"Fallout 4" will hit store shelves on Nov. 10, Tuesday. Being the biggest and most anticipated game of fall, the newest "Fallout" game is expected to bring a lot of pressure to its game developer, Bethesda.
The first thing that will pose some challenges to Bethesda is another game they also created: the "Skyrim," which is an installment in the "Elder Scrolls" franchise. According to Forbes, "Skyrim" is a great video game that is wildly popular among gamers and game developers alike. Any gaming company would have a hard time topping it, but Bethesda has proven itself capable enough. Its list of successful games include "Daggerfall," "Morrowind," "Oblivion," "Fallout 3" and "Skyrim" itself, the publication said.
In an interview with Gamesindustry.biz, Bioware's Mark Darrah said that "Skyrim" has completely changed the landscape for role-playing video games. The popularity of "Skyrim" will therefore pose a challenge to "Fallout 4."
"Oblivion probably sold six million units...Skyrim sold 20 million. So that, to some degree, changes everything...Now suddenly you have 15 million people that have basically had the first RPG they've ever played as Skyrim. They have totally different expectations of what storytelling is, what exploration is, and I think exploration is really where we've seen the biggest change," Darrah said.
Another challenge that "Fallout 4" may face is technical. Bethesda does not have the best record when it comes to bug-free launches. The gaming community has become really frustrated with buggy launches lately, and "Fallout 4" is probably one of the most visible launches this fall. Gamers will surely keep their eye with the technical quality of the game, and that would bring a lot of pressure.
Meanwhile, "Fallout 4" release date is the same as the launching of other "Fallout" related products, including the Nuka Cola Quantum soda from Jones Soda. Bethesda has partnered with the premium beverage company to bring to life the popular in-game drink from the Fallout series. On the other hand, Fallout Beer has already been launched in the U.K. on Nov. 5, according to Polygon.
