Ex-Bethesda Dev: Fallout 3 Remaster to Improve Gun Combat

Following the positive reception of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, speculation is mounting about which Bethesda game will receive the remaster treatment next. With many fans predicting a Fallout 3 remaster (a project that was reportedly leaked in 2023), the question arises: how could Bethesda enhance its 2008 post-apocalyptic RPG?

Bruce Nesmith, one of the lead designers on Fallout 3, has highlighted the game's underwhelming gunplay, which he believes Bethesda would significantly overhaul for a remastered version.

In an interview with VideoGamer, Nesmith suggested that a Fallout 3 Remaster would feature shooting mechanics more closely aligned with those in Fallout 4.

"Looking at the improvements in Fallout 4 reveals what the team felt needed changing from Fallout 3," Nesmith stated.

"I know a tremendous amount of effort went into refining the gunplay in Fallout 4, primarily because Fallout 3 was their first attempt at a shooter-style game. The enhancements they made were genuinely impressive."

Oblivion Remastered, developed by the renowned studio Virtuos using Unreal Engine 5, boasts a comprehensive suite of visual and gameplay upgrades. It runs natively at 4K resolution and 60 frames per second, as expected, but the most impactful changes go beyond raw performance. Core systems, including leveling, character creation, combat animations, and in-game menus, have all been thoroughly modernized. The remaster also features extensive new dialogue, a fully realized third-person camera, and advanced lip-sync technology. These substantial improvements have led many in the community to argue that the project qualifies more as a full remake than a simple remaster. Bethesda has since clarified its rationale for categorizing it as a remaster.

Nesmith predicted that a Fallout 3 Remaster would likely undergo a similar scale of enhancements as seen in Oblivion Remastered.

"[Fallout 3's combat] didn't really measure up to other shooters on the market at the time," he recalled. "It's important to remember it's an RPG first and a shooter second, not a pure run-and-gun experience. However, the team made huge strides with Fallout 4's combat. I fully expect that same level of dedication would be applied to a remaster, assuming they're following a similar development philosophy."

"The Oblivion remaster wasn't just upgraded to match the level of 2011's Skyrim," he elaborated. "It was elevated to a point where, at least visually, it appears to surpass even the most recent graphical updates for Skyrim." Nesmith has gone so far as to describe The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered as so transformative it could be considered "Oblivion 2.0."

It's an exceptionally busy period for Bethesda, with development underway on The Elder Scrolls VI and potential new content for Starfield. When you factor in these remaster projects, ongoing support for Fallout 76, and the upcoming second season of the Fallout TV show set in New Vegas, fans have a great deal to look forward to in the near future.

For everything you need to know about Oblivion Remastered, we offer a complete guide featuring an expansive Interactive Map, detailed Walkthroughs for the Main Quest and all Guild Quests, a guide on How to Build the Perfect Character, a list of essential Things to Do First, a compilation of every PC Cheat Code, and much more.

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