Fable Legends to be free-to-play
Microsoft has today revealed that the upcoming game Fable Legends will use a free-to-play model rather than a more traditional pricing structure in both the Xbox One and Windows 10 versions. Microtransactions will allow players to unlock hero characters and creatures to be used by the villains permanently. Otherwise, the available heroes and creatures will rotate every two weeks, leaving users unable to simply pick the same hero. The game will though allow the purchase of these items with in-game currency as well as real world money, although they have yet to reveal how much they will cost in either form.
The two-week seasons will operate as a way to tell the overall story of the game as new content will be released episodically in a similar way to releases by Telltale Game. Microsoft hopes this will allow Fable Legends to be supported for up to 10 years, with new quests, characters and items added over time.
Unlike previous games in the Fable series, Fable Legends will see players playing as either a hero or a villain. Although the title will focus on online multiplayer, it will allow for players to substitute teammates or enemies with A.I. controlled characters rather than real gamers. It also differs by putting more emphasis on strategy rather than simple role-playing combat that has been a staple of the franchise since the original release in 2004.
Fable Legends was first announced in August of 2013, with gameplay footage emerging at E3 the following year. However, development on the title began as early as the summer of 2012, meaning that Microsoft and Lionhead Studios will have had almost three years to finish the game before it releases at some point in 2015. The new title will also support cross-platform play between the Xbox One and Windows 10 versions.