Obsidian Reportedly Proposed a Fallout: New Vegas-Inspired Game Within The Elder Scrolls Universe
Obsidian reportedly pitched a Fallout: New Vegas-style game for The Elder Scrolls, but unfortunately, their proposal was ultimately rejected
Obsidian Entertainment reportedly presented a number of spin-off game ideas for Bethesda's franchises, all of which were turned down. Chris Avellone, a former writer for Obsidian, revealed, "I had proposed one of the Elder Scrolls ideas with the intention of expanding on the setting in the time between F3 and F4, much like FNV did."
Regrettably, none of Obsidian's proposed ideas were accepted, and the studio did not produce a spin-off similar to Fallout: New Vegas. "I believed it was worth attempting to implement a system akin to what Treyarch/Activision had with Call of Duty at the time (ideally with less of a rushed feel)," he added. "Bethesda could release a main game, and then we would release a TES title (set in the same world or a different timeline/era) before the next major release from Bethesda."
Avellone has since stated that the existence of the Elder Scrolls Online has changed the feasibility of a Fallout: New Vegas-style Elder Scrolls game. He mentioned that it made sense to him in the past, but not anymore. Additionally, he shared that he never felt that Bethesda was particularly pleased with the reception of Fallout: New Vegas, whether it was positive or negative.
Interestingly, both Bethesda and Obsidian are now part of Microsoft's first party portfolio. Obsidian has shown interest in revisiting Fallout: New Vegas, potentially through remastering the game or developing a sequel.
It's unclear whether Obsidian will ever get another shot again. Right now, Bethesda is working on the next mainline entries in their respective franchises, The Elder Scrolls VI and Fallout 5.
Editor's P/S
As a huge fan of both Fallout: New Vegas and The Elder Scrolls series, I can't help but feel a sense of disappointment that Obsidian's proposal for a Fallout: New Vegas-inspired game within The Elder Scrolls universe was rejected. I believe that such a game would have been an incredible opportunity to explore the rich lore and diverse regions of Tamriel in a new and exciting way. The idea of expanding on the setting between Fallout 3 and Fallout 4, similar to what New Vegas did for Fallout 3, would have been particularly intriguing, allowing players to experience a different time period and explore the consequences of the events that transpired in those games.
Furthermore, I find it unfortunate that Bethesda did not seem particularly pleased with the reception of Fallout: New Vegas, despite its critical acclaim and popularity among fans. In my opinion, New Vegas is one of the best Fallout games ever made, and it brought a unique and refreshing perspective to the series. The fact that Obsidian's proposal was rejected suggests that Bethesda may not have fully appreciated the potential of a Fallout: New Vegas-style game within The Elder Scrolls universe.
