Kotaku UK reports that that several potential buyers expressed interest in Lionhead Studios prior to the studio's closure during the period when Microsoft was still deciding on the future of the developer. This is unconfirmed, but cites "several sources" and they say the suitors included some of the biggest names in the industry. Apparently the sticking point would have been licensing of publishing rights for the Fable series, which would obviously have been one of the main draws of a purchase.