Fallout New Vegas 2 original plans explained
After Fallout: New Vegas launched in 2010, Obsidian quietly explored a direct sequel. According to former designer Chris Avellone, several story and DLC decisions (notably in Lonesome Road) were made with New Vegas 2 in mind. Avellone explained that ending Lonesome Road with nuclear strikes on the Mojave was intended to shake up the Brotherhood, the NCR and other factions in preparation for a follow-up game.
Obsidian CEO Feargus Urquhart even told journalists in 2013 that “we’d love to do Fallout: New Vegas 2,” envisioning it on the West Coast like the original. In short, early concept work for a sequel existed – writers wove hooks into New Vegas’s ending and DLC to set up NV2 – but the project never moved past that planning stage.
Did Obsidian Entertainment plan Fallout New Vegas 2
Yes. Multiple sources confirm Obsidian seriously considered a New Vegas sequel. In a recent interview, Avellone explicitly said a sequel was on their minds: “When we still thought we’d be able to do a New Vegas 2, or whatever the title would be”. Amber Rutherford’s 80.lv report highlights Avellone’s admission that NV2 was contemplated during New Vegas’ development. In addition, Feargus Urquhart’s 2013 comments make clear the studio wanted a second entry (discussing keeping it geographically tied to the original’s setting). In summary, Obsidian did have Fallout: New Vegas 2 in their internal discussions and design notes, even shaping parts of New Vegas around that idea.
Why Fallout New Vegas 2 was canceled early
Despite the early planning, Fallout: New Vegas 2 was effectively abandoned before development could begin. Avellone candidly said the sequel idea “quickly evaporated” after New Vegas’ launch. In other words, any early concepts or narrative hooks never matured into a true project. Several factors likely played a role: Obsidian’s contract with Bethesda was fulfilled, and Bethesda pivoted to other projects (such as Fallout 4 and later Fallout 76). Obsidian itself moved on to original titles like Pillars of Eternity and The Outer Worlds.
The end result was that New Vegas 2 quietly died in that conceptual phase, with no official announcement or active development team. In fact, Avellone later stressed that an NV2 sequel “will not happen in the next six years at least, if ever”, underscoring that the idea was shelved very early on.

Chris Avellone reveals Fallout New Vegas 2 details
Chris Avellone has been the key voice confirming New Vegas 2’s fate. In his recent TKs-Mantis interview, Avellone shared that certain New Vegas endings and DLC content (especially Lonesome Road) were engineered under the assumption a sequel was coming. For example, he described the narrative purpose behind the Nevada/California nukes: “I need to shake up both the Brotherhood, I need to shake up the NCR… and so that was the reason for some of the precursor decisions… when we still thought we’d be able to do a New Vegas 2”.
He also explicitly noted the sequel was not proceeding: “That quickly evaporated,” and “it will not happen in the next six years at least, if ever”. These remarks make clear that while Avellone and the team once plotted a sequel, by the time of his 2026 comments the project was firmly dead in the water.
Fallout New Vegas 2 story ideas and Van Buren connections
Avellone’s remarks suggest some story threads carried over from earlier Fallout concepts. In the interview he partially confirmed a fan theory: elements of Van Buren (the codename of the canceled Fallout 3 at Black Isle) were woven into New Vegas. He noted that “there are certain things that were gonna take place in Van Buren that do happen during the time of New Vegas,” though only a “little bit” of Van Buren actually appeared.
Specifically, he mentioned a planned plot involving the NCR clashing with a shadowy “merchant mafia” – a thread that was hinted at but not fully explored in New Vegas. In general, the planned New Vegas 2 story would likely have continued New Vegas’ faction conflicts on the post-nuclear West Coast, as earlier Fallout story elements (like those from Van Buren) had been partially repurposed in the first game.
What happened to Obsidian’s Fallout sequel plans
Obsidian’s plans for any Fallout sequel simply never materialized. After wrapping New Vegas, the studio shifted focus away from the Fallout franchise. No team was assembled, and no public project was ever announced. Avellone’s recent statements confirm that all sequel planning “quickly evaporated” after the game’s final DLC. In practical terms, this means whatever early ideas existed were quietly dropped. Obsidian personnel have since emphasized that they are concentrating on their own properties; as GamesRadar reports, Obsidian’s leadership acknowledges fan demand for New Vegas 2 but explicitly says the studio’s focus is on original IPs. Thus, any Fallout sequel schemes were effectively shelved immediately after the first game, leaving nothing of substance to come to light.

