We all knew Fallout 4 was coming. But despite the whispered rumours of a 2015 release, it was more hope than belief that would actually happen.

Then Bethesda's E3 show arrived and dropped that November 10th Fallout 4 release date. I asked Bethesda's Pete Hines why, when most games tend to allow time to develop a buzz, they chose to announce the game so close to release? "The simplest answer was that we felt like we could," is his reply. Part of that decision seems to have developed from the huge expectations already surrounding the game. "If we didn’t feel like that was enough time to generate the excitement that we expected and the interest that we wanted, then we would have announced it earlier. So part of it is because we felt like it was a big enough title that we could get away with it".

However, it wasn't just because of the studio's confidence in demand for its game, "part of it is because it’s way more fun" admits Pete, "as opposed to: here’s a press release and here’s a trailer and, I don't know, in a couple of months we’ll show you some stuff".

So, exciting then. But you can only do that if you're more or less ready to go, he adds: "part of it is getting the game to the point where it’s all done enough to be able to show so much of it. We’re pretty close to being done, which you have to be if you’re going to ship in five months". As he describes what's been shown so far, I get the idea that there's still plenty more to come as well. "It’s really fun to get this far into development and not say anything and then go ‘Boo! Here’s all this stuff. Here’s what we’re up to'. Which isn’t even all the full monty it’s just a big wide picture".

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