Fallout 3 stands as one of the most special titles crafted by Bethesda Game Studios. It was the first entry in the franchise that Todd Howard and his team developed after the studio obtained the rights to the post-apocalyptic franchise from Interplay Entertainment.
Even though Fallout 3 wasn’t flawless by any standards, it was a smash hit. Since its release, gamers have always wondered what exactly inspired Howard to craft such a title. You’ll be shocked to know that it was none other than the critically acclaimed ‘The Road‘ that steered the ship for Bethesda.
The iconic book that inspired Todd Howard’s Fallout 3
A few years ago, Arthur Protasio got the opportunity to sit down with Fallout 3‘s lead designer and writer, Emil Pagliarulo. The Bethesda developer opened up about everything related to the post-apocalyptic title’s development journey and how the studio managed to create such a masterpiece.
During the interview, Pagliarulo was asked whether the way Fallout 3 unravels its plot by having gamers experience the protagonists’ lives from birth adds to the overall story development.
The Bethesda developer confirmed that the studio wanted players to be emotionally invested in the game and took inspiration from their personal lives and The Road by Cormac McCarthy.
Cormac McCarthy released his amazing novel The Road, which chronicled a father escorting his young son through post-apocalyptic America. Well, we all read that book, and it only strengthened those feelings.
If you’re unware, The Road tells the readers a story about a father who is supposed to take his son through the post-apocalyptic world. It’s one of the most acclaimed books out there and even has a movie adaptation based on it that features Viggo Mortensen.
When Howard and his team went through this book, they immediately wanted to create a similar father-child story in Fallout 3. Bethesda pushed gamers to have a strong bond with the in-game father so they can experience the feeling of betrayal when he leaves the Vault and grief when he dies.
Will we ever see a Fallout 3 remaster?
Bethesda has a number of Elder Scrolls and Fallout titles that deserve a remaster. However, Fallout 3 is one game that needs special attention as it was Bethesda’s very first take on the franchise.
Back when Microsoft was facing an investigation by the FTC for the Activision Blizzard takeover, various internal documents leaked. One of these suggested that a Fallout 3 remaster was on the cards for a release in 2024. While the timeline of these documents has proven to be false, it doesn’t mean that a remaster can’t happen.
In recent months, the post-apocalyptic franchise has been making waves, all thanks to the popularity of Amazon Prime’s Fallout show. It has played a major role in pushing gamers towards recent entries, and even failures such as Fallout 76 have managed to hit new highs. Considering how popular the franchise is right now, a new Fallout entry is definitely needed.
However, let’s not forget that it’s highly unlikely we’re going to see a new entry this decade. Howard and his team are working hard on Elder Scrolls 6, and it’s supposed to be released in 2027/2028 as soon as possible. Only after wrapping that game will Bethesda move on to the next post-apocalyptic title.
With that said, would you like to see a Fallout 3 remaster? Let us know in the comments below.
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