Ex-Lionhead developers announce new game, shelve new game, and confirm layoffs all at the same time

Flaming Fowl, the developer behind card battler Fable Fortune and the acclaimed Gloomhaven video game adaptation, has unveiled its new project – but, in an unusual move, has also announced it’s shelving development and confirmed layoffs at the studio all at the same time.

Flaming Fowl, which was founded in 2016 by former members of original Fable developer Lionhead Studios, embarked on its rollercoaster of announcements in a post on Steam, beginning with a reveal for its new project, known as Ironmarked – a “1-3 player co-op RPG with turn-based combat” – and the launch of an accompanying demo.

In an unexpected and rather sobering twist, however, Flaming Fowl immediately followed Ironmarked’s unveiling with some unhappier news, revealing, “Unfortunately, due to the current lack of funding in the games industry, we are putting production on hold and have had to downsize the studio, letting go of some amazing people.”