Why Fallout New Vegas never got a sequel
There are several reasons Fallout: New Vegas has no sequel. Firstly, Bethesda (the series’ rights holder) pursued its own Fallout projects after 2010 – for example, Fallout 4 (2015) and Fallout 76 (2018) – and never commissioned a follow-up from Obsidian. Secondly, internal feedback may have been a factor: Avellone has previously mentioned that some Bethesda developers were critical of New Vegas (reportedly even making a detailed list of issues, according to industry rumors).
Thirdly, Obsidian’s contract likely ended with New Vegas, so there was no obligation or guarantee of a sequel project. Finally, the corporate landscape changed: Microsoft bought Obsidian (2018) and then Bethesda’s parent Zenimax (2021), potentially enabling a sequel – but by that time Obsidian was busy with other games. All of this means New Vegas 2 never secured the green light. As one analyst notes, even years later no confirmed sequel is in development.
Fallout New Vegas 2 rumors vs confirmed facts
The idea of New Vegas 2 has spawned many rumors, but confirmed facts are scarce. One high-profile rumor came in 2022: journalist Jeff Grubb claimed that “people have begun to have talks” at Microsoft about an Obsidian-made New Vegas 2. This report (published by VGC) suggested internal interest now that Xbox owns both Bethesda and Obsidian. However, there has been no official confirmation of such talks or any project.
On the contrary, Obsidian insiders have repeatedly stated there is no sequel in active development. Chris Avellone (the most authoritative source) explicitly said the sequel plans died early and aren’t coming soon. In short, rumors about NV2 (from media posts or social chatter) remain unverified, whereas factually the only direct information comes from Obsidian’s developers saying only that ideas were explored but ultimately abandoned.
Obsidian Fallout New Vegas 2 development history
In terms of development, New Vegas 2 never advanced beyond planning. Obsidian finished New Vegas and its DLCs by 2011, and after that any New Vegas sequel work appears limited to early brainstorming. We have no record of a formal NV2 development cycle (no announcements, press releases, or official dev diaries). Instead, Obsidian moved into unrelated projects: they launched a Kickstarter for Pillars of Eternity (2015) and developed The Outer Worlds (2020) under new management.
The only “development history” of NV2 is therefore a handful of retrospective comments. Avellone’s recent interview is the main source confirming that NV2 was ever considered at all. Beyond that, all evidence comes from leaks and interviews, not any known code or in-progress game build. In effect, New Vegas 2 exists only in anecdotes and design notes – no actual game development history has unfolded for it.

Microsoft and Bethesda role in New Vegas 2 discussions
Microsoft and Bethesda now play a critical backdrop to any NV2 talk. Since Microsoft acquired Obsidian in 2018 and Bethesda’s parent Zenimax in 2021, both the original developers and the IP-holder are under one roof. This corporate alignment makes the logistics of a sequel more feasible than before. Jeff Grubb’s 2022 report explicitly credits this structure, saying “a lot of people at Microsoft think that this could work”, because Obsidian and Bethesda are both Xbox studios.
However, neither Microsoft nor Bethesda has announced any plans. Even under Microsoft’s banner, internal priorities – including Elder Scrolls 6 and other flagship projects – mean New Vegas 2 isn’t guaranteed. For now, Microsoft’s and Bethesda’s official stance on NV2 is silence; aside from speculative articles, the major involvement of these companies has only raised fans’ hopes, not confirmed anything concrete.
Is Fallout New Vegas 2 still possible in the future
The future of Fallout: New Vegas 2 is uncertain. Technically, nothing prevents Xbox from greenlighting it – all parties (Obsidian, Bethesda, Fallout IP) are now under Xbox Game Studios. In fact, industry analysts have pointed out that Microsoft could make NV2 happen now, should they choose. But officially, Obsidian’s senior staff have been pessimistic: Avellone warned it “will not happen in the next six years at least, if ever”.
He tempered fan hopes, implying any sequel is extremely unlikely in the near term. On the other hand, fan demand remains high, and executives like Feargus previously expressed interest. In summary, while NV2 is not outright impossible in the future, all current statements and evidence suggest it’s on indefinite hold, with no imminent production.
