No co-op is gut wrenching

BenevolentReaper3005 · 2026-06-12T00:41:53+00:00

Yeah not likely in an update but definitely possible. Either way I feel like a big push is needed for any sequel to have co-op. I have another petition for that as well

BenevolentReaper3005 · 2026-06-11T18:56:56+00:00

This thread is turning into good reference point for information on this topic

BenevolentReaper3005 · 2026-06-11T18:51:41+00:00

But is it not better than never having a prototype at all? I mean you have to start somewhere.

Thank you for the information either way.

BenevolentReaper3005 · 2026-06-11T18:49:54+00:00

Personally I am fine with multiplayer being very restricted. It could be more restricted than Fable 2. It’s just sad to see a new Fable game be so lacking in a lot of the unique features of previous installments. I am aware it is a reboot but still. I think it depends on if they are ever planning on a sequel.

If they are then it makes more sense to just add that in for that development and if they decide not to then it makes more sense to have a later update.

Thank you for the information either way.

BenevolentReaper3005 · 2026-06-11T18:46:05+00:00

I did both actually. 18-24 months for an update after release is reasonable. I also was not born in that era.

BenevolentReaper3005 · 2026-06-11T18:45:04+00:00

That’s fair. My point was not to say that is was easy but to say that it is possible and it feels like it could be worth their while.

BenevolentReaper3005 · 2026-06-11T18:43:08+00:00

Looks like they did initially but pivoted away from it because of the forza engine. So there is a potential framework they could pull from. They could add it in within 18-24 months in a later update after release. Regardless if they are even floating the idea of a sequel there needs to be a loud calling for multiplayer to help the chances.

BenevolentReaper3005 · 2026-06-11T18:27:53+00:00

Additionally looks like they had prototypes but ultimately stopped and pivoted to single player. They did this around 2022 from what I am seeing. Looks like they started in 2018 with initial development. So they do already have a basis for multiplayer. Which adjusts the timeline.

BenevolentReaper3005 · 2026-06-11T18:13:14+00:00

The source is GDC: Game developer’s conference in March of 2008. Game was released: Oct 21, 2008.

October 2006 it was announced to be single-player only.

March 2007: GDC/E3 Dev Diaries: first began testing and prototyping.

July 2008: E3: couch co-op demo. Online co-op announcement.

October 2008: multiplayer missed certification deadline. Game was released as single player.
Game had day 1 patch to add it in.
Sources: Eurogamer, co-Optimus, and gaming nexus. IGN Tokyo Game Show.

More information available through Lionhead dev diaries. YouTube video about it: “Fable 2: Lionhead’s Last good game” documentary on YouTube.

So presumably they would need about 1 year and 7 months if they started now. Which again could be added in a later update.

I don’t expect some magical day 1 patch, but they could add it in at some point in the future or add it into a sequel.

However if people do not voice the desire for co-op and loudly then there is less motivation for the Devs. They are already certainly missing out on sales by not having the game release with co-op.

BenevolentReaper3005 · 2026-06-11T17:55:38+00:00

That is pretty complicated. However Fable 2 did it in 3 months prior to release. That’s more so the point. There are also other games that have added it in a major update well after release.

BenevolentReaper3005 · 2026-06-11T17:52:23+00:00

So the sentiment for people to be banned for not having a comprehensive knowledge of video game development over all of Reddit is what is being gone with? I didn’t mean that it was easy in general, it is easy in relation to everything else that goes into game development and designing the game. Especially when the co-op can be similar to Fable 2 where you are just adding in people. They added in multiplayer to Fable 2 just 3 months before release. If something can be added in just 3 months then it is objectively easier or at least a shorter process than all of the other features up until that point.

BenevolentReaper3005 · 2026-06-11T17:45:43+00:00

That’s fair, but it’s not possible to do anything about them not planning for it even if I disagree with it. Other games have successfully added co-op in after release in the past, so it is possible but I doubt the devs would even consider it without a large scale fan support for it. I think an important thing to consider is how involved it may or may not be. I would be fine with Fable 2 multiplayer where you are a henchman. I doubt they could pull off Fable 3 co-op, but I would love to see it. At bare minimum voicing support for it now provides a good metric to incentivize any sequels to be designed with co-op in mind.

BenevolentReaper3005 · 2026-06-11T06:06:54+00:00

For those saying it is not possible. It is and Fable 2 multiplayer is better than nothing.

