Is Wasteland 4 in Development?

Based on Wasteland 3‘s financial success, critical acclaim, and unresolved plot threads, a fourth installment in inXile Entertainment‘s post-apocalyptic RPG series appears likely. While not officially greenlit yet, all indications suggest the developer will revisit this fan-favorite world.

Wasteland 3‘s Strong Performance Bodes Well for Another Sequel

With over 1 million players reached shortly after its August 2020 launch, Wasteland 3 has been a major hit for publisher Deep Silver and developer inXile. As studio head Brian Fargo told Gamerant, this makes it "the most successful release in the history of inXile."

Wasteland 3 also saw an 85% positive user score on Metacritic and won RPG of the Year awards from outlets like Game Debate, demonstrating its critical appeal.

With fans and reviewers responding so positively, Fargo said the studio "fully plan[s] to continue the series." After years of cult status, Wasteland appears to have finally broken through to wider recognition.

Unfinished Story Elements Could Drive Wasteland 4‘s Plot

While Wasteland 3 wraps up some plot threads, the ending leaves room for the Rangers‘ adventures to continue. Potential future faction conflicts are set up that could fuel the narrative direction of a sequel.

For example, the Patriarch‘s fate remains ambiguous after the final confrontation in Colorado. If he survived, he could seek revenge in a new game. The emergence of the Machine Commune also raises questions about this robotic collective‘s future role.

In an interview with GameWatcher, Fargo hinted there were additional story beats discussed during development that may factor into future installments, saying "I suspect we will come back to some of those ideas for sure."

The Developers Clearly Love Exploring This World

Both Fargo and other inXile creatives have expressed their passion for crafting stories in the Wasteland universe. After years of working on the franchise, their enthusiasm seems greater than ever.

As principal engine programmer John Alvarado told Wccftech, "I joined the studio specifically so I could work on Wasteland. I enjoy the setting that much."

Considering how invested the team is in this IP, it‘s hard to imagine them not returning to build out the world even further. Their ambition and ideas for the series seem endless.

What Might Be Next for This Post-Apocalyptic RPG Franchise?

While inXile hasn‘t shared concrete details on a fourth game, they likely have already brainstormed possibilities. Wasteland 4 could pick up where 3 left off, continuing the Patriarch storyline. Or they may shift the setting to explore another region, letting players reshape society from the ground up again.

As a smaller studio with limited resources, inXile must weigh strategic factors like budget, scope, and scheduling. But with Microsoft now owning the developer, they may have more financial freedom to get ambitious with a new installment.

The company is currently expanding to scale up development, even hiring for their first AAA game. Though early in process, might this mysterious project be a big-budget take on Wasteland?

While nothing is guaranteed yet, all signs point to another game set in this harsh world. For Wasteland devotees, the long wait for their next adventure may soon conclude as they journey out once more into the desolate American Southwest. But no matter the destination, we know inXile will create more of the imaginative stories and tactical combat this franchise is loved for.