Todd Howard Welcomes Obsidian to Fallout’s New Vegas Revival
Todd Howard shares insights on the Fallout series’ return to New Vegas, highlighting a new creative direction and the involvement of the original New Vegas developers in the TV adaptation.
Bethesda’s Todd Howard has shed some light on the much-anticipated return to New Vegas in the Fallout television series, offering a peek at how the creative team is tackling the challenge of revisiting such a beloved setting. Howard explained that the approach is similar to starting a fresh game, with a focus on respecting the unique experiences every player had in the original.
“We sort of approach it like we do a new game. Like, hey, we're starting fresh,”
he said.
“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 New Ideas
Howard’s philosophy has always put fans at the centre, but he admits there are risks involved as the show’s characters—Lucy, The Ghoul, and a colourful cast of survivors—make their way towards the Strip.
“It's going back to authenticity,”
Howard noted.
“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 team is keen to capture the spirit of the original while not being afraid to try something new, ensuring the series feels both familiar and fresh for long-time followers and newcomers alike.
Bringing Iconic Characters to the Screen
One of the big talking points has been the inclusion of the enigmatic House, a character first introduced in Fallout: New Vegas and glimpsed in the first season of the show. Howard revealed that there was early debate about how much to feature House, but the team quickly recognised his importance.
“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 bring House into the spotlight reflects the show’s commitment to honouring the game’s legacy while giving fans something to get excited about.
Obsidian’s Involvement and Looking Ahead
In a nod to the original creators, Howard invited the developers behind Fallout: New Vegas to visit the set, giving them a chance to see their iconic world brought to life in a new medium. While the showrunners have been clear that they’re not sticking to a single interpretation of New Vegas, the collaboration with Obsidian adds an extra layer of authenticity. For those keen to know more, there’s plenty of discussion with Geneva Dworet-Robertson about the creative choices, and fans are already debating which Fallout game stands as the best. As the series heads into its next season, punters are left wondering what surprises are in store on the Strip.