Obsidian Welcomes Back Former Lead Writer of Fallout: New Vegas

Overview

John Gonzalez, the lead writer for Fallout: New Vegas, has returned to Obsidian Entertainment.
While Gonzalez confirmed his new role, he clarified that he will not be working on Fallout: New Vegas 2.
As the newly appointed Creative Director, he is likely to oversee an upcoming, unannounced game project.

John Gonzalez, recognized for his pivotal role as the lead writer for Fallout: New Vegas, has rejoined Obsidian Entertainment after nearly 15 years. His departure came in February 2011, shortly after which he took a position at Monolith Productions, known for developing Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor.

The narrative quality of Fallout: New Vegas is highly praised within the gaming community, a testament to the impactful storytelling that Gonzalez championed. His contributions included not only the primary writing but also the creative direction of four significant DLCs: Dead Money, Honest Hearts, Old World Blues, and Lonesome Road.

Fast forward to January 2025, Gonzalez made his return public through an update on LinkedIn, taking on the title of Creative Director at Obsidian. He explicitly stated that he will not be part of the anticipated Fallout: New Vegas sequel, news that while disappointing, aligns with the skepticism surrounding the possibility of a direct sequel.

Brotherhood of Steel from Fallout New Vegas

Legacy Reborn texture pack for Fallout New Vegas

Gonzalez’s Potential Role in Obsidian’s New Project

Details about Gonzalez’s new responsibilities at Obsidian remain vague. The studio currently has two main projects in development: Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2. With both titles slated for release in 2025, it’s probable that Gonzalez might contribute to their downloadable content (DLC).However, given his high-ranking position, it seems more plausible that he is taking charge of a completely new game, potentially powered by the Unity engine. Job postings suggest this project has been gathering momentum since at least 2023.

John Gonzalez’s Game Development Portfolio

Game	Developer	Release Year	Role(s)
Alter Echo	Outrage Games	2003	Design, Level Scripting
Tom Clancy’s EndWar	ubisoft shanghai	2009	Story Director, Scriptwriter
Fallout: New Vegas	Obsidian Entertainment	2010	Lead Creative Designer, Lead Writer
F:NV – Dead Money		2010	Narrative Designer
F:NV – Honest Hearts		2011
F:NV – Old World Blues		2011
F:NV – Lonesome Road		2011
Dungeon Siege 3		2011	Writer
Guardians of Middle-earth	Monolith Productions	2013	Writer
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor	Monolith Productions	2014	Additional Story
Horizon Zero Dawn	Guerrilla Games	2017	Narrative Director
Horizon Forbidden West	Guerrilla Games	2022	Narrative Director, Writer

Gonzalez’s return raises questions about the potential direction of Obsidian’s upcoming projects. While he could lead a different game, the current workload of the studio—employing around 300 staff—suggests that any new projects may face delays. The extended timelines typical of modern AAA game development indicate that any new game spearheaded by Gonzalez might not be released until 2030 or beyond.

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