adminFallout 5 is part of Bethesda Game Studios’ long-term plans, but it is not the only project in development. Executive producer and game director Todd Howard has outlined the studio’s priorities across Fallout, The Elder Scrolls and Starfield, including new content, remasters and closer collaboration between teams. No release dates were announced for the upcoming games.
Image credit: Bethesda Softworks
Fallout 5 and Bethesda’s Fallout plans
Howard described the Fallout franchise as a major priority for the studio and said Fallout 4 has sold more than 35 million copies. Fallout 5 is a long-range project and is currently in preproduction. Bethesda also has several other Fallout projects in active development, though details and launch dates remain limited.
For players deciding what to follow next, it is useful to distinguish between announced development updates and confirmed release dates: Bethesda has discussed its plans, but has not provided dates for Fallout 5 or the remasters.
Fallout 76, Fallout Shelter and television projects
Fallout 76 is scheduled to receive the Raven Rock expansion next year. The expansion will tell a prequel story connected to Fallout 3. Fallout Shelter, which has passed 250 million players, is also set to receive more seasons.
A separate unscripted Fallout Shelter television project is being developed with Amazon Studios and Kilter Films. Production on season three of Amazon’s Fallout series is already underway.
Howard also confirmed that Bethesda has been working on remasters of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas, without announcing when either will be released. The franchise’s 30th anniversary is in 2027, when Fallout Day is planned as a live event in Washington, DC.
Fallout 76 will be getting an expansion next year. Image credit: Bethesda Softworks
Fallout: New Vegas is being remastered. Image credit: Obsidian Entertainment/Bethesda Softworks
The Elder Scrolls 6 is the main development focus
Bethesda says The Elder Scrolls 6 is its primary development focus, with most of the studio’s team working on the sequel. The game was announced in 2018, and Skyrim remains the previous mainline entry in the series. Howard said development is progressing as planned and that the team is playing the game regularly, but no release window was shared.
The Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5 are being developed using Creation Engine 3, the technology also used in Starfield. ZeniMax Online Studios will work more closely with Bethesda Game Studios on The Elder Scrolls franchise while continuing to support The Elder Scrolls Online. Howard indicated that more ESO content is planned.
The Elder Scrolls VI – Official Announcement Teaser
The announcement trailer for The Elder Scrolls 6 was shown in 2018.
Starfield updates and player-created content
Bethesda plans to continue supporting Starfield with new stories, gameplay improvements and updates as the game enters its third year. New Starborn content is being prepared for launch next year. The studio said more than 40% of players customize their experience through Creations, and it intends to continue supporting creators.
Creations have also expanded to Fallout 4, joining the tools available for Skyrim and Starfield. Howard said creators have earned more than $10 million in royalties. Players interested in user-made content should check which game and platform a Creation supports before installing it.
More collaboration across Bethesda’s studios
The plans reflect a broader shift toward coordinating work around major franchises. Bethesda has said it wants teams to collaborate more closely, support live games for longer and develop future projects using shared technology and resources. Obsidian is also working on a new Fallout project, as previously reported.
The strategy follows Bethesda’s move toward franchise-focused planning, intended to direct resources toward long-term development and stability. The announcement comes amid job cuts across Microsoft’s Xbox division, which affected Bethesda-related studios and union members. The OneBGS union protested the cuts and called for members to organize.
What Bethesda’s plans mean for Fallout 5
For now, Fallout 5 remains a long-term project in preproduction, while The Elder Scrolls 6 is receiving the largest share of Bethesda Game Studios’ development attention. Fallout fans can look to the Fallout 76 expansion, Fallout Shelter updates and the confirmed Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas remasters for nearer-term developments, but Bethesda has not announced their release dates.