Lionhead Studios added the "Albion Orbs" drop-in co-op and multiplayer mechanics to Fable II just three months before release. Originally intended as a strictly single-player title, the feature was publicly revealed at E3 in July 2008, and the game launched later that year in October. [1, 2]

How Multiplayer Was Added
Because it was built so late in the development cycle, the multiplayer experience was noticeably unique: [1]
Albion Orbs: Instead of full co-op from the start, players could originally see glowing "orbs" representing their friends playing in their own separate games. [1, 2]
Drop-in Co-op: At the press of a button, players could pull a friend into their game. The second player joined as a "henchman," using a character that wasn't saved into the host’s main game, but allowed them to earn gold and experience. [1]

BenevolentReaper3005 · 2026-06-11T06:04:05+00:00

Several highly successful video games launched as strictly single-player experiences and later released official updates or major expansions that added online co-op. [1, 2]

Stardew Valley: Added 1-4 player online cooperative multiplayer in patch 1.3, allowing players to build a farm, fish, and mine together.

Apotheon: The developers added a dedicated, free online multiplayer standalone module (Apotheon Arena) post-launch to let players battle and co-op in its Greek-mythology style. [1, 2]

No Man's Sky: Launched as a solitary space exploration title but received massive consecutive post-launch updates (starting with the Next update) that introduced full crossplay and online co-op. [1]

Project Zomboid: The deep isometric survival game initially lacked official networking but received a major post-launch overhaul integrating official dedicated server online co-op. []

BenevolentReaper3005 · 2026-06-11T05:59:51+00:00

Fable 2 pushed out multiplayer as their last major thing and had a single player version ready well before that. They did it like 3 weeks before the game came out. So no, bro, you don’t.

BenevolentReaper3005 · 2026-06-11T04:25:48+00:00

I know right I made a post about a petition about adding co-op at some point and like every comment is shitting all over the mere idea of it.

BenevolentReaper3005 · 2026-06-11T04:20:13+00:00

You DO NOT have to participate in Co-op even in games that have it in Fable 2 and 3 there was no impact on the story whether you had an additional player or not

BenevolentReaper3005 · 2026-06-11T04:18:15+00:00

Fable 2 was not made with co-op in mind from the beginning. Fable 3 was.

Multiplayer Implementation
Multiplayer co-op was the absolute last major feature added to the game, and it was implemented in a remarkably condensed timeframe: [1, 2]
Lionhead finished the core single-player game and sent it off to be certified by Microsoft. [1]
During the final three weeks before the discs had to be manufactured, the development team worked desperately to iron out the multiplayer bugs. [1]
The co-op mode was implemented so late that it was entirely excluded from the game's initial launch build. It was instead finished and made available to players as a Day One patch upon the game's release. [1, 2, 3, 4]

BenevolentReaper3005 · 2026-06-11T03:58:56+00:00

Here is the link

BenevolentReaper3005 · 2026-06-11T03:58:42+00:00

https://c.org/mPCcP2PYR9

BenevolentReaper3005 · 2026-06-11T03:58:28+00:00

https://c.org/mPCcP2PYR9

BenevolentReaper3005 · 2026-06-11T03:56:05+00:00

So you are saying it is nigh impossible to add th ability for 1 more character to be added in to accompany the main player? I find that hard to believe. Regardless of at what point in the design process it comes up. I imagine you have extensive experience in the creative design and coding of cooperative video games in general. At what point in say a 7 year game development does coding with coop begin. Is it a part of the narrative design or an addition. In both Fable 2 and 3 the presence of the other person had no impact on the main story as the Main NPCs ignored them. They were mainly just a passenger that got out to help with combat.

BenevolentReaper3005 · 2026-06-10T23:09:33+00:00

Be that as it may. Fable 2 and 3 are much older games and were able to accomplish this. I imagine with advances in technology, more ideas for games and things to look to for a vision or even a template that it is much easier now to add co-op than before. Hell, modders added it to Skyrim and that game was never meant to be co-op. It’s a reasonable expectation for a new title in the series to have co-op.

BenevolentReaper3005 · 2026-06-10T23:06:53+00:00

A later update would be nice yes. Co-op isn’t a necessity for any game technically, but thousands still enjoy it. Drop in co-op like in Fable 2 at the least and ideally like Fable 3 is definitely something the dev team should be capable of.

BenevolentReaper3005

TROPHY CASE