Fallout 5 Official Announcement Leaves Gamers With One Major Concern

Published Oct 29, 2026, 2:00 AM EDT

James is a gaming writer from London who has spent thousands of hours exploring titles from every genre. Though he has a particular affinity for multiplayer titles like World of Warcraft, Destiny 2 and League of Legends, he has also put thousands of hours into single-player experiences, from deep RPGs to epic PC strategies. When he's not playing or writing, he can usually be found supporting his beloved Brentford FC.

Bethesda Entertainment is a brilliant developer, and the fact that everyone spends so much time being annoyed at them is probably testament to that fact. They have two of the most legendary IPs in RPG gaming under their stewardship, in The Elder Scrolls and Fallout, and they have a lengthy track record of producing some all-time classics.

That said, recent years have undoubtedly been disappointing, with everything staying quiet on the game release front in both of their major franchises. We know, at the very least, that they are heavily focused on The Elder Scrolls VI, meaning that Fallout 5 is a long way away (despite Todd Howard insisting they overlap), and things are finally starting to become too much for some.

You might remember the recent official announcement that Fallout 5 had been officially greenlit by Bethesda's parent company Microsoft. While this is obviously good news, some were assuming that this was already the case, and it may mean that development is further back in the timeline than anyone was expecting.

Over on Reddit, one user shared a post detailing their frustration at the lack of movement on a new Fallout game, but fan opinions ranged wildly about whether it was an acceptable phenomenon or not.

"Bethesda focuses on one main project at a time. After FO4 was Starfield, then it's Elder Scrolls 6, then Fallout. So be prepared to wait until like 2033. Regardless of my feelings on Starfield or my desire to have a new Fallout more than a new Elder Scrolls, this is perfectly logical," one comment read.

While another added, "Game developers are only human and a rushed project is no good. Just look at Fallout 76 and Cyperpunk."

"Do recall they announced ES6 eight years ago as a ploy. Expect nothing from Bethesda unless they have s*it to show," said a third.

A fourth was even more keen to stress how nobody is owed another Fallout game, saying, "Bro, you're not entitled to another Fallout game. If they decide they never want to make another one again, that's their choice. They're allowed to do that."

Of course, we do know that there's lots of Fallout to come from Bethesda over the next few years. The studio has shifted focus to its biggest IP, meaning The Elder Scrolls 6 is the next big thing. However, we'll also be getting remasters of Fallout: New Vegas and Fallout 3, a brand-new entry from Obsidian, and Fallout 5. Exactly when these games will arrive is anyone's guess though

While the development cycles for AAA games have become a little ridiculous in some examples, there is only so much one team can do, regardless of how big it is. In the case of Bethesda and Fallout, they have another enormous property with just as many fans that they need to turn their attention to first. This obviously isn't brilliant consolation for fans of the post-apocalypse, it is understandable. Let's just hope that the games we do get, whenever they arrive, are everything we want them to be.