After years of waiting, Bethesda has finally delivered a new official update on the development of Fallout 5. It has already been almost 11 years since the launch of the most recent mainline game in the Fallout series, so any update on a new title from Bethesda is much appreciated.
After Fallout 4 launched in 2015, the only significant video game release was the multiplayer title Fallout 76 in 2018. While the game continues to receive new content to this day, its status as a multiplayer Fallout title means that it’s not exactly for everyone. Bethesda has continued to re-release Fallout 4 multiple times in the years since, the most recent of which being the Anniversary Edition in November 2025. This is cool, but it pales in comparison to a new mainline game.
Bethesda Officially Confirms Fallout 5 is in Pre-Production
A new statement from Bethesda has finally offered some official insight into the current state of Fallout 5‘s development. The studio has revealed that the game is being developed on Creation Engine 3 alongside The Elder Scrolls 6, which it has been building since Starfield‘s release. While the new engine allows Bethesda to “support multiple projects simultaneously,” it isn’t far along on Fallout 5 just yet, revealing that the game is currently in the pre-production stage, with The Elder Scrolls 6 remaining the priority. It is described by Bethesda as being its “long-range destination,” a clear indication that fans shouldn’t expect to see it any time soon.
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The update also provided significant news regarding Fallout 3 and New Vegas remasters, acknowledging their existence for the first time ever. Both remasters are expected to be in the vein of last year’s successful Oblivion Remastered, but it remains to be seen whether Virtuos is returning to help out with their development. Despite speaking on both, Bethesda has refused to give a release window for either at this time.
Given how successful the Fallout TV series has been in terms of bringing the franchise to a wider audience, it’s somewhat surprising that it has taken this long for Bethesda to put the wheels in motion on new games in the series. Earlier this month, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma confirmed that Bethesda will focus on its major IPs going forward, including Fallout and The Elder Scrolls. In this context, the latest set of Fallout announcements make a lot of sense, and it’s clear that Xbox is looking to push the studio away from enormous release gaps for its big franchises in the future.
Given that it’s still in pre-production and the ongoing development of The Elder Scrolls 6, it’s clear that Fallout 5 is still a very long time away. Another important consideration for the game’s release window is how the recent Xbox layoffs will affect it. Former developer comments indicate that the loss of institutional knowledge in the wake of these layoffs could massively affect Fallout 5, both in its development timeline and potential quality. Right now, it’s too early to tell either way.
- Released
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November 10, 2015
- ESRB
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M FOR MATURE: BLOOD AND GORE, INTENSE VIOLENCE, STRONG LANGUAGE, USE OF DRUGS
