Peter Molyneux Leaving Microsoft, Lionhead to Form New Studio

Peter Molyneux, the famed developer responsible for the Fable series and co-founder of Lionhead Studios, announced on Tuesday that he will be leaving his positions at Lionhead and Microsoft, where he serves as the creative lead for Lionhead and Rare.

“It is with mixed emotions that I made the decision to leave Microsoft and Lionhead Studios, the company that I co-founded in 1997, at the conclusion of development of Fable: The Journey,” Molyneux said in a statement to Kotaku. “I remain extremely passionate and proud of the people, products and experiences that we created.”

Molyneux will stick around as a creative consultant on Fable: The Journey, which is expected to see a release this year. Once development on the Fable Kinect title wraps up, Molyneux says that he plans to start a new indie development studio, which he later revealed to be named “22 Cans”.

Microsoft released a statement in response to Molyneux’s departure, saying:

“Lionhead Studios Founder and pioneer game developer Peter Molyneux has made the decision to leave Microsoft. While his decision was a difficult one, he felt the time was right to pursue a new independent venture. As a co-founder of Lionhead and an integral part of Microsoft Studios, Peter was the creative visionary behind the blockbuster Fable franchise and one of our most passionate and influential developers for the Xbox 360 platform.

“He has made an indelible mark on the games industry and we wish him all the best of luck in his future endeavors.”