According to IGN, in an interview alongside Samsung’s Kevin Beatty, Bethesda Game Studios director Todd Howard stated that Fallout is the franchise “that we’re doing the most in right now.” He confirmed the massive success of the Prime Video TV show has driven record numbers back to games like Fallout 4 and the consistently updated Fallout 76, which just added actor Walton Goggins as The Ghoul. Howard denied the show altered their long-term game plans, calling it just another “lens into the world.” When directly asked about partnering with Xbox-owned studios like Obsidian for a New Vegas sequel or a potential Fallout 3 Remastered following the shadow-dropped Oblivion Remaster (with over 4 million players), Howard remained coy, offering only that cryptic tease about their current focus.
The coyness is the story
Here’s the thing: Todd Howard is a master of saying a lot without saying anything at all. His entire interview is a masterclass in non-answers. He’s “really, really pleased” with the Oblivion Remaster, loves shadow drops, and has a “long-term plan.” But what does that actually mean for Fallout? Basically nothing concrete. And that’s probably the most telling part. If there was a Fallout 3 remaster coming next year, or if Obsidian was already deep into New Vegas 2, he’d have every reason to stoke that hype. The fact that he’s so tight-lipped suggests those projects either aren’t as far along as fans hope, or they’re not the current priority.
The real work is probably in 76
When Howard says they’re “doing the most” on Fallout, I don’t think he’s hinting at a secret, brand-new single-player game. I think he’s talking about the live-service beast that is Fallout 76. He explicitly called out the “Burning Springs” update and the addition of Walton Goggins. That game is a seven-year-old platform they’re still actively feeding. It has a dedicated audience, it’s a consistent revenue stream, and it’s the most direct way to capitalize on the TV show’s new fans *right now*. Developing new content for an existing game is “doing” a lot, even if it’s not the big, dream project fans are waiting for. It’s safe, it’s proven, and it keeps the lights on while the small teams at Bethesda grind away on The Elder Scrolls 6 and, eventually, Fallout 5.
The eternal wait for Fallout 5
Let’s be brutally honest. Howard’s quote is a tantalizing soundbite, but it doesn’t change the glacial timeline Bethesda operates on. The Elder Scrolls 6 is next in line, and we don’t even have a release window for that. Fallout 5 is, by Howard’s own past admissions, the game *after* that. We’re talking about a project that is likely a decade or more away. So “doing the most in right now” has to be viewed through that lens. It might mean a small team doing pre-production concepts. It might mean licensing discussions for more spin-offs. But it almost certainly doesn’t mean full-scale development. The gap between mainline games is just part of Bethesda’s DNA now, for better or worse.
What should fans really expect?
So what’s the takeaway? Manage your expectations. The “most” is probably more Fallout 76 seasons, maybe some smaller mobile or experimental projects, and a whole lot of planning. A Fallout 3 remaster seems like a no-brainer after Oblivion, but Howard’s non-answer suggests it’s not imminent—maybe the logistics with that 2023 leak forced a rethink. As for a new New Vegas? That’s the dream, but getting Obsidian to do it would require freeing them from their own packed slate (Avowed, The Outer Worlds 2). The quote is exciting, but it’s a reminder that in Bethesda’s world, “doing the most” on a franchise can still mean a very, very long quiet period for fans craving a new single-player adventure.
