:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/26154163/fallout.0.jpg)
Bethesda Softworks announced today via Twitter that it is working to bring back Fallout, Fallout 2 and Fallout Tactics to Steam after the games were removed from sale as a result of the franchise rights changing hands.
The Fallout games were originally developed and published by Interplay Entertainment before Bethesda acquired the IP in 2007. As part of the acquisition, Interplay was granted certain merchandising rights, which allowed it to sell the original Fallout games. A lawsuit between the two companies in 2012 ended this agreement, which led to those merchandising rights expiring on Dec. 31, 2013.
The expiration of rights meant digital retailers like Steam and GOG.com had to remove the games from sale, but Bethesda said today that it is working to return the games to Steam as soon as possible. "We have to remove existing publisher info, legal text, etc." the company tweeted.
