Summary
WithStarfieldnow in the rearview mirror, the next major title in development at Bethesda Game Studios isThe Elder Scrolls 6, leavingFalloutfans in limbo waiting forFallout 5. Given the long development times for modern AAA games, it’s unlikelyFalloutfans will seeFallout 5release for another 10 years, which would leave the series without a new entry in well over a decade. As such, Bethesda faces a crucial choice for theFalloutseries that could involve giving another developer a shot at making a new entry in the meantime beforeFallout 5’s release.
There is precedent for other studios to tackle theFalloutseries, withObsidian responsible for developingFallout: New Vegas. Many fans believeFallout: New Vegasto be the best entry in the series, so it would make sense for Bethesda to hand the franchise off to the developer once again. However, there are some complications surrounding this partnership that would make it difficult for Obsidian to develop anotherFalloutgame in the near future, leaving Bethesda with a difficult choice on how to handle the franchise moving forward.
Fallout Might Need a New Entry Before Fallout 5
The time it takes Bethesda to develop a game of the same magnitude asStarfieldis increasing at an alarming rate, with this latest title from the studio taking around eight years to develop. If this pace is going to be the new standard going forward, it’s likely thatThe Elder Scrolls 6won’t be finished for at least six years, setting the game up for a potential 2030 release date. Even being generous with development times, and withFallout 5being planned for development afterThe Elder Scrolls 6, it still likely wouldn’t be released until 2035, over a decade from now.
The last entry in theFalloutseries,Fallout 76, was released back in 2018, meaningFallout 5’s release date could be pushing 20 years without a new release in the franchise. WhileFallout 76is still receiving a steady stream of new content, like the recently released Atlantic City–Boardwalk Paradise update, many fans are still eager for a new standalone game. To tide fans over untilFallout 5releases, it would be smart for Bethesda to tap a developer like Obsidian to develop a new title in the same vein asFallout: New Vegas, but this strategy would have its own set of hurdles to overcome.
Why Obsidian is Unlikely to Make Another Fallout Game Anytime Soon
While many fans would be very excited by the prospect of Obsidian making aFallout: New Vegas 2during the interim beforeFallout 5releases, it’s unlikely to happen given the developer’s full plate at the moment. Obsidian already hasAvowedslated for release later this year, as well asThe Outer Worlds 2still in the pipeline, which will likely mean their attention is split between these two titles for the near future. Beyond those two games, it’s unclear if Obsidian would be able to develop aFalloutgame in time to have it released beforeFallout 5.
It’s possible that Bethesda could outsource a newFalloutgame to a studio other than Obsidian, but that runs the risk of an untested studio handling theFalloutIP. MachineGames could be a good choice for aFalloutgame developer given their history with theWolfensteinseries, and theupcoming titleIndiana Jones and the Great Circlemight prove that the studio is capable of handling a large franchise. Whether Bethesda decides to hand theFalloutseries to another studio or not, it’s clear there needs to be another entry in the franchise beforeFallout 5releases.
