MULTIPLE FALLOUT GAMES REPORTEDLY IN THE WORKS, INCLUDING "THE ONE YOU'RE ALL WANTING"
Just when you thought you'd have to wait until the actual apocalypse for another good single-player Fallout game, a new rumor has surfaced that has the entire fanbase injecting hope directly into their veins. Following the massive success of the TV show, it seems Microsoft and Bethesda are finally remembering they own one of the biggest IPs in gaming. According to recent reports, multiple Fallout projects are spinning up, including the one we've all been praying to the Mothman for.
What's Cooking in the Wasteland?
The news comes from VGC journalist Jordan Middler, speaking on the "Friends Per Second" podcast. He claims that multiple projects set in the beloved post-nuclear hellscape are in various stages of development.
First up is the safe bet: a Fallout 3 Remastered. This has been rumored for a while and is reportedly being handled in part by Virtuous, the same studio supposedly working on the Oblivion remaster. This is the appetizer, the thing to keep us busy.
But the real meat of the rumor is Middler's tease about "that one that I’m sure you’re all wanting." He was quick to add that it's not far enough along to be announced anytime soon, before jokingly dropping the two words every fan has been whispering for over a decade: "New Vegas 2."
Why Now? Corporate Synergy and a Hungry Mob
The timing, of course, isn't a coincidence. The Fallout TV show was a goddamn blockbuster, sending millions of people scurrying back to the wasteland. Microsoft, being the savvy corporate giant it is, knows a cash cow when it sees one. The fanbase is rabid, hungry, and desperate for anything that isn't another Fallout 76 update.
And for the first time in history, the stars are aligned for a potential New Vegas sequel. Microsoft owns both the Fallout IP (via Bethesda) and the studio that created its most beloved entry (Obsidian). The corporate red tape that once made a New Vegas 2 a pipe dream is gone. The only thing standing in the way now is whether the two studios can, or even want to, play nice in the same radioactive sandbox.
Don't Hold Your Breath (But Maybe Cross Your Fingers)
Now for the cold, hard dose of reality. Let's not forget the elephant in the room. These exciting rumors are swirling amidst a backdrop of brutal industry layoffs, with Microsoft axing entire studios and canning other major projects. It's hard to get too hyped about unannounced games when the people who make them are being shown the door.
Even if these rumors are 100% true, we're in for a long, long wait. Middler himself said the big one isn't coming "anytime soon." With The Elder Scrolls 6 as Bethesda Game Studios' main priority, a potential Fallout 5 is probably the better part of a decade away. A New Vegas 2 would be a dream come true, but for now, it's just that: a dream. It’s a promising rumor, but in this industry, a rumor is just a rumor until you see a goddamn trailer.