Eidos Montreal may be working with Xbox on a newFabletitle according to information revealed following the closure of developer Onoma. Formerly Square Enix Montreal, Onoma was acquired by Swedish holding company Embracer Group earlier this year. Given Eidos Montreal’s strong track record for delivering titles with solid storytelling and gameplay mechanics, this could be good news for fans of theFablefranchise.
Onoma was originally founded as Square Enix Montreal in 2011 and was the primary development studio behind mobile games based on Square Enix properties. Most well-known for their turn-based, tactical take on classic franchises with popular games likeHitman GoandLara Croft Go, the studio wasacquired by Embracer Groupin August of 2022 along with Crystal Dynamics and Eidos Montreal. Eidos Montreal, now rumored to be working on a newFabletitle, is the studio behind critically acclaimed releases such asDeus Ex: Human Revolutionand the recentMarvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy.
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In an article posted by Bloomberg, it was announced that Embracer Group will be shutting down Onoma, with some staff members being informed that they would be transferred to Eidos Montreal. Onoma was one of many recent purchases by Embracer Group, with other high-profile acquisitions including other game development studios and therights to theLord of the RingsIP. While discussing the cost-cutting strategies behind the Onoma’s closure, the Bloomberg article notes that Eidos Montreal is working with Microsoft on several games “including one in theFablefranchise.”
The news that Eidos Montreal may be working on a newFabletitle follows on the heels of an announcement thatHorizon Forbidden West’s senior writer is joiningFable’s development team. Currently in development by Playground Games, the upcoming reimagining of the long-running series is expected to use the same engine as the developer’s gorgeous 2021 racing game,Forza Horizon 5. TheFablefranchise experienced a bit of a slump after 2010’sFable 3was met with lukewarm reception by fans and critics, so this infusion of new talent to the franchise could bode well for the series’ future.
It remains to be seen whether the Onoma developers who were transferred to Eidos Montreal will be working on the next mainline entry in theFablefranchise or another project using the IP, but the fact that Microsoft reportedly has such a well-regarded studio working onFableprojects shows that they still have faith in the franchise. While Embracer Group has had a somewhat spotty track record with recent releases, most clearly seen in thefailure of theSaint’s Rowreboot, their recent reshuffling of some of the biggest studios in gaming shows that the company, for better or for worse, seems set to have an outsized influence on the industry for years to come.
Fableis in development for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
