10 Video Games That Were Scrapped AFTER Being Almost Finished

10. Fable Legends

Fable Legends was a free-to-play co-op entry into Lionhead Studios' beloved RPG franchise - an asymmetric multiplayer game in which four Heroes battle an omnipotent Villain who hurls obstacles in their way.

Fable Legends began development in 2012 and was officially announced in 2013, with Lionhead reportedly spending $75 million on the game and intending to support it as a live service title for 5-10 years.

Despite the game having a closed beta in 2014 and being in the final polishing stages of development by 2015, it was unexpectedly cancelled in March 2016 when Microsoft suddenly closed Lionhead.

Numerous reasons were cited for Microsoft's decision, from the game's sizable budget to the difficulty of monetising it, the mixed response to the closed beta, few at Lionhead actually wanting to work on it, and Microsoft strategically shifting award from free-to-play multiplayer fare.

Though the live service space is wildly overcrowded today, it's rare for a game as far along as Fable Legends to get the chop. 

Ultimately though, its cancellation is an indication of just how expensive and time-consuming it is to continually manage and operate "ongoing" games.