Bethesda Softworks' Fallout series houses some of the best RPGs in modern gaming, giving players a vast open world brimming with quests to tackle, along with a sharp focus on meaningful player choices. The last mainline singleplayer entry in the series came in the form of 2015's Fallout 4, which has fans excited about what's coming next.
Many have suggested that a new Fallout might be in the early stages of planning, but not much evidence is present to back this up. Fallout 76 is here to stay, with the game receiving regular updates and content additions to keep fans hooked. However, some recent developments have led many to believe that a new singleplayer focused Fallout game might be in development, but fans shouldn't get their hopes too high for now.
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The biggest evidence of a new Fallout game being in development is probably from Xbox itself. Dan Becker, head of Xbox's gaming services, revealed some names of upcoming projects in an interview, where Fallout was on the list alongside Forza and Halo. While it's possible that these statements could be a slip of tongue, there's enough reason for believing otherwise.
The Fallout series has gone on to become one of the most popular gaming franchises at this point. While there are many similar options like Obsidian's The Outer Worlds eager to take the mantle, the popularity of the series does mean that there's quite the possibility for a sequel coming in the foreseeable future. Fallout 76 is still live to this day, but the transition of the series into a live-service one didn't vibe well with many fans.
Additionally, the Microsoft acquisition could also play a big role in this picture. Microsoft purchased Bethesda's parent company ZeniMax Media for $7.5 billion, thus it makes sense that Microsoft would try to capitalize on as many of Bethesda's existing IPs as possible. The Elder Scrolls 6 already exists (which could very well be an Xbox exclusive), so there's a great chance that fans might also see a new Fallout by the end of this generation.
There's little to no doubt that a potential Fallout 5 might exist in the future, but not much can be said about the game's possible release window. Bethesda is already hard at work with Starfield, which is speculated to release later this year, and The Elder Scrolls 6, which may not release for another several years. There's also the announced Indiana Jones game, which adds a lot of complexity to the act of predicting a release window for a new Fallout game.
Another important factor is Todd Howard's current role at Bethesda. Todd Howard has directed both Fallout 3 and Fallout 4, but is currently working on Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6. With so much on his plate right now, it seems that it could be quite some time until he assumes a more involved creative position in the development of the next Fallout game.
On the other hand, it's also possible that a Fallout 5 might be led by the team behind Fallout 76. While the game might have fumbled at launch, the team has definitely put in the required work to turn the game's fate around for good. If that turns out to be the case, there's a great chance that fans might just see a new Fallout game before the Xbox Series X generation comes to a close. But most importantly, fans should keep their expectations in check for now, provided that there is not much factual evidence to prove either of these theories. A new Fallout game could be very far away from 2021.
Fallout 76 is out now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.