New Developments in the Fallout Series
New rumors from industry insiders indicate that Fallout 5 may have finally received full approval for development, but this decision might have come at a significant cost to Project Blackbird. This news is particularly thrilling for Fallout enthusiasts, especially following the overwhelming success of the series’ television adaptation, which has expanded its audience considerably.
Fallout is renowned as one of gaming’s most iconic franchises. Launched by Interplay Entertainment in 1997, its rights were later acquired by Bethesda, which produced successful titles like Fallout 4 and Fallout 76. Released in 2015, Fallout 4 sold over twelve million units, surpassing earlier entries in popularity; however, no mainline single-player games have been launched in the series since that time.
In a recent episode of the Xbox Two Podcast, Jez Corden, Windows Central’s executive editor, discussed the future of the Fallout franchise, noting that Fallout 5 has been fully greenlit by ZeniMax, Bethesda’s parent company. However, Corden expressed uncertainty about which studio would take on the project, suggesting that all of Bethesda’s primary teams are currently occupied with either Starfield DLC or the forthcoming Elder Scrolls 6.
Unfortunately, this confirmation for Fallout 5 seems to have occurred at the expense of Project Blackbird, an MMO that faced cancellation following layoffs at Microsoft. Corden indicated that while Project Blackbird was costly to develop and would likely struggle in a competitive market, the Fallout franchise is considered a guaranteed success, prompting a reallocation of resources.
As of now, very few details about Fallout 5 have been released. Recent speculations suggest that multiple projects may be underway at Bethesda. Earlier this month, journalist Jordan Middler hinted at an eagerly anticipated Fallout title in development, along with reports of a potential remaster for Fallout 3. Nevertheless, The Elder Scrolls 6 continues to be the primary focus, with Todd Howard recently assuring fans that it is still in progress. Although no release date has been set, the game is not expected to launch before 2027 or later.
