A slip of the box-art - Fable III will run on Windows

David Heath
Sunday, 16 May 2010 20:25

Your IT - Entertainment

An early release of the proposed box art for the latest version of Fable - Fable III has a small 'blemish.'  A small stamp at the top has the words "Only on Xbox 360 & Windows" surrounded by a green rectangle.

First spotted last Friday on the Games journalists' resource site Games Press the Fable III box art featured the usual main character at the peak of their conquest - in this case, with a sword strapped to the back, brandishing a flintlock pistol in one hand and reaching for a glowing crown with the other.

Unfortunately, the image also showed the usual X-BOX 360 and X-BOX LIVE logos, but nestled in between was the offending printed stamp.

It seems that after enquiries from a number of writers, the information was rapidly withdrawn from Games Press!

According to a number of reports the latest edition of Fable, which is due for a December release, is confirmed only for Xbox 360.  A Microsoft spokesperson commented to both sites that "We have not made any official announcements beyond 'Fable III' for Xbox 360 at this time."

The first clue that a Windows version might be coming was back in March when an eagle-eyed job seeker noticed an advertisement from Microsoft seeking a Network Programmer on the Fable 3 project.  A key responsibility "involved converting and maintaining the network code of the Xbox 360 version of this game to the PC, and enabling the Xbox 360 version and the PC version to play together."

This latest mistake comes hard on the heels of last week's Microsoft PR blunder where they accidentally let slip an ad banner onto the Xbox LIVE marketplace stating "Gears of War 3 announced."  It's a pity that the surprise announcement wasn't due to be made until later that day on Jimmy Fallon's Late Show.

So, take the news as you will, but even if this the Microsoft PR machine indulging in a little bit of viral marketing, the news sounds good for Windows Live gamers.