Fable 3's PC debut available on Steam at launch

Microsoft Game Studios and Lionhead have announced that Fable 3 will be available for the on both the Games for Windows Live Marketplace and Steam, alongside its retail release.

Xav de Matos

April 21, 2011 7:45 AM

Citing the importance of giving customers as many choices as is found throughout the Fable franchise, Microsoft Game Studios and developer Lionhead have announced that the PC version of Fable 3 will be available on both the Games for Windows Live Marketplace and Steam at launch.

According to the announcement press release, Fable 3 will be available for pre-order starting today on both digital distribution platforms, each with a special bonus. GFWL pre-order customers will receive Fable: Lost Chapters--the franchise's first title, and only other PC release--for free. Steam pre-order customers will receive the "Rebel's Weapon & Tattoo Pack," which includes "four exclusive weapons and five exclusive tattoo sets." As of publishing, a product page for Fable 3 is only available on the GFW site. The game will also be available at retail.

Presumably the game will feature the GFWL overlay regardless of distribution platform you select; however, Shacknews has contacted Microsoft to confirm.

The PC version of Fable 3 includes the once exclusive Xbox 360 RPG along with the "Traitor's Keep" DLC as well as a more difficult "Hardcore" mode setting. Fable 3 launches on May 17 for the PC.

Xav de Matos

Xav de Matos was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

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Shacknews

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April 21, 2011 7:45 AM

Comment on Fable 3's PC debut available on Steam at launch, by Xav de Matos.
- XAVdeMATOS
  
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  April 21, 2011 7:47 AM
  
  Summary: Microsoft is bringing Fable 3 to Steam along with Games for Windows Live and retail on May 17.
- LoioshDwaggie
  
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  April 21, 2011 7:48 AM
  
  Does this include the GFWL overlay?
  - XAVdeMATOS
    
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    April 21, 2011 7:54 AM
    
    I'm trying to confirm this; however, I expect that it will.
    - XAVdeMATOS
      
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      April 21, 2011 7:55 AM
      
      I should have added that we asked. Added it now.
  - synic0
    
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    April 21, 2011 8:21 AM
    
    I would like to know if we can now disable the overlay like you can with Steam. At least I can get rid of one of the two overlays by disabling it in Steam.
    - XAVdeMATOS
      
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      April 21, 2011 8:22 AM
      
      Since it's a GFWL title with GFWL achievements, the GFW overlay is a sure bet. Unless they secretly decided to ditch the GFWL features.
      - the archvile
        
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        April 21, 2011 3:23 PM
        
        It's surprising enough that they're offering Fable III on Steam, but Microsoft ditching GFWL for one of their published titles would be quite a story.
    - loganscar
      
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      April 21, 2011 9:15 AM
      
      You can turn off all notifications. It is still running, but you won't notice it.
  - malloc
    
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    April 21, 2011 8:22 AM
    
    yes, it does.
    - LoioshDwaggie
      
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      April 21, 2011 8:23 AM
      
      [citation needed]
      - loganscar
        
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        April 21, 2011 9:13 AM
        
        Think about it for a second.
        
        It is a game from Microsoft. Microsoft runs Games for Windows - LIVE. There is a DLC pack with the Steam purchase. DLC is redeemed through Games for Windows - LIVE.
        
        LoioshDwaggie
        
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        April 21, 2011 9:21 AM
        
        You're talking about a company that will fire successful teams / transfer products on a whim. This is the company that shut down ACES and Ensemble (despite both being profitable). The company that promised they would fix their issues on the PC, they ignored it for another year.
        
        They do random things like this all the time, so yes, I'm going to ask to be certain.
        
        LoioshDwaggie
        
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        April 21, 2011 9:24 AM
        
        Also that killed the Zune team/brand, despite transferring all of the tech assets to the Windows Mobile group.
        
        And before that, killed off Media Center for ZUNE.
        
        Microsoft is the exact opposite of consistent.
        
        loganscar
        
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        April 21, 2011 9:32 AM
        
        ACES and Ensemble were shut down during a recession.
        
