Fable developer Lionhead after programmer with MMO skills for unannounced game

UPDATE: Lionhead has issued Eurogamer the following statement:

"Thanks for checking in with us! We're happy to tell you all about what we're working on. Just apply, get hired, and we promise to spill our guts!"

ORIGINAL STORY: Fable developer Lionhead wants a programmer with MMO skills to help make an unannounced game.

A job advert calls for an experienced principle programmer to be a "key contributor on an unannounced title".

Microsoft-owned Lionhead said the ideal candidate "is someone who enjoys playing MMO games and has significant experience with the workings of a massive online multiplayer environment".

It continues: "The role will focus on defining the high level network architecture for the project, security concerns, support for seamless post-launch updates, and implementation of server features."

Key accountabilities include "work with the design and programming teams to ensure the feasibility of multiplayer features".

Essential experience includes a passion for playing MMO games, and a minimum of one shipped MMO as a network programmer.

Desireable experience includes Xbox 360 / Xbox Live experience and multiplatform development experience. Experience with Epic Games' Unreal Engine - which Lionhead is using to build Fable: The Journey - is a plus.

In August Lionhead was rumoured to be working on a fourth incarnation of the Fable series.

"Look for the Fable cycle to continue with a proper, controller-based Fable 4 in 2013," the Official Xbox Magazine said.

Microsoft-owned Lionhead took four years to turn around a sequel to the original Xbox's Fable, while the gap between Fable 2 and 3 was just two years.

Kinect-enhanced Fable: The Journey is expected sometime next year.

Eurogamer has asked Lionhead for comment.