Fans keep turning Fallout 2 into an MMO

Fan projects like Fallout: New California and Fallout 4: New Vegas get plenty of attention for overhauling the recent entries in the Fallout series, but the classic, turn-based Fallout RPGs also have passionate modding communities, and one of them really, really wants Fallout 2 to be an MMO. They iterated on the idea several times before Bethesda ever explored multiplayer itself with Fallout 76

The latest Fallout 2 MMO project is called FOnline 3, descendant of FOnline 2, FOnline Reloaded, and FOnline Aftertimes. Each are based on the FOnline system which uses resources from Fallout 2. (In an effort to avoid a copyright notice, the creators insist that you own a copy of Fallout 2 before downloading an FOnline project, which you absolutely should—it's on Steam and GOG

FOnline 3

(Image credit: I Burst Dev Team)

Not all in the FOnline family have stood the test of time, specifically FOnline Reloaded, which modder KompreSor tells PCGN is the abandoned project that FOnline 3 is meant to replace. Although what we see in the trailer isn't turn-based like Fallout 2, KompreSor also told the site that "certain parts" will be turn-based. 

FOnline 3's website provides a somewhat jumbled description of the game, saying it's about surviving in the wasteland while fighting on behalf of one of the NPC factions, and is meant to improve on FOnline Aftertimes while removing "what was unplayble."

Until FOnline 3 is finished, you can check out more development videos on its YouTube channel, join the community Discord, or download and try FOnline 2

Thanks, PCGamesN.

Lauren Morton
Associate Editor

Lauren started writing for PC Gamer as a freelancer in 2017 while chasing the Dark Souls fashion police and accepted her role as Associate Editor in 2021, now serving as the self-appointed chief cozy games enjoyer. She originally started her career in game development and is still fascinated by how games tick in the modding and speedrunning scenes. She likes long books, longer RPGs, has strong feelings about farmlife sims, and can't stop playing co-op crafting games.