Project V13 FAQ

This is a list of Frequently Asked Questions about Project V13. This title has been applied to two proposed games from Interplay Entertainment.

What was Project V13?
Project V13 was intended a post-apocalyptic Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game being developed by Interplay and Masthead Studios. Jason Anderson and Chris Taylor, two of the creators of Fallout, are among the game's creators.

It was to be set in the Fallout world, an alternate universe based on 50s sci-fi pulp fiction, as if the world had stopped in the optimistic 50s and found itself on a dystopian post-apocalyptic reality. However, at the end of 2011, Interplay dropped its claim to the Fallout MMO. All work completed on this project was abandoned in favor of a new direction

Was Fallout Online or Project V13 the official title?
The game was officially announced as Fallout Online on June 15, 2010. Before that, Project V13 was Interplay's codename for the project. This article will continue to use the development name - Project V13.

Who was making Project V13?
Interplay opened a new studio in Irvine, Orange County, California, dedicated to the development of the game. Jason Anderson and Chris Taylor, two of the makers of Fallout, were re-hired by Interplay and were in charge of the company's new design team. While Taylor is still working on the project, in March 2009 Anderson left Interplay for InXile Entertainment, to work on Wasteland 2.

In April 2009, Interplay signed a binding letter of intent with Masthead Studios, a Bulgarian MMORPG developer, to fund the development of Project V13, although the validity of this agreement was brought into question during the Bethesda Softworks LLC v. Interplay Entertainment Corporation court case.

But doesn't Bethesda own Fallout now?
Yes, Bethesda Softworks owns the Fallout franchise now. In April 2007, SEC filings were made showing the purchase of the entire Fallout IP to Fallout 3 developer Bethesda Softworks for $5.75 million USD.

While Bethesda now owns the rights to the Fallout MMO IP, clauses in the purchase agreement allowed Interplay to license the rights to the development of the MMO. However, in 2009 Bethesda terminated this license stating that that Interplay failed to meet the terms of the agreement and therefore the license expired. Interplay disputed these claims, but at the end of 2011 surrendered these rights in a settlement for 2 million.

So what happened with the original Project V13?
The project, while remaining on Interplay's coming soon list for most of a year, was confirmed to have been abandoned in favor of a "new direction" in December 2012.

How far did development get?
Documents in the Bethesda v Interplay court case indicate that the game was playable, albeit using a few assets from Mastheads' existing MMOG, in 2011.

What is the new Project V13?
Project V13 was a post-apocalyptic Strategy Role Playing Game in development by Interplay Entertainment and Black Isle Studios. Chris Taylor, one of the creators of Fallout was among the game's creators.

Is it a Fallout game?
No. While Interplay retained a limited right to sell Fallout, Fallout 2 and Fallout Tactics until the end of 2013, it surrendered any claim to ownership of the Fallout brand in December 2012 following the Bethesda Softworks LLC v. Interplay Entertainment Corporation court case.

What is the game about?
From Blackisle.com:

How is it being funded
When the game was announced, Interplay also launched a crowdsourcing campaign to raise funds to produce a prototype to help encourage further investment For their efforts, contributors were offered access to a proposed contributor only forum.