An Epic Vision: The Unseen Wasteland Survival Odyssey
The Unexpected Parallel: Fallout 76's Shadow on InXile's Project
Brian Hicks, a key figure from the DayZ team, found himself in a peculiar situation at InXile. He was spearheading the creation of an expansive, post-apocalyptic multiplayer survival experience set within the Wasteland universe, unaware of Bethesda's impending Fallout 76. The subsequent announcement and contentious reception of the Fallout MMO proved to be a pivotal moment, signaling the beginning of the end for InXile's ambitious endeavor.
A Bold New Direction: Merging Wasteland with Survival Mechanics
Prior to the widely anticipated Clockwork Revolution, InXile had embarked on a project far removed from its traditional RPG roots: a persistent-server Wasteland game. Under Hicks's direction, this innovative concept envisioned a 'Wasteland meets DayZ' experience, incorporating survival elements and virtual reality. This marked a significant departure from the turn-based, narrative-rich style that had defined the successful resurgence of the Wasteland series with 2014's Wasteland 2.
Ambition Meets Reality: The DayZ Blueprint in a Post-Apocalyptic Setting
The core vision for InXile's multiplayer Wasteland was a dynamic, persistent world where players would scavenge and survive, akin to the unforgiving nature of DayZ. The game aimed to support up to 40 simultaneous players, with future plans for 100. However, integrating the competitive, player-driven chaos of a survival game with the deliberate pacing and intricate storytelling expected of a Western RPG proved challenging.
Lessons from the Wastes: Fallout 76's Impact on Development
The lukewarm reception of Fallout 76 in 2018 served as a stark warning for InXile. Brian Fargo, InXile's head, observed that Fallout players held specific expectations for their games, particularly regarding rich narratives and interactive NPCs. This realization prompted a dramatic re-evaluation of InXile's Wasteland survival game, leading to a massive expansion of its scope to incorporate traditional RPG elements and complex storylines, a direction that diverged from Hicks's initial vision.
Navigating Creative Tensions: Balancing Survival and Storytelling
The demand for deeper narrative and branching quests created a new set of challenges for Hicks, whose expertise lay in dynamic survival mechanics. He recounted a pivotal conversation with Fargo, who emphasized the studio's strength in narrative RPGs. To address this, Chad Moore, now the game director for Clockwork Revolution and a veteran of classic RPGs, was brought in to bolster the narrative design, a move that brought both relief and a sense of lost creative freedom for Hicks, especially considering the imaginative contributions from Chris Avellone, including a memorable robotic sperm whale named Roby Dick.
The End of an Era: Acquisition and Project Termination
The ultimate fate of the Wasteland survival game was sealed when Xbox acquired InXile. Despite progress and positive feedback from Microsoft executives like Matt Booty and Phil Spencer, the project was deemed unsuitable for a broad audience due to its VR-centric design. Converting a game built fundamentally for virtual reality to a traditional PC experience proved to be an insurmountable technical hurdle, especially as the VR market itself struggled to gain mainstream traction. Hicks, while acknowledging the acquisition's benefits, ultimately departed for RocketWerkz, leaving behind a project that, though never released, offered valuable insights into the complexities of game development.
Reflections on an Uncharted Path: The Legacy of a Canceled Game
The cancellation of InXile's Wasteland survival game, influenced by market shifts, a major acquisition, and the global events of 2020, marked a turbulent but ultimately enlightening period for Brian Hicks. While the game never saw the light of day, the experience underscored critical lessons about audience expectations, technological constraints, and the inherent challenges of ambitious game design. Hicks's journey reflects the dynamic nature of the gaming industry, where even promising concepts can be reshaped or dissolved by larger forces.