Summary
DespiteFallout 5likely being several years away from release, theFalloutseries is in the spotlight once again thanks to Amazon Prime’s upcoming series. Set in theFalloutuniverse, the upcoming series follows protagonist and Vault Dweller Lucy as she leaves the safety of the Vault to explore the wasteland of a crumbling Los Angeles. With this premise in mind, theFalloutseries would be in a prime position to remake or remaster the original two games to coincide with the show’s release and give players a reason to get back into the series ahead ofFallout 5.
Bethesda is in a tough situation with theFalloutseries at the moment, coming off the heels of a massive project likeStarfieldand starting what is likely going to be another long development cycle forThe Elder Scrolls 6. This puts a Bethesda-developedFallout 5potential a decade or more from release, and it’s unlikely that the live-serviceFallout 76will be able to carry the franchise until then. While there has been speculation that Bethesda may outsource the development of a potentialFallout: New Vegas 2to Obsidian Entertainment, the stars seem to be aligning forFallout 1 and 2remakes to fill the current void in the series' gaming line-up.
Fallout 1 and 2 Remakes Could Capitalize on the Amazon Prime Show’s Hype
Before Bethesda acquired the rights to theFalloutIP and createdFallout 3,Fallout 1 and 2were developed by Black Isle Studios. Rather than the first-person RPG titles the series has become known for after Bethesda’s acquisition of the franchise, the originalFallout 1andFallout 2games were turn-based CRPGs played from a top-down, trimeric perspective. Black Isle Studios would go on to have a hand in developing other classic titles in the genre, such asPlanetscape: Torment, as well as aiding BioWare in developing the originalBaldur’s Gate 1 and 2.
What makesFallout 1 and 2remakes perfect to coincide with therelease of the Amazon Prime seriesis their settings. UnlikeFallout 3andFallout 4, which both take place on the East Coast of the United States, the originalFallouttitles are set in what remains of California, similar to the upcoming TV series. For fans who enjoy the Amazon Prime series and want more of the world’s lore,Fallout 1 and 2would be the perfect games to dive into, and remakes or remasters of the titles would be the ideal way to experience them.
Baldur’s Gate 3’s Revival of the CRPG Genre Means Fallout 1 and 2 Remasters Could See Similar Success
While some fans might expect to see full-blown remakes ofFallout 1andFallout 2as first-person RPGs like their successors, sticking with theiriconic CRPG originsmight be for the best. These original games still hold up fairly well today, and simply remastering them to look better and be a little more user-friendly for modern audiences would likely be all that they would need. This remaster route would help give fans an authentic experience and reduce the amount of time the developer would need to invest in bringing the games up to par with modern titles.
CRPGs have also seen a resurgence in the gaming space recently thanks to the massive popularity ofBaldur’s Gate 3, andFallout 1 and 2remakes could chase the CRPG trend following this success. Otherpost-apocalyptic CRPGs likeWasteland 3have seen recent success as well, so it would seem like a no-brainer to remasterFallout 1 and 2for a similar audience. It would be a shame if theFalloutseries didn’t receive any sort of gaming tie-in to the Amazon Prime show, and given their connection to the show’s setting and the popularity of CRPGs at the moment, remastering the originalFallouttitles makes the most sense.
Fallout
WHERE TO PLAY
You’ve just unearthed the classic post-apocalyptic role-playing game that revitalized the entire CRPG genre. The Fallout® SPECIAL system allows drastically different types of characters, meaningful decisions and development that puts you in complete control. Explore the devastated ruins of a golden age civilization. Talk, sneak or fight your way past mutants, gangsters and robotic adversaries. Make the right decisions or you could end up as another fallen hero in the wastelands…
