John Gonzalez has returned to Obsidian Entertainment after 14 years, stirring excitement from many fans of Fallout: New Vegas. Gonzales was the lead writer for the highly praised Fallout: New Vegas, and his return has lead to speculation about a possible sequel. Regardless of what Gonzales was going to do, fans of Fallout would have immediately thought of a sequel to New Vegas.
As if sensing this, Gonzalez has made it clear that his current project is not a New Vegas sequel. Despite this, his return raises questions, especially since Obsidian has shown interest in the Fallout series through remakes or new stories. This news comes as Obsidian is busy preparing to launch Avowed and working on The Outer Worlds 2, but bringing back such an important figure suggests the developer might be thinking about returning to the Fallout universe, particularly the Mojave Wasteland.
Fallout: New Vegas' Writer s Obsidian For A New Game
A Great Writer Has Returned
The news that John Gonzalez, the lead writer for Fallout: New Vegas, is reing Obsidian Entertainment is exciting. Gonzalez left the studio about 14 years ago after creating the beloved Fallout spin-off, and now he’s back on the team. Although he mentioned on LinkedIn that his new project is "not FNV2," Obsidian has regained a great writer. He was responsible for the intricate story and tough moral choices that helped make New Vegas popular.
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With Obsidian already having shown interest in revisiting the Fallout universe, there's a possibility players might see a return to the Mojave Wasteland, whether that's a remaster of the original game or a new project inspired by it. Despite being busy with other games like Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2, Obsidian hiring a writer means the studio is likely working on a new project.
The change in ownership could really impact the chances of a sequel to Fallout: New Vegas. Previous problems, like disagreements about bonuses for the first game and contract issues, now seem less important. With Microsoft owning both studios, there's conceivably a better chance they can work together. If both sides are interested, this could open the door for Obsidian to create another game in the Fallout universe. However, it’s still uncertain if this will actually happen.
Could The New Game Be A New Vegas Sequel?
Is Obsidian Working On New Vegas With John Gonzales?
Microsoft owns both Obsidian and Bethesda, which changes things for any possible Fallout project. The decision to make a New Vegas 2 is no longer completely up to these studios; it's in Microsoft’s hands as the parent company. Microsoft is focused on making money and will likely not let past issues between the studios get in the way.
A sequel to New Vegas could be very profitable, as the original game has a loyal fanbase that has been eager for a follow-up. A new game, whether a direct sequel or something similar, will likely sell well. With the potential for strong profits, Microsoft is in a great position to the development of another game like Fallout: New Vegas, regardless of what Obsidian or Bethesda might want.
John Gonzalez has made it clear that his new project is not Fallout: New Vegas 2. However, that doesn't mean players should take his word as the final answer. The gaming industry tends to keep things under wraps, especially at the beginning of a project, and it's possible that Gonzalez is not allowed to share too much information to prevent speculation. This is the kind of situation where Gonzales may be trying to lead people off the trail.
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For those who think Bethesda may stop it, the studio doesn't seem to be in a position to make waves. Bethesda is in a tough spot due to the recent backlash against Starfield. The company hasn’t received the same level of public enthusiasm as before, and no longer seems to be making hit after hit. A sequel to Fallout 4 could take a decade thanks to Bethesda working on one game at a time, and the studio is already slated to release Starfield's Starborn expansion, then move on to The Elder Scrolls 6 once Starfield concludes.
With a high demand for a new Fallout game, Microsoft might choose to work with a developer like Obsidian, who has a history of creating great Fallout titles, especially after the initial letdown of Fallout 76. This could give Obsidian a genuine opportunity to return to what many consider the best game in the Fallout series.
Why New Vegas 2 Would Be Cool, But Unlikely
Gonzales Has Been Pretty Clear
Even though fans are excited about John Gonzalez's return to Obsidian, the chances of seeing a direct sequel to Fallout: New Vegas are quite low. Gonzalez has clearly stated that the project he's working on is not Fallout: New Vegas 2 via his LinkedIn profile, which is disappointing for those hoping to see that story continue. The Fallout show will also show New Vegas in the next season, so there may be too many moving parts in that setting for a sequel.
Bethesda, the company that owns the Fallout franchise, has made it clear that it wants to keep developing its main games in-house. Todd Howard, Bethesda's head of development, told spin-off games for Bethesda's Elder Scrolls series, even suggesting that their version would act as a spiritual successor to Fallout: New Vegas by similarly coming between the main Elder Scrolls releases. However, these proposals were ultimately turned down.
The relationship between Obsidian and Bethesda has had some ups and downs, which makes any potential collaboration more complicated. Obsidian’s game, Fallout: New Vegas, was a big success both critically and commercially, but there were contract issues that strained the relationship with Bethesda. Despite Bethesda's high profile, though, any potential Fallout spin-off is likely to come at the behest of Microsoft.
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The contract had an unusual term where Obsidian could earn a bonus if the game scored 85 or higher on Metacritic. Unfortunately, the game ended up with a score of 84, which meant the company missed out on that bonus. This situation has led to rumors of tension between the two companies, particularly concerning finances, even though both sides have not mentioned any bad blood.
Additionally, New Vegas was developed on a tight timeline, which put a lot of pressure on Obsidian to produce a large and complex game quickly. That's not the kind of environment that developers would want to go back into. This history shows how challenging collaboration between the two studios can be, and it's something Microsoft must think about if it wants Obsidian to create another Fallout game. For now, it just seems like a Fallout: New Vegas sequel is not in the cards.
Sources: John Gonzales/LinkedIn, The Guardian
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