In a new interview, Todd Howard appeared to tease two new Fallout projects while talking about the franchise's runway to the future. However, plenty of questions remain.
Honestly, if I was Microsoft, I’d be looking to get a new Fallout game rushed into production immediately. And it probably wouldn’t be Bethesda making it. Not necessarily Fallout 5, but a new game in a new, interesting location. Something that can capitalize on the interest generated by the show, especially if it can come out near the release of season 2.
I agree that it would be in Microsoft’s best interest to set high priority to another Fallout AAA game, but there is no way they could make it in 1-2 years. AAA RPG games nowadays take a minimum of 3-4 years to make. 5 or more years for games with extensive content and high production values.
Three other reasons this would not be in Microsoft’s/Bethesda’s best interest are as follows:
A. After the failed release of Starfield, this drastically changed many people’s perspectives and trust factor in Bethesda, as the game came out in a broken state. People are quite a bit less likely to buy a game just on the trust factor than they might have been years ago. And… this is the second game to eat shit on release month from Bethesda.
B. With how well AAA RPG fans received Balder’s Gate 3, there were mentions online about how many people in the gaming industry took pause with their game dev to take count of what their game(s) were going to be offering, as this seemed to have become the new benchmark. So studios and publishers are more likely willing to spend an extra 8 - 12 months before. (Or so I would hope.)
C. While I believe you meant to say, ‘finish a Fallout game they had been working on for a few years’, I still don’t think they should risk releasing it soon. Bethesda is in dire need of a new solid gaming experience, and from what I’ve read online, (with a grain of salt,) they aren’t even close to releasing Elder Scrolls 6. And hell, they can’t fall back on their old cash cow, Skyrim, as it came out back in 2011. So there are those who say this is a make-or-break moment for them, as the future for them looks bleak if they can’t land their next video game release. I’m hoping they do, but I’m not holding my breath for them.
My point was that if I was Microsoft, I would want to get a Fallout game out while there is increased interest. Bethesda can get around to making Fallout 5 sometime in the next decade, but in the meantime, I’d have other teams working on other Fallout projects.
These don’t have to all be massive new games that push every conceivable boundary. They just need to be good games that can satisfy audiences who are craving more Fallout. I wouldn’t rush things at the expense of quality, but I would try to plan things with a more narrow scope and efficient design.
For example, I’d probably want to remaster Fallout 1 & 2, as well as 3 and New Vegas. Don’t have to reinvent the wheel, just update them for modern systems, polish them, add some modern conveniences, and maybe a little new content.
Simultaneously, I’d have someone working on a new Fallout game that takes place in a new location, (Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, whatever seems fun). This doesn’t get rushed, but it also gets a limited scope. Solid core gameplay and an interesting setting with good writing.
I’d also be open to something other than an open world rpg. A city builder, a real-time strategy game, an xcom style turn based tactical game with base building, Pokémon but with irradiated mutants, metroidvania in a vault, whatever. As long as there is also a more traditional Fallout game in the works, there’s no reason why you couldn’t also do something weird and different.
Ideally, I would have started work on this stuff as soon as the show got the greenlight. But even if they started right now, that’s still better than waiting for Bethesda.
If they can have something nearly complete to cash in on hype from the show, and something else they can announce that keeps people excited, even if that thing’s another year or two away, that would be perfect. And if not, they can at least get something out while the show is still relevant.
They should make fallout shelter 2, honestly. They could put micro transactions on that since people tolerate that more on their phones for some reason and make a mint.
I agree that it would be in Microsoft’s best interest to set high priority to another Fallout AAA game, but there is no way they could make it in 1-2 years. AAA RPG games nowadays take a minimum of 3-4 years to make. 5 or more years for games with extensive content and high production values.
https://www.33rdsquare.com/demystifying-aaa-gaming-the-past-present-and-future-of-blockbuster-video-games/
https://gamemaker.io/en/blog/how-long-to-make-a-game
Three other reasons this would not be in Microsoft’s/Bethesda’s best interest are as follows:
A. After the failed release of Starfield, this drastically changed many people’s perspectives and trust factor in Bethesda, as the game came out in a broken state. People are quite a bit less likely to buy a game just on the trust factor than they might have been years ago. And… this is the second game to eat shit on release month from Bethesda.
B. With how well AAA RPG fans received Balder’s Gate 3, there were mentions online about how many people in the gaming industry took pause with their game dev to take count of what their game(s) were going to be offering, as this seemed to have become the new benchmark. So studios and publishers are more likely willing to spend an extra 8 - 12 months before. (Or so I would hope.)
C. While I believe you meant to say, ‘finish a Fallout game they had been working on for a few years’, I still don’t think they should risk releasing it soon. Bethesda is in dire need of a new solid gaming experience, and from what I’ve read online, (with a grain of salt,) they aren’t even close to releasing Elder Scrolls 6. And hell, they can’t fall back on their old cash cow, Skyrim, as it came out back in 2011. So there are those who say this is a make-or-break moment for them, as the future for them looks bleak if they can’t land their next video game release. I’m hoping they do, but I’m not holding my breath for them.
My point was that if I was Microsoft, I would want to get a Fallout game out while there is increased interest. Bethesda can get around to making Fallout 5 sometime in the next decade, but in the meantime, I’d have other teams working on other Fallout projects.
These don’t have to all be massive new games that push every conceivable boundary. They just need to be good games that can satisfy audiences who are craving more Fallout. I wouldn’t rush things at the expense of quality, but I would try to plan things with a more narrow scope and efficient design.
For example, I’d probably want to remaster Fallout 1 & 2, as well as 3 and New Vegas. Don’t have to reinvent the wheel, just update them for modern systems, polish them, add some modern conveniences, and maybe a little new content.
Simultaneously, I’d have someone working on a new Fallout game that takes place in a new location, (Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, whatever seems fun). This doesn’t get rushed, but it also gets a limited scope. Solid core gameplay and an interesting setting with good writing.
I’d also be open to something other than an open world rpg. A city builder, a real-time strategy game, an xcom style turn based tactical game with base building, Pokémon but with irradiated mutants, metroidvania in a vault, whatever. As long as there is also a more traditional Fallout game in the works, there’s no reason why you couldn’t also do something weird and different.
Ideally, I would have started work on this stuff as soon as the show got the greenlight. But even if they started right now, that’s still better than waiting for Bethesda.
If they can have something nearly complete to cash in on hype from the show, and something else they can announce that keeps people excited, even if that thing’s another year or two away, that would be perfect. And if not, they can at least get something out while the show is still relevant.
I agree with you whole post, but this especially. A new Fallout Tactics would be great, and that is another candidate for remaster along with 1&2.
They should make fallout shelter 2, honestly. They could put micro transactions on that since people tolerate that more on their phones for some reason and make a mint.