Well, this is unusual: the announcement of three high-profile games and a massive update from the studio via a Tweet. It’s almost like they needed to get some positive news out there, and quickly, but they laid off the entire PR staff.
First, the rumors that Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas are indeed true, and Bethesda and Obsidian will be working on a brand new “project” in the franchise. They don’t specifically say it’s a new game, but since they’re both development teams it’s unlikely it’s anything else.
Fallout 76 will have new content next year in the form of Raven Rock, a prequel story to Fallout 3, and Starfield “remains an important part of our future” with new Starborn content on the way, also next year. There is no mention of the Nintendo Switch Starfield port.
ZeniMax Online Studios and Bethesda Game Studios will now work on The Elder Scrolls Online, and it has been revealed that The Elder Scrolls VI and Fallout 5 are being built in Creation Engine 3, the new version of the engine that powered Starfield.
Elder Scrolls VI is said to be the priority with Fallout 5 in pre-production, so we won’t see it until the next decade.
A NOTE FROM BETHESDA GAME STUDIOS
We love creating these worlds as much as you love playing them. Today we want to share the future of Bethesda Game Studios and what you can expect from us in the years to come.
For forty years, we’ve created games that have entertained nearly half a billion players. More than just games, they are worlds. Worlds to explore, shape and create your own. Worlds to which we return together.
This is what keeps us moving forward. We’re investing deeper in the worlds players love, giving creators a bigger role in shaping their experiences and bringing our teams closer together so we can get our games into your hands sooner, support them longer, and continue to develop them alongside you for decades to come.
STARFIELD CONTINUES
With over 17 million players working nearly a billion hours to date, Starfield remains an important part of our future. As we enter year three, we will continue to expand Settled Systems with new stories, targeted gameplay improvements, and additional updates, while preparing for the launch of new Starborn content next year. More than 40% of players already personalize their experience through creations, and we will continue to invest in creators and offer players new ways to make Starfield their own.
CREATED BY PLAYERS
We have believed since the beginning that our worlds belong not only to those who create them, but also to those who play in them. That’s why we’ve long provided players with the tools to create their own experiences, starting with the Morrowind building game. This year marked another major milestone for Creations with its expansion to Fallout 4, joining Skyrim and Starfield. We’re proud to say that creators have already earned over $10 million in royalties from their work.
THE FUTURE OF FALLOUT
Fallout is one of our biggest priorities today. Fallout 5 remains our long-term destination, and we currently have several Fallout projects in active development.
Fallout 76 continues to welcome millions of players exploring Appalachia together. With nearly 70 free updates released to date, the journey is far from over. In fact, we have a major Fallout 76 expansion planned for next year: Raven Rock, a prequel story to Fallout 3.
Fallout 4, the franchise’s most awarded game, just celebrated its 10th anniversary and recently surpassed 35 million copies sold, continuing to attract a new audience each year.
We also know that many players want to revisit previous Fallout experiences. While we’re not announcing any dates today, we are working on remasters for Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas.
Fallout Shelter remains the most popular way to experience Fallout on the go, with over 250 million players. There’s more to come for Fallout Shelter, including new seasons. An unscripted Fallout Shelter television project is also in the works with our partners Amazon Studios and Kilter Films.
We would like to congratulate Kilter Films and Amazon Studios on the 10 Emmy nominations for Fallout Season 2. Production on season 3 is already underway.
And while we won’t be hosting a traditional Fallout Day broadcast this year, we’re already planning something special for Fallout’s 30th anniversary in 2027, when Fallout Day will be celebrated live in Washington, DC.
COLLABORATION IN STUDIOS
The wilderness continues to expand as we once again team up with our longtime friends at Obsidian Entertainment. We are happy to confirm that they are working with us on a new Fallout project. We will have more to share in the future.
We’re also bringing our teams together in Bethesda. ZeniMax Online Studios will partner closely with Bethesda Game Studios on The Elder Scrolls franchise, while continuing to deliver incredible new experiences for The Elder Scrolls Online. Season 1: Return of the Thieves Guild recently launched and the team has more planned for the future. By aligning more directly with the entire franchise, we can create even better experiences for players.
Bringing our teams closer together helps us build a stronger foundation for whatever we create next.
THE ELDER SCROLLS AND BEYOND
This foundation extends beyond our teams to the technology, tools, and systems that will power the next generation of Bethesda RPGs.
Our teams are currently developing The Elder Scrolls VI and Fallout 5 on Creation Engine 3, a shared technology platform we’ve been building since the launch of Starfield. It allows our teams to support multiple projects simultaneously with new tools, renderers, and systems that define our games.
Fallout 5 is currently in pre-production. The Elder Scrolls VI is our main development focus today, with the majority of our team currently working on the next chapter in the franchise. With over 65 million copies sold, players are still exploring Skyrim 15 years later, but we know it’s been a very long wait for the sequel.
The next chapter is on its way. We are where we planned to be, we love the way it looks and play in it every day.
THE PATH TO COME
At Bethesda Game Studios, we’re building the future of Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, and Starfield. We’re investing in our technology, bringing teams together, supporting our live games, expanding into new forms of entertainment, and developing the next generation of Bethesda RPGs.
We couldn’t be more excited about what’s ahead and wanted to share as much as possible today. We cannot thank you enough for everything you have given to us and to these worlds. And we can’t wait to continue them together.
–Bethesda Game Studios
