Welcome to a special edition of the Bethesda Softworks newsletter. After several months of underground development, we're finally reopening the vault this week to reveal the teaser trailer for Fallout: New Vegas, the next chapter in the critically-acclaimed Fallout franchise– coming to the Games for Windows, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 this Fall.

Also lined up as a Newsletter Exclusive are several brand-new online screenshots of our upcoming first-person shooter Brink, hailed as "2010's most exciting new game" by PC Zone (UK).

Keep reading for more on Fallout: New Vegas and Brink, as well as an update on RAGE.

Experience the sights and sounds of fabulous New Vegas through the latest in Vault-Tec's Post Nuclear Simulations! Explore the treacherous wastes of the Great Southwest from the safety and comfort of your very own vault: Meet new people, confront terrifying creatures, and arm yourself with the latest high-tech weaponry as you make a name for yourself on a thrilling new journey across the Mojave wasteland. A word of warning, however - while Vault-Tec engineers have prepared for every contingency,* in Vegas, fortunes can change in an instant. Enjoy your stay.

* Should not be construed as a legally-binding claim.

The teaser trailer for Fallout: New Vegas is now available online. Watch the video here! In the coming months, we'll release new details on the game. Also, stayed tuned to Bethesda Blog, Twitter and Facebook for the latest press coverage on the game.

Games Radar
"Our money's on Fallout: New Vegas having the look and intensity of Fallout 3, but blending in more of the original games' deeper RPG stylings and an irradiated American southwest setting."

Team Xbox
"Fallout: New Vegas is not a sequel to Fallout 3; instead, it takes place concurrently with its peer of the Capitol Wasteland in the ruins of Las Vegas in the grim, but blackly humorous post-apocalypse of Fallout."

Head to BrinkTheGame.com to check out the latest gameplay video for Brink. In this video, Game Director Paul Wedgwood introduces you to Brink's expansive character customization.

NowGamer
"With a strong history of multiplayer-focused gaming in its past, anything new and original from Splash Damage is worthy of our attention and Brink is particularly eye-catching. It's mix of single-player and multiplayer gaming and arresting art style make it a game to watch."

Eurogamer
"Promises to be the first game to really understand what Valve did right with Left 4 Dead."

Videogamer.com
"Rage has an awful lot going for it."

Gamersyde
"ID Software's Rage is undoubtedly among the most anticipated games of 2010 and given the studio's heritage it will have to be good after such a long wait."

The editors over at PCGamer put up their annual "Top 100 Games of All Time" list today. Their newest list features several games developed by Bethesda and id; Oblivion and Fallout 3 both made the top 10, while Quake III: Arena and DOOM II cracked the top 30. Check the whole list here.

Times' LIVE rates Morrowind as one of the biggest games they played in the last decade.

IGN has named the Top 25 PlayStation 3 Games – ranking Oblivion #18 and Fallout 3 #5.

Game of the Year
– MTV Game Awards 09 (Germany)

Reader's Choice Best DLC
– Gamespot

Best DLC (Point Lookout and Broken Steel)
– G4TV

Best DLC
– Machinima

We're pleased to share news that WET received a nomination from the Writer's Guild of America (WGA) for this year's Videogame Writing Award. Written by Duppy Demetrius, WET joins Fallout 3 as the second Bethesda Softworks title to receive a WGA nomination.

Happy Birthday id Software

On behalf of everyone here at Bethesda, I'd like to wish a very happy birthday to id Software. Here's to another 19 years of frags.

Inside the Vault: Chris Rodriguez

Chris Rodriguez is one of our newest programmers and the subject of today's Inside the Vault.

TESting your knowledge Volume 3: Dagon-it

Another Friday, another Elder Scrolls trivia question from the brain-bending professors at The Imperial Library.

New Splash Damage Developer Profile: John "Nifty" Molloy

Splash Damage is hosting a new developer profile on Brink designer John Molloy, or "Nifty" as he's been called since childhood.

Vault Boy on duty

Back in November, I received an email from Sgt. Francis Horton, who is currently serving as an Army journalist in Iraq.

What we're playing: Best Games of 2009

Today we conclude our look back at our favorites of 2009 with a look at what we're all most interested in — GAMES!

Brink Character Customization Video, and Some Slick Posters

Want to get a look at just how deep the character customization is for Brink? Splash Damage director Paul Wedgwood gives us a taste in the above walkthrough video, now available to view in HD on the Bethesda YouTube Channel.

Now hiring: id Software

Since we get plenty of emails asking about job availability, I thought I'd let you know there's a number of job opportunities at id Software.

Modding Interview: Cube Experimental's Dennis Weich

Cube Experimental is one of the more impressive mods you'll play for Fallout 3. Even more impressive, it was created entirely by one man: Dennis Weich, a member of acclaimed modding group SureAI.

YouTube video showcases Fallout 3 mods

I found this video in our mailbag and thought I'd share it with you (and the Fallout 3 dev team). Titled Fallout 3 – Wanderers Edition, this video showcases some of the cool things you can do with mods. After watching, Producer Craig Lafferty said, "It's Call of Duty Fallout 3."

Now Serving: Thousands of Fans on Facebook and Twitter

In community news, our portals on Facebook and Twitter recently reached new milestones. Last week, our Bethblog Twitter surpassed 10,000 followers.

Fan Art: Where's Wally?

Fallout 3 Game of the Year Edition launched in Japan this week. To mark the occasion, established Japanese fan artist White Lotus sent in the above mural to our Tokyo office.

Fallout
Brink
WET