After the news broke that Obsidian Entertainment would be handling the next Fallout game (which we covered in this article here), a big question persisted: what about Bethesda? The post-apocalyptic IP has remained mainly in their studio’s hands for almost two decades, and they continue to pour time and resources into Fallout Shelter and Fallout 76. Has there been a complete changing of the guard? Have the radioactive reins been firmly planted in Obsidian’s hands?
In a note on their official website, Bethesda gives a much-requested answer: not quite.
“The next chapter is on the way,” Bethesda states. The veteran game studio has an optimistic eye on the future; they want to get their games into our hands “sooner” and support them “longer”. In their note, they iterate their love for the worlds they’ve created and assure they are going to invest more into these worlds. The three game worlds they are focused on in particular are Starfield, Elder Scrolls, and Fallout.
Fallout is, and continues to be, one of their biggest priorities. They tout the successful ten-year anniversary of Fallout 4, hype up the live-action Fallout series and the unscripted Fallout Shelter project still in the works, and promise more updates for their mobile game, Fallout Shelter. As for the mainline console games, Bethesda is planning a major expansion of Fallout 76 titled Raven Rock, which is a prequel story to Fallout 3.
According to Fallout lore, Raven Rock is a fallout shelter and former military base built inside a mountain range in Pennsylvania. It eventually became the base of operations for the Enclave and President John Henry Eden.
Speaking of Fallout 3, Bethesda confirms a long-persistent rumor regarding this classic. Though they have not given a release date, they have announced they will be remastering Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas. With this news also comes the confirmation of their collaboration with Obsidian Entertainment. Bethesda is “happy” with this collaboration. At the time of writing, Obsidian has not released their own statement about this partnership. However, since there hasn’t been any reported beef between the studios as of late, we hope this will be a harmonious relationship that creates an amazing addition to the Fallout universe.
Interestingly, they mentioned this is a new Fallout project, ergo not Fallout 5, which Bethesda is still heading and now developing in Creation Engine 3. Once again, Bethesda is careful to not announce a release date for the mainline sequel, instead stating that it is in preproduction and their primary focus is on Elder Scrolls VI. Considering the latest update on the Elder Scrolls VI is that it’s still a couple of years from release, and Todd Howard stated that Fallout 5 won’t come out until after Elder Scrolls VI, we may still be waiting until 2030 at the earliest. Here’s hoping the Obsidian-backed Fallout comes out a little sooner.
Bethesda also states in their note they will continue to update Starfield with new stories and gameplay/customization improvements, and they are planning more content for The Elder Scrolls Online. They also have something special planned for Fallout’s 30th anniversary in 2027.
Jhuvin P is a new writer for CBC/DSR. He has previous experience as a ghostwriter, has published several short stories, and is perpetually working on a novel. In addition to writing, he is also a comedian based out of Colorado Springs. He posts clips of his stand-up along with his other goofy antics on TikTok and Instagram.