Microsoft has finally stirred the Fallout franchise from its decade-long slumber, announcing Fallout 5, a sequel to New Vegas from Obsidian Entertainment, and two remasters. The sudden flurry of activity follows years of fan frustration and a new Xbox boss who, by her own admission, knows little about games.
Bethesda's Long Overdue Awakening
It has been over ten years since the last proper Fallout game, with Fallout 76 widely dismissed by fans. Reader Ashton Marley expressed disbelief that it took a new Xbox executive to prompt action, stating, 'Funny how she’s only been in the job for a few months and now suddenly we’ve got two remasters, confirmation of Fallout 5, and a sequel to New Vegas 2 from Obsidian.' He criticized Microsoft's management, noting that Obsidian was already working on a similar post-apocalyptic IP before being redirected.
Another reader, writing as Barney, commented, 'So, no new Fallout for a decade and now we’ve got two new games and two new remasters? I guess Microsoft has finally had enough of Bethesda dragging its feet.' He pointed to the TV show's lack of accompanying games as the catalyst, though he lamented the timing as 'incredibly late to the party.'
New Vegas 2: The Most Exciting Prospect
While Fallout: New Vegas 2 generates the most buzz, it may not be a direct sequel. Barney noted, 'It doesn’t look like it’s going to necessarily be a follow-up, it’s just another Fallout game from the same developer. That makes me even more optimistic about it, as hopefully it won’t be held back by having to tie into anything else.' He estimated a five-year wait for release.
Readers also expressed pessimism about other franchises. Lenix lamented the silence around Mass Effect, saying, 'I honestly can’t remember when the last officially announcement about it even was. Last year’s N7 Day was a nothing burger.' He blamed EA's mismanagement and feared the upcoming buyout could further diminish chances for a new game.
Preservation and Physical Media Concerns
In a separate thread, readers discussed game preservation. Korbie advocated for cartridge-writing machines, stating, 'It’d be the best of both worlds, because you’d be able to take the complete version, not just the launch day one.' He warned that discs and cartridges degrade over time, citing disc rot as a real threat. 'If you’ve got a copy of Ridge Racer on PS1 there’s a fair chance it’s not working by now,' he added, emphasizing that cloud storage offers the only permanent solution.
JimE recommended the Evercade as a retro gaming console, praising its ability to discover old games and indie titles like Goodboy Galaxy and Roguecraft.
Halo: Campaign Evolved and Nostalgia
Reader Coinslot shared memories of buying the original Halo and Xbox at a midnight launch in March 2002. He recalled cycling home with the console bungee-corded to his bike rack and playing until dawn. However, he noted that the forced move to digital has dulled his enthusiasm, and he doubts he'll buy the upcoming Halo: Campaign Evolved, released next Tuesday, July 28.
Other letters touched on the God of War TV show, with Lumpy calling it nonsensical due to the impracticality of a character in white paint. Readers also discussed the Saros demo's difficulty and the desire for more swords-and-sandals games.
