Obsidian Entertainment allegedly pitched several spin-off games for Bethesda’s franchises exploring different settings but they were ultimately rejected.
Former Obsidian writer Chris Avellone, he said, “One of the Elder Scrolls proposals (which I pitched) was intended to serve the same function as FNV did between F3 and F4, to provide more adventures in the setting during the years before the next Bethesda release.”
Unfortunately, all of Obsidian’s ideas were rejected and the studio didn’t release a spin-off in the same vein after Fallout: New Vegas.
“I thought it couldn’t hurt to try and push a similar system to what Treyarch/Activision had going with Call of Duty at the time (but hopefully less rushed),” he continued. “Bethesda could do a core release, then we’d release a TES title (in same world or a divergent timeline/era) before the next big Bethesda push.”
I thought it couldn’t hurt to try and push a similar system to what Treyarch/Activision had going with Call of Duty at the time (but hopefully less rushed).
Bethesda could do a core release, then we’d release a TES title (in same world or a divergent timeline/era) before the…— Chris Avellone (@ChrisAvellone) December 18, 2023
Avellone went on to say that now that the Elder Scrolls Online exists, the idea of a Fallout: New Vegas-style Elder Scrolls game doesn’t make sense anymore. However, he said it made sense to him at the time. He also mentioned that he never got the impression that Bethesda was happy with Fallout: New Vegas’s reception, good or bad.
Ironically, now both Bethesda and Obsidian are under Microsoft’s first party portfolio. Obsidian has expressed interest in going back to Fallout: New Vegas, including both potentially remastering the game as well as making a sequel.
It’s unclear whether Obsidian will ever get another shot again. Right now, Bethesda is working on the next mainline entries in their respective franchises, The Elder Scrolls VI and Fallout 5.