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Forums - Microsoft Discussion - Good News: Microsoft Likely to offer Full Xbox 360 Games as Downloadable

According to Lionhead founder/head, Peter Molyneux:

Peter Molyneux has hinted that Fable II could be made available as a full digital release on Xbox 360.

The Lionhead Studios boss refused to confirm any concrete plans, but told GamesIndustry.biz: "I think it would be a great thing for this studio to work on."

Pressed on whether there were already plans for the critically-acclaimed RPG to be made available over Microsoft's Live service, Molyneux said: "I can't say anything else on it – I would be killed to death."

Microsoft, which already offers full original Xbox titles for download via its Marketplace service, has never formally revealed intentions to make full retail 360 titles available, but industry watchers have long predicted this could happen later in the console's lifecycle.

Molyneux's enthusiasm for a digital release comes after the success of the original Fable, which was made available for download on 360 earlier this year as part of the Xbox Originals range.

"It did really, really well," he revealed. "It was one of the highest selling, if not the highest selling, [Xbox Originals title]. I didn't track that exactly, but I know a lot of people got very excited about it when it came out."

Fable II released in Europe on October 24 and topped the UK charts after its opening weekend.

However, slowing sales, a crowded marketplace and tough economic conditions prompted UK retailer Gamestation to slash the price of the game by more than half its RRP to GBP 19.57 at the end of last month.

"Any way that more people can play it, the better," insisted Molyneux. "Normally I'd feel quite emotional about that, but at the moment I just think it's a reflection of where we are when people will struggle to spend any money at Christmas at the moment."

He added: "It's hard to see any products that aren't being discounted and it seems like retailers in this country are focusing on different products every week. If this hadn't been this time last year, I don't think it would have happened."

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If Fable 2 goes this route, surely the rest will follow.



Back from the dead, I'm afraid.

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Great. Possibly cheaper than retail? No cost associated for case, booklet etc...



One would assume there'd be huge cost savings...



Back from the dead, I'm afraid.

Yeah should it be cheaper than retail?

no "box costs" will be needed anymore!



All hail the KING, Andrespetmonkey

I'm all for this. However, then I'd have to go and pick up a 120GB HD for $179.99. What a rip off!!!



Author of science fiction and other genres, I write under the pen name Desmond Shepherd. The second season of my series The Permanent Man premieres on November 11, 2014. Pre-order the season premiere The Walls Have Ears on Amazon today!

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Well as long as their are still retail releases retailers won't have a problem with it but I'm just not a big fan of digital downloads. I need my box and case haha.



Every Platinum Hits game should be available to download.  In the least all first party titles should be available for download.  Hopefully a 500gb hard drive is released and the 120gb becomes the default drive.





Sony has done this for a couple of titles. I can't speak for MS's strategy, but the Sony games were not cheaper than the retail versions. I don't think they want to anger their retail outlets. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. The retailers may have to make concessions with the used games sales in order to prevent MS and Sony from offering their full catalogs online.



Thanks for the input, Jeff.

 

 

@zucas

I agree....especially cus I like to show off my box art collection!



All hail the KING, Andrespetmonkey

Cool, but I like to have physical copies of games. Makes me feel like I actually own it and not something that is pretty much thin air, borderline Imagination Land.

How am I supposed to sell a rare copy of my imagination on ebay for big money? u_u







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