Bethesda charts Fallout games future after Xbox reset
Bethesda Game Studios has mapped a busy future for Fallout games after Xbox's studio reset, confirming Fallout 5 is in pre-production, remakes of Fallout 3 and New Vegas, an Obsidian spin-off, and a huge Fallout 76 DLC called Raven Rock—while The Elder Scrolls VI remains the studio's primary focus.
Key Takeaways
- Fallout 5 is officially in pre-production, with multiple Fallout projects already in active development.
- Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas are getting full remakes, with no dates announced.
- Obsidian Entertainment is returning with a new Fallout spin-off; more details later.
- Fallout 76 will receive Raven Rock, a "huge" DLC framed as a Fallout 3 prequel.
- The Elder Scrolls VI is Bethesda's primary focus, while Creation Engine 3 aims to support multiple franchises at once.
The update landed in a studio note from Bethesda Game Studios, then expanded in interviews as fans weighed what the Xbox reset means for big franchises. For more odd and high-heat gaming headlines, see our Bizarre World coverage.
What did Bethesda announce for Fallout games?
According to reporting that quotes the note and a conversation with studio director Todd Howard, Fallout 5 is now in pre-production. Multiple Fallout projects are already in active development alongside that long-awaited sequel.
That slate includes full remakes of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas—without release windows—plus Obsidian's return to the series with its own spin-off. Fallout 76 players were also promised Raven Rock, described as a huge DLC that serves as a prequel to Fallout 3.
Why does this matter after the Xbox reset?
Bloomberg framed the reveal as a new Fallout roadmap following Xbox's reset. Windows Central's interview with Howard put the human cost front and center: after long careers together, seeing colleagues leave is "really personally very difficult" for him and the teams.
Bethesda said it is investing to bring core teams closer together so it can build titles faster and support them longer "for decades to come." The message is reassurance: cuts elsewhere have not erased the studio's flagship plans.
Where do Elder Scrolls VI and Starfield fit in?
Howard said The Elder Scrolls VI is the primary development focus today. The studio is "where we planned to be, loving how it looks, and playing every day"—but fans should not expect it soon, and no launch window was offered.
A big part of the longer wait revolves around Creation Engine 3, which Bethesda has been developing to boost simultaneous franchise development and improve Creation Club tooling. Starfield remains "an important part of our future," with a Starborn DLC and more creator tools on the horizon. Elder Scrolls Online will keep getting new seasons as ZeniMax Online Studios is integrated more tightly with Bethesda.
Howard declined to say whether Elder Scrolls VI or Fallout 5 would be Xbox exclusives, calling it too early, and held back on the engine Obsidian will use. The takeaway for Fallout games fans is simple: more projects are coming, even if mainline sequels still sit years out.