Summary
It may be a while before gamers get their hands on the nextFallout, but the series might be better suited for a detour similar to Capcom’s modernResident Evilgames. The future of theFalloutfranchise seems more uncertain than ever, as Bethesda will likely be pouring most of its effortsinto the nextElder Scrollsgamebefore moving on to the next mainline entry in the series. This offers the franchise the perfect chance to shake things up.
Bethesda took over theFalloutIP in 2007, and this change of ownership resulted in a stark change in the direction of the series. While the first two games, developed by Interplay and Black Isle Studios, were top-down, traditional CRPGs, the Bethesda-helmedFallout 3was a first- and third-person shooter with RPG systems, leveling, and immersive exploration elements. This style was carried over toFallout: New VegasandFallout 4, and a similar gameplay foundation would be seen in this year’sStarfield.TheFalloutgames, especially those predatingFallout 4, are quite dated by today’s standards, however, and Bethesda may want to polish them beforelaunching a brand-newFalloutentry.
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The Older Fallout Games Deserve Resident Evil-Style Remakes
Crucial to Capcom’s release strategy in recent years has been the remakes of the olderResident Evilgames. These releases are not simple graphical updates or ports—they are ground-up recreations of the classicResident Evilgames, offering completely new mechanics and gameplay systems for players to engage with. The remakes aren’t quite replacements for the original games, either; rather, they are fresh takes on the experiences, built with technology that wasn’t available at the time of their release. TheFalloutfranchise could now also benefit from this treatment.
There are a number of different directions Bethesda could take when it comes to remaking the classicFalloutgames.Falloutcould return to its rootsby revitalizing the CRPG systems of the first two games, broadening side content, and offering a high level of production value similar to something likeBaldur’s Gate 3. Alternatively, Bethesda could recreate one or both of the classic games within the framework of contemporaryFallout, favoring real-time action and exploration over turn-based, tabletop-inspired mechanics. However, this could be seen as a bridge too far for some fans.
A hypothetical remake wouldn’t have to be restricted to the top-downFallouttitles.Fallout 3andFallout: New Vegasare still great games, but they are undeniably dated when it comes to moment-to-moment gameplay, visuals, and general presentation. Rumors have suggested that Bethesdais working on anOblivionremaster, so this direction seems somewhat more likely. Ideally, remakes of these games could be more in line with theResident Evilremakes, offering much more than just a fresh coat of paint and instead reworking the gameplay, animations, controls, and various other elements that may not hold up to modern gaming standards.
Releasing these remakes could also help tideFalloutfans over while they await the release ofFallout 5.The Elder Scrolls 6still looks quite far away, and it’s unlikely that the nextFalloutgame will release before then, but remakes could bridge the gap betweenFallout 4andFallout 5, offering unique experiences to both old and new fans of the franchise. Additionally, Bethesda could outsource the development of these remakes, allowing the company to put its full weightbehind the development ofFallout 5.
While these sorts of remakes would still require plenty of time and resources, they would likely be easier to make than a brand-new game, as the story, quest design, and general structure have already been laid out.Resident Evil-quality remakes of classicFalloutgames represent a wealth of potential, and they could be welcome additions to the franchise and the gaming industry as a whole.
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