Entertainment news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Obsidian Is Officially Making a New Fallout Game
Bethesda has officially announced that Obsidian Entertainment is developing a new Fallout game, confirming industry speculation that emerged following Xbox's recent business restructuring. The confirmation included news of remasters for Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas, signalling a broader renewed push for the franchise across modern platforms. This represents Obsidian's return as the lead developer for a new Fallout title over a decade after creating the critically acclaimed Fallout: New Vegas.
Obsidian has maintained much of its senior creative staff from the New Vegas era, including project director Josh Sawyer and lead writer John Gonzalez, strengthened by the recent additions of original Fallout creators Tim Cain and Leonard Boyarski. While the studio's subsequent projects have not matched New Vegas's reception, the retention of core creative leadership and expansion with franchise veterans positions the team with substantial experience for the undertaking. Reports suggest the project may have come at the cost of postponing development on a planned Avowed sequel.
In short
- Obsidian Entertainment officially confirmed as developer on new Fallout game
- Remasters of Fallout 3 and New Vegas also announced alongside the project
- Development may have delayed Obsidian's planned sequel to its recent game Avowed
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of this decision emphasise Obsidian Entertainment's proven track record with New Vegas, which remains among the most critically acclaimed entries in the franchise. The retention of senior creative leadership—Josh Sawyer and John Gonzalez—ensures the studio preserves its distinctive vision for the series. The addition of original Fallout creators Tim Cain and Leonard Boyarski further strengthens the team's credentials, providing direct access to the foundational design principles that made the series successful.
The case against
Those expressing reservations about this announcement acknowledge Obsidian's New Vegas success but note that over fifteen years have passed since that achievement, and the studio's subsequent projects have not achieved comparable critical reception. The postponement of the Avowed sequel raises questions about whether Obsidian possesses sufficient resources and capacity for such a demanding undertaking. They argue that whilst the restoration of familiar creative voices is encouraging, the gap in time and the exceptionally high expectations of the fanbase present genuine risks that historical credentials cannot fully mitigate.
Explained simply
Fallout is a video game series set in a post-apocalyptic world, famous for allowing players to make choices that shape how the story unfolds rather than following a preset narrative. The franchise is owned by Bethesda and has become one of gaming's most recognisable properties over nearly three decades.
Obsidian Entertainment is a video game studio that developed Fallout: New Vegas in 2010, which became one of the most beloved and critically praised games in the franchise despite technical issues at launch. The studio has not developed a new Fallout game since then, making this return to the series a significant milestone after more than a decade away.
The project brings together senior creative talent from New Vegas, including director Josh Sawyer and lead writer John Gonzalez, alongside Tim Cain and Leonard Boyarski, who created the original Fallout games in the 1990s. This assembly of veteran developers positions the studio to potentially deliver work of comparable quality to New Vegas.