Microsoft appears to be shifting its strategy for the future of Xbox , now giving absolute priority to its biggest and most recognizable gaming franchises. According to new information, the company is proceeding with a significant restructuring of Xbox Game Studios , with one of the most interesting developments involving Obsidian Entertainment 's return to the Fallout universe .
Reports have Josh Sawyer, the man who directed the much-loved Fallout: New Vegas, at the helm of a brand new game in the series. If confirmed, this would be one of the biggest developments in the franchise in recent years and perhaps the answer Fallout fans have been waiting for for over a decade.
Microsoft is changing priorities at Xbox
Xbox's new strategy comes at a time when Microsoft is looking to make the most of the big names it acquired through its acquisitions of ZeniMax Media and Bethesda.
Despite the success of new titles like Starfield, the company seems to consider series like Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, DOOM , and Call of Duty to be the main pillars on which the development of the Xbox platform will be based in the coming years.
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As part of this restructuring, several Obsidian Entertainment projects are reportedly being canceled or frozen so that the studio can allocate more resources to developing a new Fallout.
Obsidian returns to the franchise after 16 years
For old fans of the series, the most important news is not just the creation of a new game, but who is behind it.
The last time Obsidian worked on Fallout was in 2010, when Fallout: New Vegas. Despite being developed in a relatively short period of time, the game has become one of the most beloved titles in the franchise's history, thanks to its deep storytelling, choices that significantly affect the course of the story, and excellent mission design.
Many players still consider New Vegas superior to even Fallout 3 and Fallout 4, which explains why the potential return of Josh Sawyer has caused so much excitement in the community.
Collaboration with Bethesda
According to the available information, the new game will not be developed exclusively by Obsidian. Bethesda Game Studios, which still has full responsibility for the franchise, is expected to work closely with Obsidian during development. This partnership is considered particularly important, as it combines Bethesda's experience in creating open worlds with Obsidian's narrative approach and RPG background.
If confirmed, it would be the first substantial collaboration between the two teams on Fallout since the release of New Vegas.
What does this mean for the rest of Obsidian's games?
The new direction seems to have an impact on the studio's other projects as well. Reports indicate that development on Avowed 2 has been halted, despite the project being well into development. At the same time, several other unannounced games appear to have been shelved, while some staff are being reassigned to higher-priority projects.
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However, Obsidian isn't completely abandoning other franchises . The Outer Worlds 2 will continue to be supported with new content after its release, while development on Grounded 2 is also expected to continue as normal.
The reallocation of personnel indicates more of a change in priorities than the abandonment of these series.
Why Fallout is back in the spotlight
The resurgence of interest in Fallout is no coincidence. The huge success of the Fallout on Amazon Prime Video introduced millions of new viewers to Bethesda's post-apocalyptic universe. As a result, sales and active players of older titles have increased significantly, proving that the franchise's momentum remains strong, even without a new mainline title.
Meanwhile, Fallout 76, released in 2018, has evolved into a solid online experience thanks to constant updates, but most fans of the series are still waiting for a brand new single-player RPG.
See also: Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 leaves Call of Duty HQ
The future of Fallout
Although there has been no official announcement from Microsoft or Bethesda so far, information converges on the fact that Fallout is now one of Xbox's biggest priorities.
The potential return of Josh Sawyer and Obsidian is a huge deal, as they have proven in the past that they know how to capitalize on the series' unique style like few others. While such an ambitious RPG will take years to develop, this development could herald the beginning of a new era for Fallout. For millions of players around the world, the possibility of a sequel to New Vegas is perhaps the most anticipated RPG news of the last decade.
