Fallout: New Vegas is widely regarded as a milestone for the series, representing the final era of the classic CRPG spirit before Fallout 4 introduced a voiced protagonist. However, recent revelations have shed light on the friction between developers, specifically when a Fallout: New Vegas dev says Bethesda made the studio sit through 'a whole powerpoint about all the things Obsidian did wrong'.

During a recent interview with the YouTube channel TKs-Mantis, writer Chris Avellone shared his perspective on the strained relationship between the two studios. The conversation touched upon how certain creative choices were used as leverage by management.

A Fallout: New Vegas dev says Bethesda made the studio sit through 'a whole powerpoint about all the things Obsidian did wrong'

Avellone described a presentation that was far from constructive, noting that the focus was heavily critical of Obsidian Entertainment.

"It was fun, it was fun—they had a whole powerpoint," Avellone stated. "Not even about the DLC, they had a whole powerpoint about all the things Obsidian did wrong, and we were like 'wow!' and they showed it to us. And we were like… 'okay'. This is hugely morale-boosting."

He further expressed frustration regarding how the success of the game was viewed by Bethesda. Avellone noted that while the team believed they produced a high-quality product that kept the franchise in the public eye, the feedback from Bethesda suggested otherwise. "I thought we [made] a good product for you guys that kept Fallout in the public consciousness, but you guys don't seem very happy about it despite the fact you reaped a lot of the rewards for it," he added.

The impact of Dead Money and developer controversy

The tension also extended to the Dead Money DLC, which introduced survival horror elements by stripping players of their gear. While Avellone acknowledged the vision was different from the core experience, he noted that Bethesda used certain metrics to justify ending the partnership:

  • Review Scores: Bethesda allegedly used lower reviews for specific DLCs as a reason to cease collaboration.
  • Gameplay Shifts: The survival horror atmosphere of Dead Money was a "turn-off" for many players.
  • Sales Impact: Avellone noted that when it comes to sales and reviews, the shift in gameplay style mattered significantly to the bottom line.

It is important to note that Avellone’s claims should be viewed with context. He left Obsidian on difficult terms with upper management in 2015. Additionally, he faced significant controversy in 2020 when allegations of sexual assault led to his removal from Dying Light 2; however, those charges were later dropped in 2023. Given this history, his statements regarding the Fallout: New Vegas dev says Bethesda made the studio sit through 'a whole powerpoint about all the things Obsidian did wrong' are certainly provocative.