Today is the day it is officially over- the end of an era, as one of the most influential development houses in Britain, Lionhead, is being closed down. Lionhead Studios are best known for developing the Fable games under Microsoft, though they also developed Black & White back in the day.

“We can confirm that after much consideration over the six week consultation period with Lionhead employees, we have reached the decision to close Lionhead Studios. We have nothing but heart-felt thanks for the team at Lionhead for their significant contributions to Xbox and the games industry.,” Microsoft confirmed in a statement that they issued to Eurogamer.

It is a heart wrenching end to one of the most important studios in the British game development community- though their games may have failed to hit the lofty marks that they set for themselves, the fact of the matter is that Lionhead always had the ambition to try something, something that was entirely new, something completely bold. If they failed along the way sometimes- well, at least they could honestly say they tried. Who else could?

https://twitter.com/TheAlbionGirl/status/725944811941851136

https://twitter.com/ThirteenOranges/status/725951781834870784

"Find a job you enjoy and you'll never work a day in your life" – Dad was right. #RIPLionhead, what memories we have pic.twitter.com/c3U10gQltR

— Ted Timmins (@JustTeddii) April 29, 2016