Does Microsoft's ZeniMax deal mean we're one step closer to a Fallout: New Vegas sequel?

Fallout: New Vegas Source: Obsidian Amusement/ZeniMax

Microsoft has officially acquired publisher ZeniMax Media, and with it, developers like Bethesda Game Studios, id Software, and Arkane Studios. Considering Microsoft already has developers such as Obsidian Entertainment and InXile Entertainment under its wing, this motility shows how serious Microsoft is to committing to the RPG market. And one RPG specifically is now on the table that most gamers previously thought of as a pipage dream: a sequel (either direct or spiritual) to Fallout: New Vegas, which is often considered the best Fallout by many.

Now that Obsidian and Bethesda are now nether 1 umbrella, the possibility seems more than likely than e'er.

It's what the fans want

Fallout: New Vegas Source: Obsidian Entertainment/ZeniMax

Fallout fans have had a rough few years. Though Fallout 3 was more often than not liked by players, many criticized how linear and restrictive the main questline was, with very trivial choice being offered to the player outside of side quests. While Bethesda did add more than master questline options in Fallout iv, the game'due south dialogue system was universally panned past fans and critics alike for its low impact on the game as well equally its lack of depth. And with the multiplayer-focused Fallout 76, Bethesda largely ditched the story-rich RPG roots of Fallout entirely (the Wastelanders update addressed this effect somewhat) and created an overall uneven game.

To say that Fallout fans have largely been disappointed in Bethesda's direction with the franchise would exist an understatement. Nevertheless, Obsidian Entertainment's Fallout: New Vegas was widely praised for the depth and nuance of its writing, besides as both the staggering level of player choice and the impact those choices made. As a result of Obsidian'southward more RPG-oriented approach, New Vegas is commonly idea of as the virtually popular of all the Fallout games — and fans have been hoping for a sequel to information technology for years.

However, ZeniMax Media never approached Obsidian once again post-obit the commercial and critical success of New Vegas. Bethesda Game Studios director Todd Howard said in a 2022 Guardian interview that the visitor wanted to continue evolution in house.

"I wouldn't say never, [But] now that our company is so big, it's always better to keep stuff internal . . . it becomes less probable, but I could never say never. I thought the Obsidian guys did a fabulous job," he said.

However, now that Microsoft has acquired ZeniMax, the door is open for Obsidian to work on Fallout again. And given that Obsidian has proven itself more capable of continuing on with what it built in New Vegas with The Outer Worlds, in that location'due south no reason why Microsoft shouldn't capitalize on what the playerbase wants.

Obsidian is open to the thought

The Outer Worlds Source: Obsidian

Fifty-fifty though we never saw a collaboration between Obsidian and ZeniMax once more, Obsidian itself has expressed its openness to the thought. Obsidian's CEO, Feargus Uruqhart, stated in a 2022 interview that he would "love to do another Fallout." While information technology'southward true that Obsidian does have Avowed to work on — a game that many have likened to Elder Scrolls — we shouldn't rule out the possibility of collaborations after that.

Notably, when asked whether or not Fallout: New Vegas two was possible following Microsoft's acquisition of ZeniMax, Obsidian'due south Twitter business relationship responded with a tongue-in-cheek unicode shrug emoticon. This has set off enough of wild speculation, but, at the very to the lowest degree, it shows the idea isn't completely dead.

We won't see Fallout for a long time otherwise

Starfield logo Source: Bethesda

This is just our idea, simply allowing Obsidian to accept on Fallout over again would allow a new entry to happen sooner. On elevation of maintaining Fallout 76, Bethesda Game Studios is also currently working on both Starfield and The Elderberry Scrolls Half dozen, the latter of which seems specially far off. Information technology's entirely possible that a new Fallout could take upwards of 10 years for Bethesda to become around to making.

If Obsidian makes a new Fallout game while Bethesda makes the next The Elderberry Scrolls, nosotros could cease up in a gilded age where both games release at like times. This would be a huge win for fans — and if both games end up on Xbox Game Pass when they launch, the Xbox Series Ten-selling potential for Microsoft would be enormous.

Your thoughts

What do you call up? Practise yous believe Microsoft should have Obsidian make a successor to Fallout: New Vegas? Allow us know.

If y'all're interested in experiencing Obsidian's masterful RPG design yourself, we highly recommend The Outer Worlds. It'due south currently on sale for 50 percent off on the Epic Games Store if you're a PC player, just the deal only lasts until Sept. 24, 2022. Besides, make certain you catch our roundup of the all-time Xbox 1 RPGs.

Take to the stars

The Outer Worlds Reco

The Outer Worlds

An RPG that will knock your socks off

The Outer Worlds is Obsidian'south latest award-winning RPG, featuring engaging combat, countless impactful choices to make, and a cast of wonderful characters.

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