The Fallout franchise has always been at the forefront of Western RPGs with iconic entries like Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas. Following a large gap after Fallout 4, fans of Bethesda Game Studios are looking forward to Fallout 5.
Todd Howard also confirms Fallout 5 is next in line to become a priority after the release of The Elder Scrolls 6. However, Microsoft’s recent court battle against the FTC hints Fallout 5 might be exclusive to Xbox consoles.
Why it matters: The Fallout franchise is a major IP with a long history. Exclusivity for the game could help Xbox drive millions of console sales and Game Pass subscriptions.
During the final day of Microsoft’s court battle, an exchange between Xbox CFO Tim Stuart and Matt Booty was revealed. The executives talked about the future of Bethesda games.
According to the exchange, Phil Spencer has decided all future Bethesda games will be exclusive to Xbox. During the chat, Stuart mentioned Starfield and wondered if exclusivity would apply to all future games. He said:
“This is a new IP, I assume, not all games?”
Since Starfield is a new IP, the Xbox executive believed Microsoft wanted to make it exclusive to bring new players to the ecosystem. However, Matt Booty replied:
“Nope. All games.”
Therefore, the highly anticipated Fallout 5 is likely to be exclusive to Xbox. While this has not been announced yet, Microsoft is unlikely to offer the game on PlayStation consoles if the emails are anything to go by.
This also means other studios like Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, and id Software will make games exclusively for Xbox in the coming years. Games like Redfall and Hi-Fi Rush have already been released as exclusives, and more will soon follow.
However, Fallout 5 is unlikely to be released anytime soon. As Todd Howard confirmed, Bethesda Game Studios would work on the game after The Elder Scrolls 6. This means it would be released on the next Xbox console generation.
Todd Howard also believes his next game could be his last work in the industry, so the iconic Director may not be involved in Fallout 5.
A Microsoft lawyer recently hinted that Microsoft is targeting a 2026 release window for The Elder Scroll 6, but it could take even longer. Therefore, fans should not expect much from Fallout 5 as it is several years away from being a priority for Bethesda Game Studios.
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[News Reporter]
Abiyan is on track to complete his Computer Science bachelor’s degree. His enthusiasm for writing and gaming motivates him to keep readers and gamers updated with the latest information from the industry. In his free time, Abiyan enjoys playing Dota 2 and Rocket League. Abiyan has also been cited in reputed websites such as Kitguru, Comicbook, GamingBible, Eurogamer and Gamingbolt.
