As if there was ever any doubt, Bethesda director Todd Howard has as soon as once more confirmed Fallout 5 is coming… ultimately.
Following widespread layoffs at Xbox earlier this month, Bethesda Sport Studios has revealed a studio roadmap that includes its plans for the close to and far-off future. A part of its letter included affirmation {that a} fifth mainline entry in its massively widespread post-apocalyptic RPG sequence has formally entered pre-production, however what which means for Vault Dwellers in every single place stays to be seen.
What’s Fallout 5 about? The place does it happen? How will it connect with different video games within the franchise? How a lot will it value? Will it come to PlayStation? And when is its launch date? These questions (and plenty of extra) have crammed followers’ minds since Fallout 4 launched in 2015. Can we actually know the reply to any of them? No, however Howard has nonetheless spent the final decade promising that Bethesda has large plans in retailer for what’s subsequent.
Fallout 5 Is Formally Introduced and Being Labored On
Howard first spoke about Fallout 5 again in 2021, which means one of many first official mentions of the sport arrived six years after Fallout 4 and three years after multiplayer spinoff Fallout 76. On the time, he advised IGN that there was a really surface-level plan for the sequence’ future.
“I do not see… Look, Fallout’s actually a part of our DNA right here,” he stated on the time. “We have labored with different individuals sometimes – I am unable to say what’s gonna occur. , now we have a one-pager on Fallout 5, what we need to do.”
He added, “Once more, if I might wave my hand and have [Fallout 5] out – , I would prefer to discover a strategy to speed up what we do, however I am unable to actually say right this moment or decide to something, [like] what is going on to occur when.”
Todd Howard Says Fallout 5 Will Arrive After The Elder Scrolls 6
Gamers had lengthy believed a fifth Fallout sport would ultimately arrive, however a press release from Howard in June 2022 made it clear the wait could be longer than what was anticipated by a few of Bethesda’s most skeptical followers. He advised IGN the plan was to see Fallout 5 arrive after The Elder Scrolls 6, which, on the time of this story’s publication in July 2026, nonetheless appears to be years from launch.
“Sure, Elder Scrolls 6 is in pre-production and, , we’re going to be doing Fallout 5 after that, so our slate’s fairly full going ahead for some time,” he stated on the time, nonetheless one yr out from the launch of Starfield. “Now we have another initiatives that we have a look at sometimes as effectively.”
The Fallout Present Crew Is aware of ‘All About’ Fallout 5
One factor preserving Fallout followers blissful in-between installments is the Fallout present on Prime Video. Forward of the premiere of Season 1 in 2024, govt producer Jonathan Nolan went so far as to inform (*5*) that the crew “know all about Fallout 5” and that they are “not telling anybody.”
It is onerous to say simply how a lot of Fallout 5 had come collectively by this level, however Howard stated he made certain the crew steered away from any undesirable crossovers.
“Nicely, there have been some issues the place I stated, ‘Don’t do that as a result of we’re going to do this in Fallout 5,'” Howard stated. “However I believe the intent once you see that, it is how we approached it. I believe it is one of many issues that is distinctive about this form of style translation of one thing – whether or not it is a sport or a comic book or another guide – is that it wasn’t a translation of an current story; it was, ‘What would the subsequent factor be?’ It simply occurs to be a TV present, and that was the method to it.”
Do not Anticipate Fallout 5 to Depart the U.S.
Fallout 3 introduced Vault Dwellers to the Capital Wasteland of Washington, D.C., Fallout 4 traveled to Boston’s Commonwealth, and Fallout 5 will (in all probability) take gamers some place else in the USA. That is in accordance with Howard, who advised Kinda Funny in April 2024 that Bethesda plans to “predominantly” preserve the sequence from leaving too far outdoors of its consolation zone.
“My view is a part of the Fallout schtick is on the Americana naivete and a part of that,” Howard stated. “And so, for us proper now, it’s OK to acknowledge a few of these different areas. However our plan is to predominantly preserve it within the U.S.”
He continued: “I additionally like in any form of world, I don’t really feel the necessity to reply. It’s OK to go away thriller or questions: what is going on right here? What is going on right here? I believe these are good issues. In Elder Scrolls all people needs to go to those different, mysterious lands. The worst factor you possibly can do to mysterious lands is take away the mysteriousness. Maintain mysterious lands mysterious!”
