Bethesda's Big Reveal: Fallout 5 in Pre-Production, Fallout 3 and New Vegas Remasters Confirmed, and Everything Todd Howard Just Announced

Todd Howard has finally spoken. In a lengthy studio letter published on July 17, 2026, the creative director of Bethesda Game Studios laid out the future of the studio's three biggest franchises: Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, and Starfield. It is, without exaggeration, the most complete update we've received from the team in years, and it lands in a delicate moment for the studio following the latest round of Xbox layoffs and the so-called "Xbox reset."

Here's everything that actually matters.

Fallout 5 is officially real (but you're going to wait)

Yes, it exists. Fallout 5 is currently in pre-production and is being built on Creation Engine 3, the new engine Bethesda has been developing since Starfield launched. Howard described it as the studio's "long-range destination" within the franchise.

Now for the uncomfortable part: full production won't kick off until The Elder Scrolls VI is finished. And knowing Bethesda's development pace, we're talking about a wait of several years. This isn't really new information: back in 2022, Howard already stated Fallout 5 would follow The Elder Scrolls VI, and that roadmap holds.

Obsidian returns to Fallout

One of the most persistent rumors of recent weeks is now official: Obsidian Entertainment is working on a new Fallout game alongside Bethesda. The studio behind Fallout: New Vegas is officially returning to the Wasteland.

Bethesda hasn't dropped details on what the project actually is, but according to earlier reports, Obsidian reportedly shelved a potential Avowed sequel to focus on this Fallout game after losing roughly a quarter of its staff in the Xbox cuts. No release date, no title, no images. Just confirmation that the long-requested reunion is finally happening.

Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas remasters are coming

The other bombshell in the letter. Bethesda confirmed it has been working on remasters of both Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas.

The studio didn't announce specific dates or platforms, but the Fallout 3 remaster had already leaked in court documents back in 2023, so its existence was practically an open secret. The real surprise here is New Vegas, widely considered by fans to be the best modern-era Fallout. We still don't know if these will follow the treatment given to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered or something more ambitious.

The Elder Scrolls VI: the top priority

If you were wondering where most of Bethesda's team is right now, the answer is clear: in Tamriel. Howard confirmed that The Elder Scrolls VI is the studio's primary development focus, with the majority of the team working on the next chapter of the franchise.

He also admitted something interesting: it wasn't his "preference" to announce the game as early as Bethesda did back in 2018, but in his words, "it's going well, we're happy with it." After more than 15 years of Skyrim and over 65 million copies sold, the pressure is massive. Bethesda insists they are "where they planned to be," but a release date remains a mystery.

Starfield isn't going anywhere (but there's no "Starfield 2.0")

Rumors of a quiet abandonment of Starfield are officially buried. Howard confirmed the game will continue receiving updates and new content, with more announcements planned in the near future. With more than 17 million players so far, Bethesda considers Starfield "an important part of our future."

That said, Howard made one clarification that may disappoint some players: there is no "Starfield 2.0" coming. The next major update will be significant, but not a wholesale reinvention of the game in the vein of No Man's Sky. There are also rumors of an eventual PS5 release, though Bethesda hasn't directly confirmed that.

And there's more: Fallout 76, Raven Rock expansion, and an anniversary in D.C.

The letter also revealed several details for hardcore fans:

Fallout 76 will get a new major expansion in 2027 called Raven Rock, which will work as a prequel story to Fallout 3. Fallout Shelter will receive new seasons, plus an unscripted TV adaptation currently in development at Amazon.

There will be no Fallout Day broadcast this year because Bethesda is planning something bigger: an in-person celebration in Washington D.C. in 2027 to mark the franchise's 30th anniversary.

Finally, as part of the internal restructuring, ZeniMax Online Studios (the team behind The Elder Scrolls Online) will work more closely with Bethesda Game Studios on the flagship Elder Scrolls franchise.

Bethesda has the most ambitious slate of its recent history laid out in front of it: two Fallout remasters, a new Fallout from Obsidian, The Elder Scrolls VI, Fallout 5, more Starfield, more Fallout 76, and an entire franchise that has just reaffirmed its long-term commitment. The wait is going to be long, but for the first time in a while, the roadmap is on the table.