Dive Into the Mind of Peter Molyneux: His Past, Present, and Future
Ten years have passed since Peter Molyneux’s ambitious social experiment with Curiosity: What’s Inside The Cube concluded, leaving players with high expectations for his strategy game Godus. However, controversy and negative press surrounding Molyneux’s promises and communication style forced him to take a step back from the spotlight.
Molyneux’s Return
But now, in 2023, Molyneux is once again venturing into the public eye. He has recently appeared on various podcasts and made an appearance at EGX 2023 to reflect on the 15th anniversary of Fable 2. In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Molyneux discusses what he has been doing in the past decade.
Molyneux reveals that he returned to his coding roots during his time away from the press. He shares his love for coding and how it has made him more introverted. Reflecting on past mistakes, Molyneux acknowledges the issues with miscommunication and overpromising in his previous projects, such as the infamous Fable acorn and the Godus debacle.
The Future of Molyneux’s Projects
Molyneux’s current focus is on four projects with his studio, 22cans. Updates for Godus are in the works, expanding the gameplay from ground level to the sky. The Trail, another one of 22cans’ games, has also received the latest maintenance update. Additionally, the studio will be launching Legacy, a play-to-earn blockchain title, next month. Alongside these projects, Molyneux and his team have started working on a new game codenamed MOAT, set in the world of Albion, which inspired his acclaimed Fable series.
Despite little press coverage, Godus continues to perform well on mobile devices, thanks to organic growth and Apple’s recognition. Molyneux expresses his pride in the team’s accomplishments and their commitment to listening to the community’s feedback.
The Aggravation of Live Service Development
Molyneux discusses the challenges of working on live service games, emphasizing how aggravating it can be to never feel a sense of completion. He contrasts this ongoing development approach with his preference for creating games with a defined story arc, stating that he would sacrifice the freedom of adding features for the sake of crafting a memorable and complete experience. This is why 22cans’ focus is shifting towards MOAT, a PC and console game that will provide a more structured and fulfilling gameplay experience.
Return to Traditional Platforms
Molyneux reveals his decision to move away from mobile platforms and return to PC and console development. He shares his belief that some games are better suited for platforms where players invest in and commit to the experience, as opposed to mobile games where players often have shorter and more fragmented play sessions.
The Communication Struggle
Molyneux acknowledges the challenges he has faced with overpromising and miscommunication. To address this issue, he plans to communicate more cautiously about his projects. Through a blog, he intends to take readers on the journey from initial idea to production, emphasizing that not everything he says is a promise but rather a part of the creative process.
As Molyneux prepares to embark on this new chapter of his career, his passion for coding, storytelling, and creating memorable experiences remains unwavering. With MOAT and other projects in the works, fans of Molyneux’s unique approach to game development have much to anticipate.