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

With *The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered* receiving a warm reception from fans, the gaming community is now eager to discover which classic Bethesda title might be next in line for a visual and mechanical overhaul. Among the most anticipated candidates is *Fallout 3*, a game that originally launched in 2008 and has since been the subject of rumors and a notable leak in 2023 suggesting a remaster may be in development.

Bruce Nesmith, one of the original designers behind *Fallout 3*, recently shared insights into how a potential *Fallout 3 Remastered* could evolve beyond its original design. One of the key areas he highlighted was gun combat—an aspect he candidly admitted was “not good” in the original release. According to Nesmith, a remastered version would likely incorporate improvements similar to those seen in *Fallout 4*, where the shooting mechanics were significantly refined.

“What did you see in *Fallout 4*? That will tell you what they felt was necessary to change from *Fallout 3*,” Nesmith explained in an interview with VideoGamer. “I know in *Fallout 4* there was a lot of work done on the gun combat, because *Fallout 3* is the first time they ever tried to do a shooter-style game. And, well, I think the work that was done was amazing.”

Oblivion Remastered, developed by Virtuos using Unreal Engine 5, serves as a strong reference point for what a *Fallout 3 Remastered* could entail. The updated version of *Oblion* includes enhancements such as 4K resolution, 60 frames per second performance, improved character creation tools, smoother combat animations, modernized UI elements, expanded dialogue, and advanced lip-syncing technology. Some fans even argue that the upgrade deserves to be called a full remake rather than just a remaster, though Bethesda has clarified why it opted for a remaster approach.

Nesmith believes a *Fallout 3 Remastered* would follow a similar philosophy, bringing core systems up to modern standards while preserving the essence of the original game. He noted that the combat in *Fallout 3* didn’t hold up well against contemporary shooters at the time of its release, but praised the evolution seen in later titles like *Fallout 4*.

“*[Fallout 3 combat]* didn’t hold up to shooters at the time,” Nesmith said. “Also, it’s an RPG shooter, it’s not a run-and-gun shooter. But a lot of work was done on that for *Fallout 4*. So I anticipate seeing a lot of that work go into it, assuming they’re doing the same thing.”

He also pointed out that *Oblivion Remastered* wasn’t simply an update to match the visual fidelity of *Skyrim*’s 2011 release, but instead elevated the experience to rival or surpass more recent graphical updates seen in *Skyrim*. In his words, *Oblivion Remastered* could very well be considered “Oblivion 2.0” in terms of presentation and polish.

Bethesda currently has multiple high-profile projects in development, including *The Elder Scrolls VI* and potential new content for *Starfield*. Alongside ongoing updates to *Fallout 76* and the success of the *Fallout* TV series—rumored to explore *New Vegas* in its second season—fans can look forward to a rich lineup of content over the coming years.

For those diving into *Oblivion Remastered*, we’ve compiled a detailed guide covering everything from an interactive map and complete walkthroughs of the main quest and guild missions, to character-building tips, essential early-game strategies, and a full list of PC cheat codes.

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