New reports from an industry insider indicate that Fallout 5 may have finally been “fully greenlit,” but this move may have come at Project Blackbird’s expense. These rumors are exciting for Fallout fans, especially after the series’ TV show became massively popular, greatly increasing the franchise’s audience.

Fallout is one of the most iconic series in gaming. Started by Interplay Entertainment in 1997, the rights to the Fallout franchise were eventually purchased by Bethesda, which developed highly successful titles such as Fallout 4 and Fallout 76. Released in 2015, Fallout 4 sold over 12 million units, greatly surpassing its predecessors in popularity, but the series has not received any mainline, single-player entries since then.

Location in Fallout 76
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Now, in the latest episode of Xbox Two Podcast (spotted by Gamespot), Windows Central executive editor Jez Corden talked about the future of the Fallout franchise, claiming that Fallout 5 has been “fully greenlit” by Bethesda’s parent company, ZeniMax. However, Corden pointed out that he’s not sure which studio will be developing Fallout 5, as he believes that all of Bethesda’s core teams are busy with either Starfield’s DLC or the upcoming The Elder Scrolls 6. Unfortunately, Corden also reported that Fallout 5’s confirmation came at the expense of Project Blackbird, which was reportedly canceled after the Microsoft layoffs. According to Corden, the Project Blackbird MMO was expensive to build and would have had a harder time competing with other established games, while the Fallout franchise was seen as a “surefire win,” so more resources were allocated to it.

Fallout 5 Could Have Been "Fully Greenlit" After Project Blackbird Was Canceled

Almost nothing is known about Fallout 5 at this point. Other recent rumors have pointed out that there are multiple games in the works at Bethesda, though. Earlier this month, journalist Jordan Middler suggested that an eagerly awaited Fallout game was in development at the studio. Additionally, there are multiple reports that Bethesda has been working on a Fallout 3 remaster.

The main game being developed at Bethesda, however, is The Elder Scrolls 6. Earlier this year, Todd Howard gave fans an update about The Elder Scrolls 6, reassuring them that the project is still on the way. Howard also said that the company “tried to define role-playing games and open world games for their generation," and the same will likely be the goal for the next entry in the franchise. TES 6 still does not have an official release date, and the game is not expected to be out before 2027 or later, so fans might have to wait a while.

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Fallout 4 Tag Page Cover Art
9 /10

Fallout 4
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RPG
Action
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Systems
PC-1 PlayStation-1 Xbox-1
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Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 89%
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Released
November 10, 2015
ESRB
M FOR MATURE: BLOOD AND GORE, INTENSE VIOLENCE, STRONG LANGUAGE, USE OF DRUGS
Developer(s)
Bethesda
Publisher(s)
Bethesda
Engine
Creation
Cross-Platform Play
no
Cross Save
no
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
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Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of Fallout 76 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, invite you to the ambitious open world of Fallout 4. Do whatever you want in a massive Commonwealth with hundreds of locations, characters and quests.
As the sole survivor of Vault 111, only you can rebuild and determine the fate of the Wasteland. Join multiple factions vying for power or go it alone - the choices are yours.
From a Power Armor-toting soldier to the charismatic smooth-talker, be whoever you want with the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. Character system and develop your own playstyle from hundreds of Perks.
Experience exciting first- or third-person combat with the dynamic Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System, or V.A.T.S., targeting enemies for maximum tactical advantage (and cinematic carnage!) Collect, upgrade and build thousands of items with Fallout 4's crafting system. Weapons, armor, food and with the right materials, even entire settlements are possible. Welcome home.

Franchise
Fallout
Steam Deck Compatibility
yes
Genre(s)
RPG, Action
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty
How Long To Beat
27 Hours
X|S Optimized
No
File Size Xbox Series
51 GB (December 2023)
PS Plus Availability
Extra & Premium