A gaming industry insider states that Obsidian Entertainment’s scrapped game was compared to Fallout by some of Xbox’s management, so much so that the project may as well have been Fallout in all but name. The comparison was made before Bethesda stated it would team up with Obsidian on a future Fallout project.
On July 17, Bethesda revealed its plans for the future of The Elder Scrolls and the Fallout franchises. Bethesda confirmed that the highly-anticipated remasters of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas were in active development. Bethesda also revealed that it was teaming up with Obsidian once again for a future Fallout release, though no additional details were shared. The company also said that The Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5 would be developed with Bethesda’s Creation Engine 3.
Obsidian’s Scrapped IP Drew Heavy Fallout Comparisons
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Image via Bethesda -
Image via Bethesda -
Although rumors must be taken with a fine grain of salt, some discussions about Obsidian’s latest project were held before Bethesda’s recent announcement. According to an update from Jez Cordon of Windows Central, sources stated that Obsidian’s scrapped, post-apocalyptic RPG — which did not initially have any ties to the Fallout series — was “very Fallout-y in nature.” The comparisons between Fallout and Obsidian’s side project reportedly caused some discussions about whether the game’s engine should be Unreal Engine 5 or the upcoming Creation Engine 3. Additionally, Obsidian’s previous project wasn’t intended to be an official Fallout release since Bethesda executive producer Todd Howard wanted to be involved with potential collaborations on the scrapped IP. Obsidian was reportedly aware of Fallout fans who hoped to see the studio return to working on the popular post-apocalyptic franchise, and it seems like this game was meant to be a spiritual successor to New Vegas before it became a full-on Fallout project.
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Corden previously said that Obsidian’s scrapped RPG was not going to feature an isometric perspective like the first two Fallout games did. Instead, the canceled project would have been similar to modern Fallout titles in being first-person RPGs. Since Obsidian’s recent releases include The Outer Worlds 2 and Avowed, it is plausible that the next official Fallout game from Obsidian may continue the first-person perspective trend. Given Xbox’s intent to ramp up the production of Fallout and The Elder Scrolls, time will tell when Obsidian will be ready to reveal more details about its Fallout game project.
Bethesda’s plans for Obsidian came amid a tumultuous time across Microsoft’s gaming division. A massive round of layoffs in early July affected various Xbox studios, including Bethesda and Obsidian. According to developers within ZeniMax Media speaking anonymously, the Xbox layoffs could have a lasting impact on the future of both Fallout and The Elder Scrolls. Some of the jobs that were lost included former staff members with years of expertise that will take a significant amount of time to replace.
It is currently unknown when any of Bethesda’s next games will be released, so fans must wait for more information. With Bethesda now working closely with Obsidian and ZeniMax Online Studios, it remains to be seen how the ongoing development of The Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5 will be affected.
- Released
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October 19, 2010
- ESRB
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M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Engine
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Gamebryo
