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| A screengrab from Fallout 76 running on PC |
The nuclear wasteland has never felt more alive. In the wake of the critically acclaimed Fallout TV series from Amazon, the franchise is experiencing a renaissance, breaking viewership records and sending legions of vault dwellers back into the games. Now, Bethesda Game Studios’ Director Todd Howard has confirmed that the next mainline single-player Fallout entry—what fans are calling Fallout 5—is officially in the early stages of development.
Speaking with GameInformer in a recent feature, Howard emphasized that Fallout remains a cornerstone for the legendary developer. “Fallout as a franchise is the one that we’re still doing the most work in above anything,” Howard stated, teasing that the studio has multiple unannounced Fallout projects in the pipeline alongside the highly anticipated sequel.
Capitalizing on a Cultural Moment
Howard’s comments come at a peak moment for the post-apocalyptic RPG series. The live-action adaptation has not only been a smash hit but has also acted as a massive booster shot for the existing games. Player counts for Fallout 4, Fallout: New Vegas, and even the multiplayer-focused Fallout 76 have surged as both new and returning fans dive back into the wasteland.
“Everybody will say to us, ‘It’s really disappointing you don’t have a new game to take advantage of this,’” Howard noted, addressing the timing. “And it’s like, ‘well, the show is excellent. It is what it is. It’s doing great for us. We’re taking advantage of it. And when the next main Fallout game comes along, I think it’ll do great as well.”
The Road to Fallout 5: Patience Required
Fans eager to step into a brand-new single-player wasteland will need to arm themselves with patience. Howard was clear about Bethesda’s current development hierarchy. “Now, the majority of our internal team is on The Elder Scrolls VI,” he confirmed. That title is Bethesda’s next major release, following 2023’s Starfield, which continues to receive substantial updates.
This means Fallout 5 is in early development, with a full release likely still many years away. Bethesda is known for its lengthy, meticulous development cycles for its flagship titles. The last main entry, Fallout 4, launched nearly a decade ago in 2015.
More Than Just a Sequel: The Expanding Wasteland
While the next numbered sequel is the headline grabber, Howard stressed that the studio has never stopped nurturing the franchise. “We’ve never stopped developing Fallout. We’ve had a full team on it for a long time,” he said, pointing to the ongoing evolution of Fallout 76.
Once criticized for a rocky launch, Fallout 76 has been transformed through years of dedicated updates into a thriving online community. Bethesda has even woven in clever ties to the TV show, such as adding an NPC based on Walton Goggins’ fan-favorite character, The Ghoul.
Looking ahead, Howard hinted at broader ambitions. “We are doing other things with Fallout that we haven’t announced, and there’ll come a time for that.” This could signal anything from smaller-scale projects to new expansions, keeping the universe vibrant during the long wait for Fallout 5.
A Vision for the Future: "Play for 600 Hours"
Adding fuel to the speculative fire, Bethesda’s Design Director Emil Pagliarulo has shared his own vision for what the next game should deliver. “I want an experience where players can play for 200, 300, or even 600 hours, because that’s the kind of games we make,” Pagliarulo stated, setting expectations for the epic, deeply immersive scale Bethesda is known for.
This aligns with Howard’s recent reassuring note to fans during the Fallout Day celebrations in October 2025, where an Anniversary Edition of Fallout 4 and next-gen upgrades for Fallout 76 were released: “Hey, we read all your comments. Just know, we are working on even more. We’re looking forward to the day when we can share that with everybody.”
How to Explore the Wasteland Today
For fans inspired by the show or eagerly awaiting news, the entire Fallout library offers hundreds of hours of exploration. And for those looking to jump into the constantly evolving online world of Appalachia, Fallout 76 is more accessible than ever.
You can find Fallout 76 on Amazon here to start your journey today.
The message from Bethesda is clear: the future of Fallout is bright, with multiple irons in the fire. While the wait for Fallout 5 will be a long one, the studio is committed to building it properly—and giving fans plenty to discover in the wasteland in the meantime.