Interplay dropped a press release last week announcing they have finalized their agreement with Masthead Studios, which is extremely similar to their previous announcement we covered here. Except this time it has been upgraded from a “binding letter of intent” to “signed definitive agreements”. Does this mean it’s a Fallout MMO? Nope, because Interplay and Bethesda are still fully engaged in their slap fight over the Fallout rights. Really it means nothing except maybe Interplay now finally has the funding they were required to have last year in order to retain the Fallout MMO rights. That’s a big MAYBE.

Regardless I don’t want to hear Interplay or Bethesda fanboys screaming back and forth about who does what to their mothers in the basement. It was spelled out in a previous article Interplay needed $30 million in funding secured, their financials have not shown any of it. There are a few other considerations to play with but I’m thinking after the court case settles Bethesda will win and have ZeniMax Online Studios ramp up to drop a Fallout MMO in the future (distant future so keep it in your pants). The good news for Interplay fans is Project V13, Fallout or not, is expected to have a public beta in 2012.