Fresh off an Xbox reset, Bethesda laid out a huge Fallout roadmap: remasters of Fallout 3 and New Vegas, Fallout 5 in pre-production, and a new Fallout from Obsidian. The catch? Elder Scrolls 6 comes first.
After a brutal Xbox reset — thousands of job cuts and a stated plan to double down on its biggest franchises — Bethesda just showed what 'doubling down' looks like for Fallout, and it's a lot. The studio laid out a roadmap spanning remasters of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout 5 in pre-production, and a brand-new Fallout game made with Obsidian. For a series that's been riding the wave of its hit TV show, it's the clearest signal yet that Fallout is now one of Xbox's protected crown jewels. There's just one catch fans won't love: you'll be waiting.
The good news, and the wait
Let's start with what fans have wanted for years: a New Vegas remaster and a new Fallout from Obsidian, the studio behind New Vegas, widely considered the best-written entry in the series. Todd Howard, the franchise's director, said Bethesda "could not be more excited to work with Obsidian again," and honestly, neither could the fanbase — an Obsidian-made Fallout is the announcement people have begged for since 2010. Pair that with remasters of Fallout 3 and New Vegas and there's genuinely a lot to play while the big one cooks. But the big one is far off: Bethesda confirmed The Elder Scrolls 6 will release before Fallout 5, and since Fallout 5 is only in pre-production, that puts it years out. This roadmap is a decade of Fallout, not a year of it.
Remasters and an Obsidian Fallout soon-ish; Fallout 5 years away, behind Elder Scrolls 6. · Unsplash
Why this roadmap makes sense (even if the wait hurts)
Here's my read: this is a smart response to a bad situation. Xbox cut deep, and the mandate was to focus on franchises that reliably deliver — and post-TV-show, Fallout is arguably Xbox's most valuable IP right now. Rather than making fans wait a decade with nothing, Bethesda is filling the gap intelligently: remasters monetize the back catalogue and keep the fandom warm at relatively low development cost, while an Obsidian Fallout outsources a full new entry to a studio that has proven it can deliver a great one, freeing Bethesda's main team to keep grinding on Elder Scrolls 6 and then Fallout 5 on Creation Engine 3. It's the roadmap of a company being realistic about its capacity after cuts. The honest downside is that Fallout 5 being behind Elder Scrolls 6, itself not close, means the numbered sequel is a long way off — but between remasters, the Obsidian game, and the ongoing Fallout 4 and 76 updates, there's a real plan to keep Fallout alive in the meantime. For a franchise this big, that's better than silence.
Quick answers
What did Bethesda announce in its Fallout roadmap?
Bethesda announced a sweeping Fallout roadmap following Xbox's studio reset: remasters of Fallout 3 (2008) and Fallout: New Vegas (2010), Fallout 5 in pre-production, and a brand-new Fallout game co-developed with Obsidian Entertainment (the studio behind New Vegas). Director Todd Howard said the team 'could not be more excited to work with Obsidian again.' Bethesda also confirmed The Elder Scrolls 6 will release before Fallout 5, and that both run on Creation Engine 3.
When is Fallout 5 coming out?
There's no release date, and it will be a while. Bethesda confirmed Fallout 5 is only in pre-production and, importantly, that The Elder Scrolls 6 will release before it. Since Elder Scrolls 6 itself isn't close to launch, Fallout 5 is realistically years away. In the meantime, Bethesda is filling the gap with remasters of Fallout 3 and New Vegas and a new Fallout game developed by Obsidian, so there will be Fallout to play well before the numbered sequel arrives.
Is Obsidian making a new Fallout game?
Yes. Bethesda confirmed it is collaborating with Xbox sister studio Obsidian Entertainment on a new Fallout game — a reunion long requested by fans, since Obsidian developed Fallout: New Vegas, widely regarded as one of the best-written entries in the series. Franchise director Todd Howard said Bethesda 'could not be more excited to work with Obsidian again.' It's part of a broader roadmap that also includes Fallout 3 and New Vegas remasters and Fallout 5, which remains in early pre-production behind The Elder Scrolls 6.
Bethesda's Fallout roadmap is ambitious and long — remasters and an Obsidian Fallout to tide fans over, with Fallout 5 years out behind Elder Scrolls 6. For a post-cuts studio, it's a realistic plan to keep a crown-jewel franchise alive. If it gets you thinking about a PC upgrade for the next big RPG, see what GPU you'd need. Sources: Bloomberg and Pure Xbox.
