The Elder Scrolls franchise has a special place in many gamers' hearts, offering up the world of Tamriel with tons of adventures. While it's hard to measure the direct popularity of the two franchises, the Fallout series has also claimed a special place in the RPG world, though it has never had an MMO quite like its fantasy cousin has. However, Elder Scrolls Online Director Matt Firor did try to make a Fallout MMO happen.
Speaking with IGN, Firor revealed the story about the time he tried to create a Fallout MMO back before Bethesda owned the license to the series. According to Firor, he had been in talks to purchase the rights Fallout IP to make an MMO based on the post-apocalyptic RPG series, and even found a publisher in Brash Entertainment, but then things came crashing down.
"And then, suddenly, they stopped taking my calls," Firor said, "like three weeks later, it was like, 'Bethesda Acquires Fallout!' and I was like 'Aww, man...' So they beat me to it. Of course it makes perfect sense that I go join them." However, Firor didn't quite call it quits there in regards to a Fallout MMO. Instead, he made some earnest attempts to have Elder Scrolls Online turned into a Fallout MMO. However, Bethesda "wouldn't have it" and the rest is history.
Luckily, Firor doesn't seem too burned by not being able to make the Fallout MMO of his dreams. He admits that fantasy has proven to be the way to go where MMOs are concerned, and considering how successful Elder Scrolls Online has been despite MMOs being notoriously difficult to get right, it seems that Firor's assertion is correct.
Fallout hasn't entirely stayed out of online play, though its first attempt has had a tumultuous time. Fallout 76 has walked the line between standard Fallout gameplay mechanics and MMO sensibilities, but it's had a bevy of technical and design issues that have kept it from reaching the heights Bethesda's other games have. Things have improved, though negative opinions about it haven't dissipated entirely.
With Microsoft's Bethesda deal finalized, and the first announcements made now that E3 is done and over with, it'll be some time before fans see the future of the Fallout franchise. However, if demand is high enough, it's possible that a Fallout MMO in the same vein as Elder Scrolls Online could happen, though fans shouldn't hold their breath. Bethesda has a lot of projects in the works at the moment, and Fallout 76's framework will likely be the go-to multiplayer option for the foreseeable future.
Source: IGN