Since 2015, Bethesda‘s in-house output has slowed down significantly, although developers like Obsidian and id Software have helped pick up the slack along the way. Except for Fallout 76 and Starfield, Bethesda Softworks has not published any primarily console or PC games over the last decade; however, things might be set to pick up over the next few years, as new Bethesda projects are not exactly in short supply.
If somebody hasn’t been keeping up with the news coming from the publisher’s headquarters, they might not know that Fallout should be receiving a big boost in activity throughout the rest of the decade, starting in 2027. The Elder Scrolls‘ future isn’t quite as set in stone or exciting, but Bethesda’s biggest upcoming game belongs to the franchise, although we know almost nothing about TES6 at this point.
Let’s look towards the future and see what the wasteland has in store for us, especially with Fallout‘s 30th anniversary happening in 2027.
This article summarizes the relatively recent Fallout announcements to provide a clear picture of what the franchise’s future holds.
Fallout 5 Is Coming… Eventually
Bethesda Confirms That A Return To The Wasteland Is In Pre-Production
Despite the last numbered game being more than a decade old, Fallout has actually had a pretty decent 2020s so far, largely thanks to the ever-present F76 and the surprisingly amazing Amazon TV show. Still, fans are overdue for the next mainline entry in the franchise, and Todd Howard and Bethesda have confirmed that Fallout 5 is in the works, a revelation that most people could have guessed. I mean, one of the most successful IPs in gaming isn’t going away anytime soon, even if new releases nowadays take forever to materialize.
As far as we know, Fallout 5 is still in pre-production, and it will likely come out after The Elder Scrolls 6. Essentially, we probably won’t get this game until the next decade, and even 2030 is optimistic. Bethesda revealed that F5 will use the Creation Engine 3, which is also being used for TES6. What else do we know about this open-world RPG? Well, it should be set in America, with speculation suggesting New Orleans could be used as the base.
Also, Todd Howard confirmed that Fallout 5 takes the events of the TV show into account.
Obsidian’s New Fallout Project
Bethesda And Obsidian Join Forces To (Hopefully) Create Something Special
Yes, it’s happening. Obsidian is back in the Fallout mines, working on its first franchise project since New Vegas, which is still hailed as the best 3D entry in the series by most folks. Early reports suggested that Josh Sawyer would be handling directorial duties, which makes sense since he is Obsidian’s studio director.
Similar to Fallout 5, Bethesda has revealed basically nothing about this upcoming release, except for confirming that it will be a collaborative effort rather than just Obsidian handling everything. A few leaks have come out with details, including Xbox insider Jez Corden saying the game will be a full-blown modern Fallout and not an isometric RPG.
Reportedly, Obsidian was already working on a project similar to Fallout called “Project Michigan,” which has seemingly come to an end. Maybe that work was folded into the upcoming Fallout release, but that is pure speculation on my part.
Bethesda Finally Remasters Fallout 3 And New Vegas
About Darn Time
Yeah, it’s finally happening: Fallout 3 and New Vegas are getting updated versions. Honestly, the fact that it took this long is kind of incredible, as both games are pretty darn old by this point, and they are still clearly wildly popular. We’ve gotten about 50 billion versions of Skyrim, but no remasters for the Fallout masterpieces.
Currently, the Fallout 3 Remaster seems likely to arrive first, with reports saying that a release around October 23, 2027, is on the cards. That’s when Bethesda celebrates the franchise’s 30th anniversary, so dropping the remaster at the end of next year would make complete sense. While the publisher continues to keep things under wraps, the belief is that the refresh will be similar to something like Oblivion Remastered; basically, the core stays the same, but the presentation receives a substantial boost.
Fallout 76’s Raven Rock Expansion Sets The Stage For Fallout 3
F76 Plans To Continue Its Run Of Quality Content In 2027
For those who dropped the game immediately following its launch, you might be surprised to know that Fallout 76 not only stuck around, but has also improved to the point of becoming genuinely great. If you want more Fallout content, you should really not skip this online RPG, especially since you can play through the main storyline like a traditional single-player experience.
In Summer 2027, Fallout 76 should release its next expansion: Raven Rock. The upcoming release is set to be massive, introducing a new region that involves parts of the Capital Wasteland, an Enclave questline, and plenty of other content. More importantly, the story acts as a prequel to Fallout 3, taking place long before the events of that game.
