April's biggest video game isn't like a new release Tales of Kensela: Zau or Stella Bloode. Instead, it's a series that hasn't had a new release in years.
Fallout is currently gaining mainstream attention thanks to the surprisingly entertaining Amazon TV version. Returning players and newly acquired fans alike are returning to classic games such as: fallout 4 and new vegas To scratch the post-apocalyptic itch. This is the moment every video game publisher dreams of, but there's just one problem. It's Bethesda's inability to capitalize on this moment.
Due to the way blockbuster video games are currently developed, there is little expectation that a new Fallout title will be released any time soon. fallout 5 Currently not scheduled for release until much later elder scrolls 6, Bethesda's current project. It's very likely that Amazon's series will be over for years by the time the next mainline game is released. It should be an eye-opening moment for AAA video game consoles. While it may seem logical to keep scaling projects and chasing “megagames,” that strategy sacrifices valuable flexibility. Bethesda may never capitalize on its biggest mainstream moment, but that's the problem.
loss of flexibility
The situation is as follows.Amazon's fall out It was an unexpected hit when it debuted on Prime Video earlier this month. Many viewers seemed to be drawn to its unique tone, which balanced light-hearted comedy with pitch-black post-apocalyptic darkness. This success reignited interest in nearly every game in the series' history. fallout 4 The 2015 RPG has particularly benefited from that wave, as it has since surpassed 100,000 concurrent players on Steam. That's great news for Bethesda.
What's not so ideal is that all the Fallout games you can play are at least six years old. 2018 fallout 76 is the latest game in the series, but it is a multiplayer online game and is not a good entry point for viewers looking for a solo story adventure. fallout 4 That's your best bet, and that game is nearly 10 years old.
In an older era of game production, this would probably be the moment when a publisher like Bethesda would jumpstart plans for sequels and spinoffs. It's possible that resources will be moved and something hot and ready to serve before Amazon's show ends. But that's no longer possible for companies like Bethesda – at least with their current workflow.
When Bethesda Game Studios makes a game, it doesn't work right away. An ambitious, content-packed open-world game has been in the works for nearly a decade.Its latest project, 2023 star fieldwas in development for eight years before being released to some less-than-enthusiastic response from players. The next project is already underway. elder scrolls 6.of skyrim Its successor entered pre-production in 2018, but is not expected to arrive for several years yet. fallout 5 What follows is recorded in the minutes. If it takes another eight years to make, the chances of it being released at the peak of the series are slim to none.
On some level that's fine. Bethesda doesn't owe anyone a new Fallout game, even if it enjoys newfound notoriety. Developers need to build whatever they are passionate about building, rather than responding to trends.But when I look at it fallout 5 is planned, and despite having an audience bigger than ever hungry for it, the overwhelming demands of Bethesda's unsustainable development schedule mean it's likely to miss the mark. doing. Game studios aren't the only ones struggling with this problem.
The Last of Us is currently having a similar moment thanks to its well-received HBO adaptation. The studio tried to take advantage of the double-dip remaster (and remaster of remasters) of his first two games in the series, but it will still be some time before they can take advantage of it. the last of us part 3. What's especially troubling is that the show will likely catch up to the game before then, possibly forcing showrunners to deliver the show. part 3 Please play on your TV before playing. Television can be produced much faster than modern games, which is bad news with animation being all the rage right now.
There are several ways Bethesda can fill that void. It wouldn't be surprising to see a remaster of a fan favorite like . fallout 3 and new vegas It will go down in the next few years.live service fallout 76 is in the perfect position to build momentum with updates related to the show. Getting next-gen upgrade fallout 4 Great timing this week. Perhaps smaller projects such as: fallout shelter As a stopgap. That's great, but it's half-hearted. The highlight is a new mainline title, but that won't be possible unless Bethesda drastically reduces the scope of the project.
And perhaps you should. Perhaps there's a lesson to be learned here about how game development has gotten out of control. The dream of a huge mega game may not be worth it anymore. Why would something this big take eight years of painstaking effort to develop? star field Is it just underwhelming because of the design compromises made to inflate the content? We now know exactly how costly this gamble was for Bethesda. The resources spent there could have been spent on more compact projects, giving the studio even more flexibility to read and adapt to audience interests. Without that power, all we can do is implement the plans we have been working on for years and hope that the people will continue to be excited in the years to come.
That means if you're hungry for more Fallout, you'll have to wait for the show's second season. Just hope she gets 8 more updates before Bethesda catches up.
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