Why It Took So Long To Announce Fallout 4

Bethesda has now explained in more detail as to why they chose to announce Fallout 4 so close to its own release date.

Some publishers like to announce games years in advance. Square Enix is a perfect example of this as we’ve yet to see Final Fantasy XV and Kingdom Hearts 3 in stores. Bethesda took the opposite approach with Fallout 4.

DualShockers interviewed Bethesda’s Pete Hines at Gamescom 2015 and he explained a shorter marketing campaign could be a good thing.

He feels promoting a game for a longer time puts more of a strain to developers because they have to do extra work to compile trailers/demos for events like Gamescom and E3.

Fallout 4 is the shortest marketing campaign Bethesda has ever done and Hines feels it has been working. However, he said every game is unique and he’s not sure if they’ll do another short marketing campaign again.

A game like Fallout 4 can get away with a short marketing campaign because it’s a sequel that has been wanted by fans for many years. It’s also a game based off a well established franchise that is guaranteed to sell millions if copies. Not much marketing is needed.

A new IP is different as that would need more time to gain awareness and exposure. Hines’ comments about every game being unique makes perfect sense.

The 2015 release date for Fallout 4 caught people off guard, but it also excited everyone too. November 2015 will be an exciting time as so many great games will be out by then.