Ex-Bethesda Dev Predicts Fallout 3 Remaster to Enhance 'Not Good' Gun Combat

With The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered receiving strong praise from fans, attention has naturally shifted to what Bethesda title might be next in line for a visual and mechanical overhaul. Given the 2023 leak suggesting Fallout 3 is in the remaster pipeline, many are wondering how the studio could modernize its 2008 post-apocalyptic RPG classic.

Bruce Nesmith, one of Fallout 3’s original designers, has openly acknowledged the game’s weaker aspects—particularly its gun combat, which he described as “not good” by today’s standards. He believes a remaster would likely feature significant improvements in this area, bringing it closer in line with the more refined shooting mechanics of Fallout 4.

In an interview with VideoGamer, Nesmith noted that Fallout 4 saw extensive development in combat systems, a direct response to the limitations of Fallout 3’s shooter mechanics. “What did you see in Fallout 4? That will tell you what they felt was necessary to change from Fallout 3,” he said. “Fallout 3 was the first time they tried to do a shooter-style game, and while the work was amazing for its time, it didn’t hold up against contemporary shooters.”

Drawing parallels to Oblivion Remastered—developed by Virtuos using Unreal Engine 5—Nesmith expects a Fallout 3 remaster to go beyond simple visual upgrades. The enhanced version of Oblivion delivers 4K resolution, 60 FPS performance, and sweeping improvements across the board: revamped leveling systems, enhanced character creation, smoother combat animations, modernized UI, new dialogue, improved lip-syncing, and a fully functional third-person camera. So comprehensive are these changes that some fans argue it’s more of a remake than a remaster, though Bethesda maintains it’s a remaster in scope and intent.

Nesmith anticipates similar treatment for Fallout 3. “I anticipate seeing a lot of that work go into it, assuming they’re doing the same thing,” he said, referring to the combat upgrades from Fallout 4. “Oblivion wasn’t just updated to the level of Skyrim in 2011—it was brought up to something that, on the surface, looks like it surpasses even the latest visual updates to Skyrim.” He went so far as to call Oblivion Remastered “Oblivion 2.0” due to the depth of its enhancements.

Bethesda’s plate remains full, with The Elder Scrolls VI and potential Starfield expansions in development, alongside ongoing support for Fallout 76 and the Fallout TV series, which is reportedly heading to New Vegas for Season 2. Amidst these projects, remasters like Oblivion and possibly Fallout 3 offer a way to keep fans engaged while building anticipation for larger releases.

For players eager to dive into Oblivion Remastered, a complete guide is available featuring an interactive map, full walkthroughs for the main quest and all guild missions, character-building tips, essential early-game tasks, every PC cheat code, and more.

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