Peter Molyneux Leaves Lionhead

[Flabio]

Kotaku seem to be first out of the blocks with this press release, so here you go.

http://kotaku.com/5890594/peter-molyneux-is-leaving-lionhead-studios-and-microsoft-will-finish-kinect-fable

[PeteJ]

Can't see the press release from work so don't know the reasoning...anyway, shame. I know he has his critics but you can't knock his passion for talking about games.

[Flabio]

Eurogamer have a bit more detail about where he's off to next.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-03-07-peter-molyneux-exits-microsoft-lionhead

[Neon Ignition]

It'll be interesting to see what he does now he's gone. Unless he was really intergral to Lionheads output it might be a small relief that he's gone too. All too often the games suffered due to him mouthing off too much and over promising. It might be nice to switch to a big reveal when it's ready rather than hearing about unlikely elements years before the release date.

[Golgo]

Is it me, or do you not sound exactly heartbroken, Flabio?

[H-Man]

It'll be interesting to see what he does now he's gone.

Whatever it is I bet it's really really neat

[Daragon]

This may well be for the best, Peter needs to go back to his roots I think and perhaps Microsoft were restricting him in that respect, not allowing him the creative freedom he needed. Were Lionhead purchased by Microsoft for the sole purpose of developing titles for their home consoles? I realise the Fable games were all ported across, but did you have free reign to create original PC titles if you chose to?

Dungeon Keeper, Theme Park, Populous, Black and White - all absolute blinders and despite the fact that I've enjoyed the Fable games, they've all missed the spark which made the afformentioned PC games special.

[Flabio]

Is it me, or do you not sound exactly heartbroken, Flabio?

I'm not really sure what to think at the moment to be honest.

[Brad]

A lot of hate spouted in some comments on other sites. All based on Peter's ability to under-deliver on his ideals. I guess, also, coming from people who know nothing of the the awesomeness that was Populous, Powermonger (might be on my own with this one, not sure) Syndicate, dungeon keeper, Theme park.

[Dazzyman]

Mr smoke and mirrors leaves. I always said Milo wad his usual guff but hoped that he would deliver. I expect the usual amazing guy does great work, sells out to corporate, feels stifled, moves. Same happened with him at Bullfrog. I will never ever knock this guy for his talent, but I do get sick of him overselling his products with a lot of false promises. I just want him to get back to his roots and do what he's best at, making great I guess indie games but finally leave the politics and pr stuff alone. Loved his earlier work, populous up to I guess Black and White 1. Fable never grabbed me and the movies was dire. Give us a new Dungeon keeper please or proper populous back remade with the ikkle sword guy fighting one v one. Best move I think he could be doing tbh

[Flabio]

Dungeon Keeper and Populous both belong to EA.

[fishbowlhead]

Im still waiting for my acorns that grow into trees in fable , so thats not going to happen now???

[MisterBubbles]

Yes FSW, but those where all the glory days, id say hes had limitied success with Lionhead and M$, its a joke really hes leaving M$ as how much he goes on about them blah, blah, blah, flawed genius id say.

[sj33]

I do hope he's not moving on to develop casual/mobile games, simply because you never seem to hear about people again once they go down that route.

[EvilBoris]

Microsoft have lost a great talent there, I know people like to be down on his evil purposeful sales hype tactics, but I always thought he was just a very very passionate about his job.

I'll be watching his next project with baited breath.