Fallout fans! The ambitious total conversion mod recreating the canceled Fallout 3 project, once known as Van Buren, has finally unveiled its first official trailer, and a new name: Fallout The New West.
This is a big moment for long-time fans, as it brings to life a piece of Fallout history that never officially made it to the games, offering a fresh take on the series’ post-apocalyptic universe.
What Fallout: The New West Is
Fallout: The New West is a big mod that recreates Van Buren, the canceled Fallout 3 project by Black Isle Studios. Van Buren was supposed to be the sequel to Fallout 2 but was canceled in 2003.
This mod brings that lost game to life as a Fallout New Vegas total conversion, using New Vegas as its base. For long-time fans, it’s a chance to see a part of Fallout history that was never released.
Why Fallout: New Vegas Is the Best Base
Fallout: New Vegas is a great choice for this project because many ideas from Van Buren already appear in it, like:
- Caesar’s Legion
- Big MT
- Joshua Graham
Using New Vegas makes it easier to recreate Van Buren’s story and locations while keeping familiar gameplay.
From Revelation Blues to The New West
The project was previously known as Revelation Blues, and even released a demo under that name. Now, it has officially rebranded as Fallout: The New West, formally presenting itself as the Fallout Van Buren mod.
The new name reflects a fresh focus on bringing the lost Van Buren story to life while connecting with the renewed interest in Fallout sparked by the recent Fallout TV series. This rebrand is a signal for us that the project is moving forward with a clear vision and ambition.
Trailer Breakdown and Story Setup
The first official trailer gives us a glimpse of the story and tone. It opens with a daring prison escape from a facility run by the AI Odysseus, setting the stage for an intense adventure. A new threat, called the New Plague, looms over the wasteland, adding urgency to the narrative.
The trailer also uses Johnny Cash’s classic ‘Wayfaring Stranger,’ a nod to Fallout’s signature mix of Americana and post-apocalyptic storytelling. It gives us a sense of the series’ familiar mood while introducing this new chapter.
Faithfulness to Classic Fallout
The trailer for Fallout: The New West shows that the game stays true to the style of the original Fallout games, rather than the newer Bethesda versions. It keeps the elements that made Fallout 1 and 2 unique:
- dark humor and sarcastic dialogue
- tough survival challenges and resource management
- morally tricky choices that affect the story
Modding Scene and Community Interest
Fallout: The New West is part of the larger Fallout modding community, alongside other big projects like Fallout: Yesterday. These mods do more than just improve graphics – they try to bring back the full Fallout experience that fans loved in the original games.
By doing so, they bring back key elements that made the original games so beloved, including:
- classic RPG gameplay, with turn-based combat and skill systems that reward careful planning
- branching storylines with meaningful choices, where decisions can dramatically affect the world and its characters
- open-world exploration and freedom, allowing players to wander the wasteland, discover secrets, and shape their own adventures
Availability and Where to Follow Progress
If you want to try it, the earlier Revelation Blues demo is still available on Nexus Mods, letting you explore some of the mod’s features before the full release.
You can also keep up with development by visiting the project’s official website, where you can:
- see new screenshots and videos showing updates to environments, characters, and gameplay
- track progress on the full mod, including new story content and planned features
- join discussions and share feedback with the community, helping the developers refine the experience
This makes it easy for players to stay connected and excited as Fallout: The New West continues to grow.