Why Obsidian moved away from Fallout franchise
After New Vegas, Obsidian intentionally shifted focus to its own games rather than continue in the Fallout universe. The studio’s leadership has often emphasized creative freedom; for example, Feargus Urquhart said he wanted any follow-up to be an independent vision (and indeed Obsidian later built entirely original worlds in Pillars of Eternity and Outer Worlds). Additionally, Bethesda’s control of Fallout rights meant Obsidian’s future in the series was limited.
By the mid-2010s, Obsidian had fulfilled its obligations and was funded by different means (like crowdfunding) to make new IP. In line with this strategy, Obsidian’s VP publicly stated the studio is “focused on its own original IP” rather than sequels. In short, Obsidian moved away from Fallout because its business and creative direction led it toward new franchises, and without a contract or license to develop further Fallout titles, they simply did not continue with the series.
Fallout New Vegas 2 early talks and industry leaks
The earliest public “talk” of NV2 came years after New Vegas’ release. Aside from Avellone’s retrospective comments, the first time a sequel was mentioned in media was in 2013 (Feargus’s interview) and then more recently in 2022 (Jeff Grubb’s report). In general, there have been no leaked documents or screenshots of a planned NV2; what leaked are only statements. Fans on forums sometimes point to concept art or supposed developer tweets, but these are unverified.
The only solid “leak” of note is Grubb’s VGChronicle scoop that Microsoft insiders are talking about an NV2. So far, there have been no actual internal memos, code drops, or official design documents leaked – just rumors reported by journalists. Every credible source of information comes from statements by former Obsidian staff, not from an actual dev build.
How Fallout New Vegas set up a potential sequel
New Vegas left several narrative threads hanging to pave the way for a sequel, even if unintentionally. The most obvious hook was the climax of the Lonesome Road DLC: the Courier (player) and antagonist Ulysses launch nuclear missiles at major power centers (NCR and Caesar’s Legion), intentionally destabilizing the region. Avellone confirmed this act was designed to leave the Mojave in chaos – exactly so a sequel could deal with the fallout (literally) of that decision.
Other minor threads, like the mysterious New California Republic vs. “merchant mafia” conflict originally from Van Buren, were only partially resolved and could have reappeared in NV2. In short, the ending of New Vegas and its DLC ended on a literal bang, setting up a world ripe for a next chapter. These set-ups show that Obsidian deliberately crafted New Vegas’ conclusion to enable a follow-up, even though that follow-up ultimately never arrived.
Will Fallout New Vegas 2 ever happen or is it dead
Based on all available information, Fallout: New Vegas 2 seems effectively dead. Chris Avellone’s latest comments make it clear that while the idea was once floated, no active project exists and they do not expect one soon. No official announcement or even a green-lit development plan has appeared. Of course, in the gaming industry the door is never officially closed – especially now that Microsoft owns the rights – but for now the sequel is not on the schedule.
Fans should not expect New Vegas 2 unless and until a formal decision is announced. In summary: Obsidian once planned for a sequel and embedded teasers in New Vegas, but that plan “quickly evaporated”. Until new news comes from Microsoft/Bethesda/Obsidian, Fallout: New Vegas 2 remains an unfulfilled idea rather than a real project.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Was Fallout: New Vegas 2 ever officially announced or confirmed?
No. The only evidence for New Vegas 2 comes from retrospectives. No publisher or developer ever formally announced the game. Chris Avellone later confirmed that while the idea was considered, it was never officially launched and “quickly evaporated”. - Did Obsidian actually plan a Fallout: NV sequel?
Yes and no. Internally, the team did think about a sequel. Avellone revealed that story beats in New Vegas (like the Lonesome Road ending) were set up expecting a follow-up. Obsidian’s CEO had also spoken about wanting a sequel back in 2013. However, after New Vegas’ final DLC, the plans were dropped and no official development took place. - What did Chris Avellone say about New Vegas 2?
Avellone – the game’s senior designer – said that some content in New Vegas was created with a sequel in mind, but he made it clear the sequel won’t happen anytime soon. He said work on the game “quickly evaporated” and that “it will not happen in the next six years, if ever.”. - Why were the plans for NV2 abandoned?
Avellone implied a lack of backing and changing priorities. There was no official commission for New Vegas 2, and Bethesda shifted focus to other Fallout titles. Once Obsidian completed its work on New Vegas, the studio moved on to new projects and never got a new contract to make another Fallout. The project never got past early ideas, so it simply disappeared without a formal cancellation announcement. - Have there been any credible rumors or leaks about New Vegas 2?
