Bethesda Game Studios has finally pulled back the curtain on its next decade of development, confirming long-rumored sequels to two of gaming's most beloved franchises while laying out an ambitious slate that includes remasters, spin-offs, and a return to Obsidian Entertainment partnership.
The roadmap reveals that The Elder Scrolls 6 remains the studio's primary focus, with Todd Howard and his team actively building the sequel to Skyrim. The game was officially announced in 2018 but has remained in development hell ever since. Bethesda confirmed today that the project is still at least two years away, though Howard said the team is "loving how it looks, and playing it every day."
Fallout 5 will follow as Howard's next major project. Currently in preproduction, the game will be developed on Creation Engine 3, a shared technology platform the studio has been building since Starfield's launch. This engine will power both The Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5, allowing teams to work on multiple projects simultaneously with new rendering and systems.
The studio also confirmed reports that Obsidian Entertainment, the developer behind Fallout: New Vegas, is working on a new Fallout project in collaboration with Bethesda. Details remain sparse, but the partnership marks a reunion with the team behind one of the franchise's most acclaimed entries.
Bethesda addressed another fan request: remasters of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas are officially in the works. No release dates were announced. The studio also teased multiple other Fallout projects in active development, suggesting the franchise will dominate Bethesda's output for years to come.
Beyond sequels, Bethesda outlined ongoing support for Starfield, which has attracted over 17 million players who have logged nearly a billion hours. The studio plans to expand the Settled Systems with new stories, gameplay improvements, and "Starborn" content launching next year. Fallout 76 will receive a major expansion called Raven Rock, a prequel story to Fallout 3, arriving in 2025.
The studio also announced a live celebration of Fallout's 30th anniversary in Washington, D.C. in 2027, making the real-world location a pilgrimage site for franchise fans.
Bethesda's ambitions extend beyond games. An unscripted Fallout Shelter television project is in development with Amazon Studios and Kilter Films, while Season 3 of the live-action Fallout series is already in production after Season 2 earned 10 Emmy nominations.
The roadmap announcement arrives in the wake of a brutal restructuring that saw Xbox shed over 3,000 jobs and spin out multiple studios. Bethesda boss Jill Braff told staff the changes reflect a "shift from a planning model primarily centered on what's next for each independent studio to one that focuses on our strongest franchises." The company is realigning talent and resources around core properties rather than spreading development across multiple teams.
Author Emily Chen: "This is Bethesda betting everything on the franchises that built their empire, and for once the layoffs might actually accelerate the release of games fans have been waiting 15 years to play."
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