Bethesda released a lengthy post on their website and social media today, laying out plans for the next several years. The update mentions nearly every one of their major franchises including The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, and Starfield.
Coupled with Todd Howard’s recent interviews with Jason Schreier and Windows Central’s Jez Corden, this is promising news for fans of the studio and its games.
The Elder Scrolls VI
Todd Howard, Bethesda Director / Executive Producer, confirms that The Elder Scrolls VI remains top priority. In addition, the bulk of the studio is now working on the title. Howard mentioned development of the game as being on track. No release date is currently public. Additionally, Howard said it’s still too early to discuss whether the game will be an Xbox exclusive.
The Elder Scrolls VI was first announced way back in 2018. No gameplay has been revealed for the title.
Fallout 5 Confirmed
A title I’m most looking forward to, Fallout 5 is officially real and currently in pre-production. According to Howard, Fallout 5 is a long-term project rather than an upcoming release. With most of the studio focused on The Elder Scrolls VI, we likely won’t see Fallout 5 for several years.
This would be the first main entry to the series since Fallout 4’s arrival in 2015.
Fallout 3, New Vegas Remasters
In the post, Bethesda also confirms that remasters of both Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas are confirmed. There have been years of leaks and speculation on these titles being potentially re-made. While this is great news for fans of the original releases, no release windows were shared for either game.
Fallout 3 was first released in 2008, whereas New Vegas dropped in 2010. As it’s been over 15 years since these games were released, I’m looking forward to seeing a modern take for both classics.
Obsidian’s Return to the Wasteland
Obsidian Entertainment, the original studio behind Fallout: New Vegas, is confirmed to be developing a new Fallout spin-off. While the details are sparse, Howard points to a strong and respectful relationship between the two studios. Fans of the series should expect more news within the upcoming months.
Being a Fallout fan myself, I’ll be tracking this one closely.
Starfield’s New DLC
Bethesda also confirmed that Starfield development continues. A new DLC, Starborn, is in the pipeline and is being worked on along with expanded Creation Club tools.
Starfield was Bethesda’s first new IP in around 25 years. The announcement made a point to include that Starfield remains an important part of Bethesda’s future lineup.
I played Starfield on launch in 2023 and generally enjoyed the title, and am looking forward to new content.
Fallout 76’s New Expansion
A new Fallout 76 expansion, titled “Raven Rock”, is being planned for release next year. It’s being described as a prequel tying into Fallout 3.
Fallout 76 has been online since 2018’s rocky launch, and has seen several updates over the years. While I have yet to jump into the game, I am a fan of the original Fallout 3 and am looking forward to how the connections are made between titles.
The Elder Scrolls Online
ZeniMax Online Studios, developers behind The Elder Scrolls Online, will work closely with Bethesda on the Elder Scrolls franchise. In addition to this support, Bethesda mentions that they will continue to produce more content and seasons for ESO which has been live since 2014.
Again, while I’m not a regular MMO player, I can appreciate when a studio confirms continued support for a live /ongoing title.
What’s Next
Between Bethesda’s own roadmap and Howard’s more candid comments, the picture is clear. Bethesda intends to play the long game, even if that means fans like you and I are stuck waiting years for most of these upcoming titles.
Given the current landscape of the gaming industry and XBOX’s very recent layoffs and studio break aways, I’m taking these announcements with a grain of salt.
At least I have a sizeable backlog to work on while I wait.
