Obsidian Entertainment - Fallout: New Vegas Announced

In a surprise announcement, Bethesda Softworks has revealed that Obsidian will be developing an independent Fallout title for PC and consoles to be known as Fallout:New Vegas:

Bethesda Softworks announced that Obsidian Entertainment is developing a brand-new Fallout game titled Fallout: New Vegas, to release next year on PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3.

Gamasutra was at Bethesda's event in London to hear the game announced by marketing and PR VP Pete Hines, who provided few specifics on the game's engine, gameplay or perspective -- but did note the game is neither a Fallout 3 sequel nor a spin-off.

"It's not Fallout Tactics -- it's not Brotherhood Of Steel. It's another Fallout game," said Hines. "It has no impact on what [Bethesda Game Studios game director] Todd Howard and his guys are planning."

A number of Obsidian staff are veterans of Black Isle's original Fallout games. The company's CEO, Feargus Urquhart, was instrumental in founding Black Isle, and served as its director.

There's more reporting of the announcement here at MCV, CVG, 1UP and numerous other sites around the net, but not much additional information as yet.
More information.

Release date is next year? Obsidian Entertainment obviously haven't learned their lesson with Knights of the Old Republic II.

Holy Crap! I love Bethesda, but this seems to be great news. If they allow Black Isle junior to develop a seperate Fallout IP, that's gonna be awesome. You know Feargus has been wanting to get his hands on the Fallout universe once again.

Rejoice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can't not believe what my eyes saw. A new Fallout game from the original team with Bethesda support. Finally, Fallout will return to its roots.

Well, not exactly the original team, but still probably the next best thing …

Great news. My only reservation is that Obsidian has yet to really prove themselves. Mask of the Betrayer had some good points, but it was only an expansion for a game engine that I'm not too fond of. On the other hand, Avellone and Feargus both had their hands in Fallout 2 which (though quite buggy on release) is a tremendous achievement. So I'm hopeful but cautious on this one.

So is this an Obsidian game or is it contract work for Bethesda?

What I got out of what very little has been said so far is Beth is the publisher and Obsidian is the developer, and it's stand alone.

Originally Posted by Gorath
So is this an Obsidian game or is it contract work for Bethesda?

Good question. Bethesda owns the licence, but do they have strict reglementations for spin off productions based on their IP?

I hope they gave Obsidian some room for their concept.

Feargus has to whip his people pretty hard if they want a solid release next year. But all in all, this project is a bit surprising move from Bethesda and Obsidian.

As long as it keeps them in business and gives OEI the opportunity to work on another important CRPG licence. 'though I'm not overly impressed by FO3 (good game, but boring to me) I feel tempted by an OEI approach to the setting, even if it uses the mechanics of FO3

Originally Posted by Surlent
Feargus has to whip his people pretty hard if they want a solid release next year. But all in all, this project is a bit surprising move from Bethesda and Obsidian.

Very, from Bethesda's angle, from Obisidian's angle accepting this is a no-brainer.

Not really Bethesda's MO, but I suppose they're looking at the best ways to expand on their dual success IPs.

From a fan's perception, this is pretty sweet, better than Bethesda's taking it up themselves or opening a new studio.

Las Vegas sounds like a fabulous idea for this kind of setting, IMO. Folks visit there from all over the world. Anyone who played Gothic and its first sequel knows how intriguing it can be, walking around familiar territory after it's been devastated (and invaded by who-knows-who or what).

Originally Posted by Squeek
Las Vegas sounds like a fabulous idea for this kind of setting, IMO. Folks visit there from all over the world. Anyone who played Gothic and its first sequel knows how intriguing it can be, walking around familiar territory after it's been devastated (and invaded by who-knows-who or what).

Wasn't New Reno in F2 kinda Las Vegas-like?

Best news since Obama's election lol. I never thought I'd say this one day: thank you Bethesda! Plus New Reno was my favorite Fallout 2 location, looking forward to Fallout: New Vegas!

Come to think about it, with the other Bethesda announcement trademarking tv shows and motion pictures set in the Fallout universe, it all makes sense now. After Fallout: Las Vegas hold tight for the next 2 ground-breaking announcements: Fallout: Miami and Fallout: New York. 9pm/10pm coming soon on CBS!

Originally Posted by Hedek
Best news since Obama's election lol. I never thought I'd say this one day: thank you Bethesda! Plus New Reno was my favorite Fallout 2 location, looking forward to Fallout: New Vegas!

Come to think about it, with the other Bethesda announcement trademarking tv shows and motion pictures set in the Fallout universe, it all makes sense now. After Fallout: Las Vegas hold tight for the next 2 ground-breaking announcements: Fallout: Miami and Fallout: New York. 9pm/10pm coming soon on CBS!

Only if you equate the destruction of what our forefathers intended america to be as 'good news'.

But yeah, bethesda letting someone other than themselves do a true Fallout game is pure joy.

Originally Posted by Kostaz
Wasn't New Reno in F2 kinda Las Vegas-like?

I never played it! (post-apoc isn't my thing, actually).

It's been a long, long time since I've been to Reno. It is in Nevada and does have casinos, but I don't remember it being in the same league with the Las Vegas strip. And now there's so much more than just the strip too.

Thought it was a late april fools joke.

Sounds nice, though need more info before I go nuts with expectations.

Hopefully its a rpg game .

This is… cool. Who would've thought. I mean… wow.