Tim Cain, the creator of the original Fallout and one of the most influential RPG developers in gaming history, announced on December 5 that he’s coming out of semi-retirement to return to Obsidian Entertainment as a full-time in-office employee. In a YouTube video posted to his popular Cain on Games channel, the legendary developer revealed he’s moved back to Southern California, is working on an unannounced project under NDA, and warned fans not to bother guessing what it is because you’re not going to guess right. The news has ignited immediate speculation about whether he’s creating a new IP, working on Fallout-related content, or reviving a forgotten franchise from Microsoft’s massive catalog.
What Tim Cain Has Been Up To
Cain originally joined Obsidian Entertainment in 2011 as a programmer, working on titles including South Park: The Stick of Truth and Pillars of Eternity. He co-directed The Outer Worlds, which launched in 2019 to critical acclaim for its player-driven RPG systems and darkly satirical take on corporate space colonization. In June 2020, Cain stepped down from his full-time position to pursue a part-time contractor role, allowing him to work remotely and consult on projects like The Outer Worlds 2 without the commitments of in-office employment.
During his semi-retirement, Cain built a substantial YouTube following through his Cain on Games channel, where he shares insights from his decades-long career developing RPGs. Videos cover topics ranging from magic system design to world-building philosophy, project management lessons, and behind-the-scenes stories from creating Fallout, Arcanum, and other classics. His transparent, educational approach has made the channel a valuable resource for aspiring game developers and fans curious about what goes into crafting memorable role-playing experiences.
Why He’s Back
In his announcement video, Cain explained that he’s moved from Seattle back to Southern California to work in-person at Obsidian’s Irvine office. He stated I’m back at Obsidian, I’m their full-time employee, and in-person, not remote. So I’m not a contractor anymore. The decision to return full-time suggests Obsidian offered him a project compelling enough to pull him out of semi-retirement and back into the daily grind of in-office game development.
Cain emphasized that he cannot discuss the project he’s working on due to non-disclosure agreements, and specifically warned fans not to waste time speculating because they won’t guess correctly. That statement eliminates obvious choices like Fallout New Vegas 2 or The Outer Worlds 3 from serious consideration. If it were a high-profile sequel to an existing franchise, fans would absolutely guess it correctly. The fact that Cain believes no one will figure it out suggests he’s working on something unexpected, potentially a new IP or a revival of a forgotten property that most people aren’t thinking about.
What Could He Be Working On
The most likely scenarios include a completely new intellectual property, a reboot of an obscure Microsoft-owned franchise, or possibly a spiritual successor to one of his previous games that sidesteps licensing issues. Cain previously stated he’s not particularly fond of sequels unless they introduce significantly new elements, which makes working on direct continuations of existing series seem less appealing to his creative sensibilities. However, he did work on The Outer Worlds 2, so his preferences aren’t absolute rules.
Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard gave them access to decades worth of dormant franchises that could be candidates for revival under Cain’s leadership. Obsidian is also in the unique position of being able to pitch original IPs to Microsoft, which has been more willing than most publishers to greenlight new properties from trusted studios. Given Cain’s expertise in creating memorable RPG worlds and systems, whatever he’s building likely leans into those strengths rather than chasing trends or established formulas.
The YouTube Channel Continues
Cain confirmed that Obsidian hasn’t asked him to stop producing content for his YouTube channel, noting it’s a personal project and as a veteran developer he understands what is and isn’t covered by NDAs. This means fans can continue enjoying his insights and stories even as he returns to full-time development work. The channel has become an important resource for the game development community, offering wisdom that’s hard to find anywhere else from someone with Cain’s credentials and experience.
His ability to balance full-time in-office development with creating educational YouTube content demonstrates how much the industry has changed since he started. In the 1990s when Cain was creating Fallout at Interplay, developers rarely spoke publicly about their processes or shared behind-the-scenes details. Now, veteran developers like Cain can build substantial audiences by demystifying game development and sharing lessons learned over decades of creating beloved titles.
What This Means for Obsidian
Having Tim Cain back full-time is a significant win for Obsidian Entertainment, which has been juggling multiple high-profile projects including Avowed, The Outer Worlds 2, and Grounded 2. Cain brings unmatched expertise in RPG system design, world-building, and player-driven narrative structures that defined classics like Fallout, Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura, and Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines. His return suggests Obsidian is investing in a project they believe can benefit from his specific talents and vision.
The timing is also interesting given the success of Amazon’s Fallout TV series, which reignited mainstream interest in the franchise. While Cain explicitly warned against speculating about Fallout-related work, his return to full-time development coinciding with renewed cultural relevance of his most famous creation has naturally sparked hope among fans desperate for a proper Fallout RPG from the people who understand what made the original games special.
FAQs
Is Tim Cain working on Fallout New Vegas 2?
Unknown, but unlikely. Tim Cain specifically stated fans shouldn’t bother guessing what he’s working on because they won’t guess right. If it were an obvious sequel like Fallout New Vegas 2, fans would absolutely guess it correctly.
When did Tim Cain retire from game development?
Tim Cain entered semi-retirement in June 2020 when he left his full-time position at Obsidian to work as a remote contractor. He consulted on projects like The Outer Worlds 2 while focusing on his YouTube channel. He’s now returned to full-time in-office work as of December 2025.
What is Tim Cain working on at Obsidian?
Tim Cain is working on an unannounced project under NDA and cannot discuss it publicly. He warned fans not to waste time guessing because they won’t figure it out, suggesting it’s something unexpected rather than an obvious sequel to existing franchises.
Will Tim Cain continue his YouTube channel?
Yes. Cain confirmed that Obsidian hasn’t asked him to stop producing content for his Cain on Games YouTube channel. He understands what information is covered by NDAs and will continue sharing insights from his career.
What games did Tim Cain create?
Tim Cain created the original Fallout (1997) and worked on Fallout 2 as a designer. He also created Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura, worked on Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines, and co-directed The Outer Worlds at Obsidian.
Where is Tim Cain working now?
Tim Cain is working in-person at Obsidian Entertainment’s office in Irvine, California. He moved from Seattle back to Southern California specifically to return to full-time in-office work at the studio.
Could Tim Cain be working on a new IP?
Possibly. Cain has stated he’s not particularly fond of sequels unless they introduce significantly new elements, and his warning that fans won’t guess what he’s working on suggests it might be a new intellectual property or a revival of an obscure franchise.
Conclusion
Tim Cain coming out of retirement to work full-time at Obsidian Entertainment is one of the most exciting pieces of RPG news in years. The man who created Fallout and shaped how an entire generation thinks about player choice, consequence systems, and world-building is back in the trenches creating something new. The mystery surrounding his current project only amplifies the anticipation. Is it a new IP that will define the next generation of RPGs? A revival of a forgotten classic from Microsoft’s vault? Something so unexpected that fans genuinely can’t guess it? We won’t know for potentially years given how game development timelines work, but the fact that Cain was willing to leave semi-retirement and move back to California for this project suggests it’s something special. For now, fans can continue enjoying his YouTube wisdom while waiting to see what magic he’s cooking up at Obsidian.