In a recent, deep-dive interview with content creator TKs-Mantis, former Fallout: New Vegas writer and Obsidian creative officer Chris Avellone shared some staggering insights. Among the most controversial claims is that Bethesda may not actually possess the source code for Fallout: New Vegas. While we have reached out to Bethesda for comment and are awaiting a response, the interview covers much more than just technical mysteries.

Exploring Alternate Settings for Fallout: New Vegas

During the early production stages of the game, Avellone revealed that a designer or producer suggested New Orleans as a potential location. He was incredibly enthusiastic about the idea, finding inspiration in Matt Wagner's Grendel comic series. Specifically, the story "Four Devils, One Hell" resonated with him due to its post-apocalyptic atmosphere.

The plot of the comic involves a private investigator investigating the murder of a chef while several "Grendels" manifest their own visions of hell. The character archetypes included:

  • An insane knight who fights vampires.
  • A trickster attempting to manipulate the PI.
  • An English curator hunting for mysterious treasure.
  • A gentlemanly gambler.

Avellone noted that this brand of storytelling mapped perfectly onto the series' established tone. "The vibe was so cool. The flavor was cool... [It would've been] so sweet," he remarked, expressing his desire to have developed a New Orleans-based entry.

Bethesda’s Influence and the Future of Fallout

The interview also touched on how Bethesda influenced the geography of the franchise. Avellone confirmed that during the initial pitch, Bethesda explicitly told the team "don't do San Francisco." The publisher even requested the removal of a specific line of dialogue in Fallout: New Vegas that stated San Francisco had been nuked.

This restriction has led to heavy speculation regarding where the franchise might go next. Avellone suggested that because the Fallout TV show is laying the groundwork for future installments, it is "quite possible" that Fallout 5 could eventually head toward San Francisco.

Avellone left Obsidian in 2015 following creative and business disputes with management. Since then, he has written for notable RPGs such as Divinity: Original Sin 2 and Pathfinder: Kingmaker. He is currently collaborating with Red Info—the studio founded by Disco Elysium lead writer Robert Kurvitz—on a future title. Meanwhile, the hope for a Fallout: New Vegas remaster continues to circulate among the fanbase.