        Zune is still alive and well, the only thing that was canned is the hardware because it is being integrated into Windows Phones now.
        
        synic0
        
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        April 22, 2011 10:37 AM
        
        They also bought Danger and then promptly killed their products twice and then disbanded their group after the awful Kin release.
  - kimvidard
    
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    April 24, 2011 5:13 AM
    
    probably a situation similar to the one found in the Dawn of War 2 original layout. Not the greatest of ideas, but it does show how dominant Steam is on PC, even Microsoft has to jump through THEIR hoops.
    
    Love this.
- Haxim
  
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  April 21, 2011 7:55 AM
  
  Are there any details on this "hardcore" mode?
  - XAVdeMATOS
    
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    April 21, 2011 7:58 AM
    
    One report I read noted it was improved enemy A.I., increased enemy attack damage, and the removal of a regenerating health system.
    - breadsticks
      
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      April 21, 2011 8:00 AM
      
      Pretty sure these things aren't why Fable3 wasn't fun to play.
      - derelict515
        
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        April 21, 2011 9:29 AM
        
        the complete lack of danger in Fable 2's combat definitely detracted from it to me
    - Haxim
      
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      April 21, 2011 8:03 AM
      
      Interested to see what "improved enemy A.I." ends up being. Combat in that game was an absolute joke once you got the ability to cast firecane.
      - v1ctoly
        
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        April 21, 2011 10:36 AM
        
        oh it was more than a joke, probably the worst fighting engine in a modern rpg to date. and to top it off a story that lacked direction and left me never wanting to play another fable game again.
- Schnapple
  
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  April 21, 2011 8:18 AM
  
  I view this as a sign that Microsoft is a little more serious about selling this game on the PC than we originally thought.
  - MeestaNob
    
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    April 21, 2011 10:38 AM
    
    No, it's a sign they realise this shit is out 12 months too late and they want to sell at least ONE copy to someone, somewhere.
  - sreyes22
    
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    April 21, 2011 10:41 AM
    
    BS, this wreaks of every other release with a staggered pc release. Contract saying that games will hit the console first, then go to PC under certain circumstances. Microsoft is always behind the curve, always.
- raeven
  
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  April 21, 2011 8:25 AM
  
  Didn't MS come out and say that they would be selling no games on Steam if you could also get them on their GfW store?
  - loganscar
    
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    April 21, 2011 9:14 AM
    
    Well, they said no games on their store would come with Steam.
    
    They also said Fable III digital would be exclusive to the Games for Windows Marketplace.
  - daggot
    
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    April 21, 2011 9:15 AM
    
    Could been a financial decision. "Do we want actually sell this game? Then put it up on Steam you idiot!" Well, these guys do live in WA. Maybe the weather got the product manager or something.
- duffman03
  
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  April 21, 2011 9:20 AM
  
  People who've played this already, how does a female main stack up against a male main character?
  - duffman03
    
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    April 21, 2011 10:01 AM
    
    I'm just wishing that every game did female leads as well as Mass Effect, really.
  - Haxim
    
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    April 21, 2011 10:48 AM
    
    Not sure, but I don't think the line delivery of the player character is a major selling point. It's not like there's a rich history they're describing or meaningful interactions in the game.
- HisDivineOrder
  
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  April 21, 2011 11:19 AM
  
  So they put it on Steam, then offer an entire game free if you're willing to bend over and take it in the GfWL. Haha, how confident are you in your service, MS? ;)
  - loganscar
    
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    April 21, 2011 11:39 AM
    
    Are you saying Valve didn't give out vaious pre-order bonuses to other digital sites while giving the first Portal as a bonus on theirs?
    
    Oh yeah, they did. It is marketing.
- apocreg
  
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  April 21, 2011 11:58 AM
  
  Cool, missed 3 a bit
- Dragzeela
  
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  April 21, 2011 12:10 PM
  
  How many people actually bought Halo 2 for the PC? locally, about .05, All pirates. I think this might also be the case.
  
  I respect all companies who have dropped GFWL half way, or have the option to get the game completely without GFWL. I think Dawn of War and Tomb Raider were like this, not sure. I definitely disabled GFWL in Fallout though.