Wasteland 2 FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about Wasteland 2 by InXile Entertainment.

Production and release

What is Wasteland 2?

Wasteland 2 is a sequel to Wasteland, a 1988 post-apocalyptic computer roleplaying game created by Interplay Productions, which was the predecessor of the more widely known Fallout series.

Who made it?

The founder of Interplay and one of the original designers of Wasteland, Brian Fargo, left Interplay and founded a new company called InXile Entertainment in 2003 and indicated that he wants to make a new Wasteland game. In 2012, he announced that the project would be funded via Kickstarter and that original Wasteland designers Alan Pavlish, Ken St. Andre, Liz Danforth and Michael A. Stackpole have joined the team. Obsidian's then-Chief Creative Officer, Chris Avellone, also signed on early to work with the team on the design and writing of the game.

InXile also hired Jason Anderson, one of the creators of Fallout, as creative director. He left the company in January 2011 to join Turtle Rock Studios, but his story and character designs were still used in the game.^{needs verification}

The music was be composed by Mark Morgan, known for his Fallout and Fallout 2 soundtracks, while concept art was made by Andrée Wallin.

But didn't Electronic Arts own it?

The rights to the title were owned by Electronic Arts, but when they expired, Konami registered the trademark for use with their Yu-Gi-Oh series. In 2003, InXile acquired the rights to the Wasteland IP from Konami.

Is this the project known as Meantime?

No, Meantime was a game canceled in the early 1990s, which used an updated version of Wasteland's engine and was a sequel to Wasteland in terms of game mechanics, but had an entirely unrelated story focused on time travel.

Wasn't a Wasteland sequel released already?

Fountain of Dreams was initially marketed by Electronic Arts as a sequel to Wasteland, but although it shared many gameplay mechanics with it, as well as a similar setting, it was created by an entirely different team and is not considered a "true" sequel.

While the Fallout series is considered to be a spiritual successor to Wasteland, it is not an official sequel (although it was initially developed as one), because Interplay did not have the rights to Wasteland at that point. EA suggested to Interplay that they would be granted use of the Wasteland license, but in reality, they never intended to allow this to happen.

What platforms is it on?

On launch, it was released for Windows, Mac and Linux. It is also available on Nintendo Switch. It can be purchased through Steam as well as other online storefronts.

Does the Wasteland 2 package include the first Wasteland as well?

Yes, the original Wasteland was bundled with Wasteland 2, per a press release from Brian Fargo on July 10th 2012.^{needs verification}

Was there be any DLC?

inXile made a point of promising no day-one DLC. No DLC for the game ultimately materialized, though a free Director's Cut update was released in 2015.

Story

Is the game a remake or a sequel?

Wasteland 2 is a sequel featuring many of the same characters and systems from the original game. 2020's Wasteland 3 would be a more significant departure in terms of setting and mechanics.

Where is the game set?

Brian Fargo confirmed ahead of release that it is set in the Southwestern United States, just like the original Wasteland.

When is the game set?

15 years after the events that unfolded in the original game.

Who are the main characters?

Just like in the original game, the player controls a squad of Desert Rangers. The default player characters from Wasteland are featured as characters. Snake Vargas and Angela Deth are fully voiced.

Gameplay

Is it an action-RPG, like the new Bard's Tale?

While InXile new Bard's Tale game was an action game light on RPG elements, Wasteland 2 is more of an old-school RPG.

Will the same or similar character creation system be used?

The original game's mechanics were based directly on those used in the role-playing games Tunnels and Trolls and Mercenaries, Spies and Private Eyes created by Ken St. Andre and Michael A. Stackpole, who were also among the designers of Wasteland. Most features were retained for Wasteland 2.

Will we control the whole party like in the original or just the main character?

Like in the original Wasteland, we will control an entire party of Desert Rangers

Will I be able to complete the game if I create just one character in the beginning?

Like the original game, Wasteland 2 will require a party to survive. That said, perhaps a solo character with all NPC recruits might be able to do it

Does the game contain any form of multiplayer?

inXile was interested in social features, but none ultimately materialized for Wasteland 2 or 3.

Kickstarter/Pre-order

How can I help the developers?

Even though the Kickstarter project has finished, you can still contribute by buying the game from the official website or any storefront.

Can I get my copy of the game through Steam?

Absolutely. The digital copies are available through Steam and other, DRM free, digital distribution methods.