy the new game! It's gonna have Kinect support"
then before the game launches
"Ok, it won't have Kinect support at launch, but we promise to add it"
then after everyone buys it
"We're sorry, but we just didn't have the time to add Kinect support. We had too many ambitions and decided to focus on what made Fable 3 great instead of adding Kinect support"

Fable 3 is still gonna be an amazing game. I would only want to use Kinect on party type games. Maybe add some feature to Halo or Fable but not play them. I don't want motion controls for a game that I might want to play for an hour or two.

That has pretty much killed my interest in Kinetic for the moment.

Thank god they focus more on the game right now instead of adding kinnect into it

Well that's time lost. I already started practicing the gestures to get my character to do the in-game flatulence attack :(

@IanW
That is NEVER a waste of time.

@tchuks
But it is always a time of waste.

Really? Do anyone even care? This game could go on without Kinect. I don't even see how Kinect would be a need for a game like Fable. Whatever, I'm getting it for my PC anyways.

@RadioactiveQube
That's not my point though. I'm just saying why people would care if this doesn't launch with Kinect support. Fable 3 (Or any sandbox 3rd person games) should stay out of motion gaming.

@RadioactiveQube

lol well think about it, its not really because of FABLE that most people are disappointing about. Its Kinect that needs all the games and support it could get and needs to prove its 'worth' the time and money. But i agree that fable doesnt need kinect, if anything its kinect that needs fable

@RadioactiveQube
I just care that he was hyping and making it sound like there would be something amazing with kinect- to then turn around and abandon a promised feature yet again.

and there goes the only kinect game i was interested in....

This could be both a good thing & a bad thing on microsoft's part. I can see why developers don't want to just slap on kinect onto their games just because. I think they want to wait until it makes sense to incorporate it into their games. But the bad side of this is if developers don't start using it with their titles soon, MS won't gain the support of their hardcore gamers which is who they're aiming at as well as the family.

@Prboi Not sure why you think they are aiming at hardcore players, I have yet to see one "hardcore" game for Kinect. All the games are casual party games and exercise... this is clearly targeted at the wii market space.

That said I will get the Kinect for the video controls alone... and the chance to transition my kids from the wii.

At least the Kinect will not ship with action glitter like the pixie wand AKA move.

The circle of Peter Moleneux:

Revolutionary new gameplay feature revealed.
Revolutionary new gameplay feature demoed and touted. Intrigues.
News that revolutionary new gameplay feature won't make it into the retail product but will be added in a patch at a later date.
Revolutionary new gameplay feature releases in a stripped down, barebones form. Isn't all that revolutionary, nor even very good.

Not that it really mattered for Fable II, though. That game turned out just fine without the multiplayer support promised. Now the DLC, on the other hand...

Come on now. Who wouldn't want to fart on someone's head in real life for a video game?

Wasn't coop patched in after Fable2 launch.

@Joeybeast It was actually on launch day in a title update but yes, it was.

This is what we get after all that talk? No Milo or Fable 3 Kinect greatness...

Oh yeah, how can I forget? Peter Molyneux was doing the talking.

Good.

oh joystiq, why are you guys still reporting on peter molyneux promises? that guy exaggerates more than my 3 year old niece.

Not really a nail in the coffin.
Think back when Sony slapped motion to their controller just to mimick the Wii... then Lair came out and got terrible reviews for trying to tack on gimick controls. It made the Sixaxis seem terrible and laggy, and it made Lair seem like a terrible game.

The last thing MS wants to do is hold back the game by forcing Kinect into the game without being fully tested, as well as hurt Kinect publicity by showing games that don't support it well.

Better to wait in this case.

@tchuks

Lair was awesome.

@(Unverified) I think you're the only person I've ever seen say that.

@(Unverified)

Lair was one of the first justifications I had for laughing in my brother's face because he bought a PS3 and not a 360...and now he's laughing in my face because of Uncharted 2 and Kinect. Awww shucks!

@Liquidfingers Yes Lair was bad that was the first game I rented when I first bought my PS3. Year later and my 360 gets rarely touched and my PS3 has been working hard while trying to catch up on games. Next its going to work even harder with so many exclusives coming out and my 360 will have to make do with Reach and Fable until Gears.

@Mcmax3000
Lair was ok, certainly not horrible. Lair was basically an answer to the question: "How good would a game by factor-5 be, if they didn't have the Star Wars license to hide behind?"

Many reviews of Lair criticized its lack of precision controls, but it was pretty much on par with their better-received Rogue Leader games, which were equally horrible in that sense...but nobody cared because we were all drooling at the photorealistic Star Wars graphics.

@tchuks Lair's controls were only the beginning of its problems.

@The angry pro consumer gaming ga

Actually, as far as the rest of this year is concerned, Sony doesn't really have anything going on. And next year is a year of more sequelitis. It's like 2009 all over again.

Someone from Microsoft corporate needs to have a come-to-Jesus moment with this Molyneux guy and get it through to him that promising the world only leads to underwhelming disappointment. The power of understatement is a foreign concept to Peter Molyneux. He's a salesman first and a game developer last, and that is why I don't believe a word he says.

@Fermie Prime
They also need to have that talk with the "Let's announce an HP Slate running Win7 at the Consumer Electronics Show" people.

actually, if you went to E3, connect is actually exactly what they said it was! (microsoft aint lyin'!) but, fable three sounds great, another game i'm going to midnight launch at! lol.

I'm actually quite relieved. I was worried that I'd have to buy a fancy-schmancy peripheral to "get the most" out of Fable III. Turns out, I'll be able to enjoy it with the hardware I already own.

Wait, wait, wait, wait. Peter Molyneux announced a feature for Fable 3 that will not be in the shipping version?!?! I am shocked! SHOCKED I tell you!

@edgore Your avatar made your reaction so hilarious that I think I died a bit.

what???? Milo was the most interesting thing about Fable 3...

@laser beams

Milo isn't in Fable 3... Jesus dude, not trying to be a jerk or anything but holy crap!

Where have you been, Mars?

@PlayboyX
laser beams on mars? that's ridiculous.

This isn't too much of a surprise considering most of the Molyneux usually under delivers on his grand promises. On the other hand it gives the studio time to polish up the main game and properly learn the Kinect hardware after the fact to patch it in.

Was anyone expecting Kinect to add any mindblowing new features to Fable in the first place?

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Fable 3

Molyneux: Fable 3 will not include Kinect functionality at launch

Reader Comments (55)

Posted: Aug 4th 2010 9:49PM context said

Posted: Aug 4th 2010 9:52PM JoeJoeCastillo said

Posted: Aug 4th 2010 9:56PM xyloPhipps said

Posted: Aug 4th 2010 9:58PM Premature ejaculation man said

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