The relationship between Interplay and Bethesda has always been a bumpy one, over the Fallout franchise and IP. Bethesda of course, did Fallout 3, while Interplay was reportedly working on an MMO based on the IP. Now it’s been revealed that Interplay tried to sell the Fallout MMO rights for as much as $50 million to Bethesda, saying that “the MMOG strength of this universe is huge.” But Bethesda passed on the offer. Interplay then went on making the MMO themselves, but because of rights issues, Bethesda sued and the two are now pending a lawsuit.

According to Interplay, the company recently announced a deal with Masthead Studios, which will license technology to Interplay for the Fallout MMO, which should, according to plans, have beta testing in 2012. Well, no matter what the deal with the game is, at least they’re planing ahead. Quite a lot ahead.

While Bethesda and Interplay are in a legal battle surrounding the Fallout MMO which is in development (at least last time we heard about the game) — which Bethesda think is moving too slow — according to 1UP, the above screen is one of several which were leaked, alongside concept art, which Interplay allegedly submitted as evidence in court, a sign that they’re working on the MMO — a statement Bethesda is contesting.

Interplay is getting help from Bulgarian developer Masthead Studios who will be joining them to work on the publisher’s mysterious MMO codenamed Project V13, which is rumored to be a Fallout MMO.

The agreement sees Masthead co-developing the game with Interplay’s internal teams under their direction and control. It will also see Masthead implementing tools and technology created for Earthrise – a post-apocalyptic MMO due out later this year.

Interplay is yet to announce any solid details on Project V13, though it is known that Jason Anderson – one of the original Fallout’s original designers – had been working on the project before he left to work for inXile.

Fallout fans rejoice! Interplay has relaunched its company website which notes, among other things, that the Fallout MMO is in development. The company has opened an Orange County, CA office for development of the game and has hired Chris Taylor, who was part of the original Fallout team, to be the lead system designer. He joins several other former Fallout devs.

While the rights to create Fallout games was sold to Bethesda last year, Interplay retained the right to create an online game based on the franchise. However, Interplay needs to raise at least $30 million in funding for the project before April 2009; also, Bethesda is allowed to keep close tabs on the development. If the company fails to raise the money, it will lose the MMO license.