The future of the Fallout franchise appears to be taking shape, with a new report suggesting that Fallout 5 has now been officially greenlit. The information comes from Jez Corden, executive editor at Windows Central, who shared the news during the latest episode of the Xbox Two Podcast. According to Corden, Microsoft and Xbox have given the green light to a new Fallout installment, signaling the franchise’s continued importance to Xbox’s first-party lineup. However, the identity of the development studio behind the project remains unclear.
Corden noted that while Fallout 5 has been approved, it is unlikely to be in active production at Bethesda Game Studios in the immediate future. Bethesda’s core teams are still reportedly focused on post-launch content for Starfield, as well as the long-awaited development of The Elder Scrolls VI. Todd Howard, who serves as creative lead on both projects, previously stated in a 2022 interview that Fallout 5 would enter development only after work on The Elder Scrolls VI is complete. This timeline suggests that Fallout 5 may still be several years away from release.
Additionally, Corden mentioned during the podcast that a project codenamed “Blackbird”—believed to be an MMORPG from ZeniMax Online—was canceled to allocate resources toward future Fallout projects. However, this claim has been disputed. Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier responded by clarifying that the recent wave of layoffs at Xbox was driven by budget cuts rather than resource reallocation to new projects. Schreier’s statement challenges the narrative that canceled titles like Blackbird were specifically intended to free up manpower for Fallout development, highlighting the complex nature of internal studio decisions.
The last two major entries in the Fallout series have had distinct trajectories. Fallout 4, released in 2015, was a critically and commercially successful single-player RPG set in Boston’s post-apocalyptic landscape. The game introduced voiced protagonists and featured extensive mod support, which extended its lifespan on platforms like Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Its VR adaptation, Fallout 4 VR, released in 2017, further expanded its reach.
In contrast, Fallout 76, launched in 2018, took the series into the realm of online multiplayer. Set in West Virginia, it initially launched without traditional human non-player characters, a decision that received mixed reactions from players. However, ongoing support from Bethesda—including major updates like the Wastelanders expansion—gradually improved the game’s reputation within the community.
As of now, no official statements have been made by Xbox or Bethesda regarding the status of Fallout 5. The project’s development timeline, studio leadership, and design direction all remain subjects of speculation. Nonetheless, the report from Corden suggests that Microsoft intends to keep Fallout as a central pillar of its gaming strategy, especially in light of recent efforts to reinforce its portfolio of major Western RPG franchises.