A few rumors surfaced, but none are confirmed. In 2022 a prominent report cited journalist Jeff Grubb claiming “very early” talks at Microsoft about NV2. Besides that, fan sites speculated on concept art or code leaks (often unfounded). Importantly, the only reliable information comes from Obsidian’s own staff, who stress there is no active sequel – which contradicts any “leaked” development. - What role do Microsoft and Bethesda have in making NV2 happen?
Big roles in theory, but nothing official yet. Now that Xbox owns both Bethesda (the Fallout IP holder) and Obsidian, Microsoft could green-light a sequel if it wants. Jeff Grubb’s rumor explicitly said people at Microsoft are interested. However, Bethesda itself hasn’t announced any plan, and Obsidian’s parent has many other priorities. So while corporate alignment makes NV2 possible, neither Microsoft nor Bethesda has confirmed going forward. - Were any story ideas from the cancelled Van Buren (Fallout 3) going to be used in NV2?
Only minimally. Avellone said certain Van Buren concepts (like an NCR conflict with a “merchant mafia”) were lightly incorporated into New Vegas. But he emphasized that “not a ton” of Van Buren’s plot made it into New Vegas. There’s no evidence of a detailed Van Buren storyline specifically earmarked for NV2. Basically, Van Buren’s remnants only influenced some background of New Vegas itself, not a sequel. - Did Feargus Urquhart ever comment on a New Vegas sequel?
Yes, back in 2013. Feargus said he thought a sequel would be great and gave interviewers some ideas for it. He mentioned keeping the setting on the West Coast (to connect to the original geography) and hinted at story direction. But that enthusiasm never turned into a project; Feargus’s comments were hopeful talk rather than news of an actual game. - Are there any actual leaked designs or concept art for NV2?
No official leaks have appeared. Fans have shared supposed concept sketches online from years ago, but none have been verified by Obsidian or Bethesda. Without an active project, any “leaks” are just fan creations or unofficial rumors. The only concrete info has come from interviews, not game assets. - Is it possible Fallout: New Vegas 2 will ever be made in the future?
It’s extremely unlikely in the near future. Avellone explicitly said it likely won’t happen for at least six years. Currently, Obsidian is busy with its own new games and Bethesda hasn’t signaled interest. Technically, Microsoft could order a sequel any time, but right now no plans are public. So while one can never say it’s 100% dead, all official indications are that New Vegas 2 is on indefinite hold.

Conclusion
In summary, Obsidian did briefly consider Fallout: New Vegas 2: the team even built narrative hints into New Vegas for a follow-up. However, those sequel plans never materialized into a real game. After New Vegas launched, the idea “quickly evaporated”, and developers have since confirmed that no New Vegas 2 is in progress. Officially, New Vegas has no sequel because Bethesda and Obsidian moved on to other projects, and the studio’s focus turned to original IPs.
Today, in interviews Avellone and others have put any hopes of NV2 firmly on ice. The only remaining traces of what NV2 might have been are revealed through these discussions. Unless Microsoft decides to revive the idea, Fallout: New Vegas 2 remains a “what could have been,” with no game under development despite high fan interest.
Sources and Citations
- Amber Rutherford, 80 Level (Apr 23, 2026) – “Obsidian Was Originally Planning To Make Fallout: New Vegas 2”
https://80.lv/articles/obsidian-was-originally-planning-to-make-fallout-new-vegas-2 - Joelle Daniels, GamingBolt (Apr 22, 2026) – “Fallout: New Vegas Sequel Was Discussed at Obsidian, Says Former Senior Designer”
https://gamingbolt.com/fallout-new-vegas-sequel-was-discussed-at-obsidian-says-former-senior-designer - Jordan Gerblick, GamesRadar+ (Apr 22, 2026) – “Fallout: New Vegas 2 was real at one point before Obsidian’s plans ‘quickly evaporated,’ says senior designer…”
https://www.gamesradar.com/fallout-new-vegas-2-was-real-at-one-point-before-obsidians-plans-quickly-evaporated/ - Jordan Middler, Video Games Chronicle (Feb 24, 2022) – “Fallout New Vegas 2 is reportedly in ‘very early talks at Microsoft’”
https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/fallout-new-vegas-2-is-reportedly-in-very-early-talks-at-microsoft/ - Van Buren (Wikipedia)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Buren_(video_game)
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