Fable's producer is right, downscaling development shouldn't be a concern

techradar.com:

Following claims that the next Fable game is facing development trouble, a senior producer's stepped in to assure fans all's currently well. 

First revealed in June 2020, we've seen nothing beyond a short cinematic reveal trailer for the upcoming Fable reboot. But earlier this week, a host from the XNC Podcast(opens in new tab) claimed development was being downscaled. They claimed Playground Games was struggling to adapt the ForzaTech engine for Fable, stating «the gameplay mechanics were alluding them» and «they couldn’t fit them in the engine».

However, one of Fable's senior producers, Amie Loake, has set the record straight. «I wanted to clear something up about scoping; it is a normal, necessary and [a] healthy part of game development,» she explains in a recent Twitter(opens in new tab) thread. «I can guarantee that every single triple-A game you've ever played will have gone through scoping regularly during development.»

Continuing in a follow-up tweet(opens in new tab), Loake tried to reassure fans why downscaling is necessary. «Its intention is to make sure the team are focused under one clear vision and can get it made in the time they have without killing themselves. Games that haven't been scoped correctly often have delays and crunch, both we should be aiming to avoid whenever possible.»

Downscaling might ring alarm bells for some. After all, when you've heard nothing about a game since its reveal, to then hear reports of features being scaled back –  I'll admit that doesn't sound that reassuring. But in an era where we've often seen ambition overcome by reality, Loake makes a solid point. Failure to control these elements leads to bigger problems down the road. 

Ubisoft is a prime example of what happens when