Called Fable Fortune, the next entry in the Fable franchise will be a digital card game from a team of former Lionhead developers. Secretly in development for 18 months before the studio was closed earlier this year, Fable Fortune has found renewed life. The newly formed indie studio Flaming Fowl, co-founded by Craig Omen, Mike West and Marcus Lynn, launches the game’s Kickstarter tomorrow, May 31.
Immediately recognizable to anyone that has played Hearthstone for instance, the game sees players face off as specific heroes, using specialized decks of cards. The cards and heroes are made up of characters and monsters from throughout the Fable universe. More than just handing players more of the same though, Flaming Fowl has different plans.
Looking to “improve the genre,” West explains to IGN that the game will include new twists. Along with a 3D art style, the team is also working on co-op against AI bosses, a leveling system for cards, trophy cards, and even a Fable inspired in-match quest and morality system that will change how your cards play.
But that’s only the beginning. “We’re looking to build this game with the fans,” West says, “and then potentially morph and change things about the game over time. This is our starting position – we need to find out what people want from a CCG, and we’re ready to talk to them.”
As part of the reveal, IGN also managed to grab the first 17 minutes of gameplay from Fable Fortune. Check it out below.
While Fable itself is still owned by Microsoft, the company is allowing Flaming Fowl to use the name and characters, even while not personally publishing the game.
The Kickstarter will have a goal of £250,000 (~$366,000). With the campaign launching this week, the developer already has a playable test build. They plan to have a closed beta ready for players in the coming months and hope to have an open beta on PC and Xbox One in October. The team is currently aiming for an early 2017 release.
“I think this is something that Fable fans are going to enjoy,” Oman says. “We’re definitely very keen to keep giving them new and interesting things. We have the ability to add new creatures and characters to this game and the world of Albion. I think we can certainly give them that Fable fix that they’ll be looking for.”