Bethesda-Developed Fallout MMO Back On The Cards

Fallout publisher Bethesda has retained the right to make a Fallout MMO in the future after settling it's long-gestating complaint against Interplay.

Bethesda wanted to cancel its deal for development of a Fallout MMO with Interplay after the latter failed to meet the conditions for the license - securing $30 million in funding and commencing "full scale" development on the MMO by April 2009.

The upshot is that Interplay and developer Masthead Studios will relinquish all rights to the Fallout-based MMO project, while Bethesda parent Zenimax will pay Interplay $2 million as part of the settlement.

The rights for such a project now revert to Bethesda, but Interplay will be able to continue selling Fallout Tactics, Fallout and Fallout 2 until December 2013, at which time all Fallout-related rights become the sole property of Bethesda.

"While we strongly believe in the merits of our suits, we are pleased to avoid the distraction and expense of litigation while completely resolving all claims to the Fallout IP," said ZeniMax boss Robert Altman. "Fallout is an important property of ZeniMax and we are now able to develop future Fallout titles for our fans without third party involvement or the overhang of others’ legal claims."

Bethesda is currently working on DLC and the Creation Kit for Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim.