Todd Howard Welcomes Obsidian to Fallout’s New Vegas Revival

Todd Howard, the director at Bethesda, has shed light on the much-anticipated return to New Vegas within the Fallout television adaptation. The creative team behind the series is taking a distinctive approach as they revisit this celebrated setting from the role-playing classic. Howard explained,

“We sort of approach it like we do a new game. Like, hey, we're starting fresh. Okay, we're going back to Vegas: number one, we've got to honour the journey that every player had there. Maneuvering that is tricky. [Co-showrunners Graham Wagner and Geneva Robertson-Dworet] have some great ways to manoeuvre that fog of war, and [ask] what are the factions up to now.”

Balancing Nostalgia with Innovation

Howard’s guiding principle, consistent throughout his career, has always placed the audience at the forefront. However, he acknowledges that the new series will take a few calculated risks as familiar faces like Lucy and The Ghoul, along with a host of survivors, make their way towards the Strip.

“It's going back to authenticity,” Howard says. “What would we want to see as a fan? Make it as authentic as possible and come at it with a lot of thought, a lot of love, but also take some swings.”

The creative process, then, is a careful blend of respect for the original and a willingness to try something a bit different.

Iconic Characters and Creative Choices

One of the central topics for Howard and the show’s writers was the enigmatic House, a character who first appeared in the 2010 game and made a brief appearance in the first series of the adaptation.

“It was a question early on: Do we put House in the show? How much? And then you're like, 'He's amazing. He's one of the best characters. The first real character from the games brought into the show and he's awesome, right? So, [that's] just a great opportunity.”

The decision to include such a pivotal figure reflects the team’s commitment to both long-time fans and newcomers alike.

Collaboration with Original Developers

In a nod to the legacy of Fallout: New Vegas, Howard revealed that the developers from Obsidian, the studio behind the original game, were invited to the set for the second series. Their involvement is seen as a way to capture the spirit of the original while allowing the new creative team to chart their own course. The showrunners, however, have been clear that they are not strictly adhering to a single interpretation of New Vegas, leaving room for fresh perspectives and unexpected developments.

For those interested in further details, Geneva Dworet-Robertson has discussed the team’s approach in more depth elsewhere. Meanwhile, fans continue to debate which Fallout instalment stands as the best, and the new series is sure to add fuel to that ongoing conversation.