Reports indicate that Fallout 5 has officially received development approval, although the specific studio leading this new installment remains unconfirmed.
This information originated from a recent episode of the Xbox Two Podcast, where Jez Corden, executive editor at Windows Central, discussed Xbox`s strategy for the future of the Fallout franchise. Corden noted that the core teams at Bethesda Game Studios are currently occupied with creating additional content for Starfield and developing The Elder Scrolls VI.
According to Corden, the push to advance Fallout 5 and the Fallout series in general was partly influenced by the cancellation of another ZeniMax Online MMO project, internally known as “Project Blackbird.” This cancellation occurred as part of Microsoft`s recent round of layoffs.
Corden elaborated that developing massively multiplayer online games (MMOs) is a costly endeavor and requires strong competition against established titles like World of Warcraft, and even ZeniMax`s own The Elder Scrolls Online. With these factors in mind, Microsoft reportedly decided to cancel ZeniMax`s unannounced project, instead choosing to invest those funds into Fallout, a well-established intellectual property considered a more certain success.
“From what I heard,” Corden stated, “it was a case of `Do we want to sink a ton of money into getting this [Project Blackbird] to a point where it can compete with the established players in the market, or do we want to allocate that investment towards making Fallout 5?`”
It is important to acknowledge that Corden himself stressed he lacks sufficient information to provide a comprehensive report on Fallout 5 or its potential developer, advising listeners to interpret his statements with a degree of caution.
“Project Blackbird” was still in its pre-production phase when it was canceled. No official details about this next game from the Elder Scrolls Online developer had been announced publicly. It had reportedly been in development since 2018, was built on a new engine, and was envisioned as a fresh sci-fi IP. Development was said to be progressing well, and the project had even gained approval from Xbox higher-ups just a few months prior to its unexpected termination.
Regardless of which studio takes on the task, Fallout 5`s recent greenlight implies that its release is still many years away. However, there are rumors circulating about a potential remaster of Fallout 3, which might arrive much sooner. Interest in the Fallout universe has significantly surged following the successful debut of Amazon`s Fallout TV show in 2024, with series star Walton Goggins recently sharing updates regarding Fallout Season 2.
Concurrently, work continues on the next Elder Scrolls game. Bethesda Game Studios head Todd Howard recently reassured fans that they are “obviously” focused on Elder Scrolls 6, even amidst the separate news concerning an Oblivion Remastered.