The landscape of the Fallout franchise has shifted dramatically since its inception. No longer the niche, isometric RPG born at Interplay in 1997, it’s now a massive franchise reinvented by Bethesda’s move to a first-person open-world format, and further expanded through projects like Fallout 76 and its recent success as a Prime Video series. This scaling up has divided fans, particularly veterans, but the brand is undeniably more alive than ever.
Many players are now wondering what the original creators think of the franchise’s evolution under Bethesda’s stewardship. Game Informer recently spoke with three key figures from the original Fallout – Tim Cain (lead programmer), Leonard Boyarsky (art director), and Brian Fargo (executive producer) – about how the saga has evolved. Their opinions are a mix of nostalgia and some measured critique.
Cain is direct, stating that Bethesda “would have gone in a different direction,” but acknowledges that “sales say people love what they did.” while it may not be *their* Fallout, he doesn’t entirely disapprove of Bethesda’s management of the IP. Boyarsky admits to enjoying both Fallout 4 and Fallout 3, though he offers a slight critique of the latter.
“It had a bit of that greenish tint over it and I didn’t feel it was as crisp as I would have liked, but I say that with the perspective of time,” Boyarsky said. He also noted that Fallout 3 felt “closer to what we would have done in terms of an RPG,” while Fallout 4 trimmed some of those classic role-playing systems. This sentiment echoes Cain’s earlier concerns about Fallout 5, specifically the simplification of certain mechanics, though Boyarsky acknowledges the merits of Bethesda’s RPGs.
La temporada 2 de Fallout se ha posicionado como la sexta temporada más vista en la historia de Prime Video. Fargo connects the games and the series with a common thesis: “I would say it’s almost like [Bethesda] treated the games like they treated the Amazon series.” According to the founder of inXile, this is where Bethesda deserves credit, because, between the music, the aesthetics, and the overall identity, the plan was to put that ‘Fallout vibe’ first and then allow for freedom, whether in Fallout 76, Fallout 4, or the Prime Video series. “You have to say it: it worked.” Fallout may be something different from what they would have preferred, but its current success also speaks to sound decisions.
Todd Howard Acknowledges Fan Anxiety Regarding Fallout 5
On Bethesda’s side, Todd Howard has addressed the silence surrounding Fallout 5, admitting he perceives “anxiety” among fans, even now that the franchise is experiencing a peak in visibility. During the same conversation, Howard defended the fact that work on Fallout hasn’t stopped, stating that it’s currently their “most active franchise,” though he clarified that most of the internal team is currently focused on The Elder Scrolls 6.
He cited Fallout 76 as an example of a dedicated team working on the franchise for a long time, and that will continue. He also hinted that there are “other things” related to Fallout that haven’t been announced yet. It’s known that Fallout 5 will be connected to the universe of the Fallout series on Prime Video, meaning the events and story of the series will be considered in the setting of the title when it arrives.
Beyond Fallout 5, rumors occasionally surface about potential remasters of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas. Following the success of Oblivion Remastered, a re-release of both RPGs with improvements wouldn’t be surprising. These projects are likely several years away. The Fallout series continues to expand, with filming for Season 3 scheduled to begin on , with a potential release in mid-2027.