Todd Howard Would not Wish to Rush Fallout 5
So, the Fallout present was a hit – however now what? In June 2024, Howard advised content material creator MrMattyPlays that Bethesda is not fascinated by “dashing” its video games simply because thousands and thousands of followers confirmed as much as watch the primary season of the TV sequence.
“For different Fallout video games sooner or later, , clearly I can’t discuss these proper now, however I might say, form of dashing by them, or we form of must get stuff out that’s completely different than the work we’re doing in 76… we don’t really feel like we have to rush any of that,” he stated. “The Fallout TV present fills a sure area of interest by way of the franchise and storytelling.”
He continued, saying that he completely will get “the need for a brand new form of mainline single-player sport” within the franchise. The truth, in accordance with him, nevertheless, is that “these issues take time.”
“I don’t suppose it’s dangerous for individuals to overlook issues,” Howard added. “We simply need to get it proper and be sure that every part we’re doing in a franchise, whether or not it’s Elder Scrolls, Fallout, or now Starfield, that these change into significant moments for everyone who cherished these franchises as a lot as we do.”
Todd Howard to Determined Fallout Followers: ‘Simply Know We Are Engaged on Even Extra’
Fallout Day 2025 got here and went with none Fallout 5 information final October, however Howard advised disillusioned followers that there’s nonetheless a lot to look ahead to. Whereas what which means for Fallout 5 is tough to say, followers can no less than relaxation straightforward figuring out the Bethesda lead is studying your whole feedback. Sure, these ones, too.
“Despite the fact that I’m recording this — it’s not dwell — and I’m in all probability watching myself proper now from my desk and I’m studying your chat and these… that factor you need and this different factor you need… Hey, we learn all of it,” Howard stated. “Simply know we’re engaged on much more. We’re wanting ahead to the day after we can share that with all people.”
Will Characters from the Fallout Present be in Fallout 5? Perhaps!
As Fallout Season 2 scavenged its manner onto Prime Video late final yr, Howard took the chance to remind followers that the present nonetheless very a lot exists inside franchise canon. Chatting with BBC, he stated that Bethesda is taking the occasions of the live-action challenge “under consideration” because it chips away on its subsequent large entry.
“In brief, sure,” Howard stated when requested if the Fallout present will impression the sport. “Fallout 5 shall be current in a world the place the tales and occasions of the present occurred or are occurring. We’re taking that under consideration.”
Fallout 5 Is Formally in Preproduction
At present’s Fallout 5 information may need delivered essentially the most substantial replace we have seen thus far. In Bethesda’s letter, the staff revealed that the subsequent sport is “at the moment in preproduction.” When it really entered this early stage is unclear, however the excellent news is which means improvement is transferring steadily forward, even when gamers shall be ready for a really, very very long time to truly get their fingers on it.
The message additionally reminded followers that The Elder Scrolls 6 stays Bethesda’s “major improvement focus,” with the “majority” of the studio nonetheless centered on its wildly widespread fantasy sequence. It additionally stated Fallout 5 stays its “long-range vacation spot,” suggesting that, even 5 years after publicly teasing that “one-pager,” Howard does not intend to share a launch date – or perhaps a window – any time quickly.
The letter additionally confirmed Fallout 5 is being developed on its in-house Creation Engine 3. The word stated it “permits our groups to help a number of initiatives concurrently with new instruments, rendering, and techniques that outline our video games.”
Issues are nonetheless clearly within the early phases, nevertheless, with Howard just lately telling Windows Central that it was too quickly to touch upon whether or not Fallout 5 could be Xbox unique or not. The identical interview noticed him dismiss the “fan chatter” relating to the rivalry between Bethesda and Fallout: New Vegas developer Obsidian Leisure.
It appears like we all know each rather a lot about Fallout 5 and nothing in any respect. Hopefully that modifications sooner fairly than later. Simply earlier than Xbox slammed its groups with layoffs a couple of weeks again, a report acknowledged that CEO Asha Sharma had known as on its studios to velocity up improvement on key franchises, equivalent to The Elder Scrolls and Fallout. Put up-layoff messaging from Bethesda boss Jill Braff promised the studio would give attention to its “strongest franchises,” too.
Michael Cripe is a contract author with IGN. He is greatest recognized for his work at websites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Remember to give him a observe on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).