Microsoft’s gaming division is in turmoil amid a reorganization of Xbox that features plans to cut 3,200 jobs and focus extra on its highest-profile properties. Bethesda Sport Studios shed some extra gentle on what the latter entails because it shared a roadmap of what is forward for its franchises, together with Fallout.
Bethesda stated it is in preproduction on Fallout 5, whereas remasters of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas are within the works. It additionally confirmed that Obsidian is working on its own Fallout game. A latest report claimed that was taking place after Xbox canceled a sequel to Avowed and different Obsidian initiatives.
Together with these remasters and new video games, Bethesda continues to be updating Fallout 76. It stated a serious growth is lined up for subsequent 12 months that acts as a prequel to Fallout 3, maybe establishing the discharge of the remastered model of that recreation. New seasons for Fallout Shelter are on the best way too, whereas an unscripted TV present based mostly on the cell recreation is within the pipeline.
The Elder Scrolls VI is the place most of Bethesda’s focus at the moment lies, although. “The Elder Scrolls VI is our main improvement focus at present, with the vast majority of our group at the moment engaged on the subsequent chapter of the franchise,” it stated. “With over 65 million copies offered, gamers are nonetheless exploring Skyrim 15 years later, however we all know it has been a really lengthy look ahead to the sequel.” Then-Xbox chief Phil Spencer said in 2023 that The Elder Scrolls VI was nonetheless “five-plus years away,” so do not anticipate to play it till at the very least 2028.
Even with all of those different initiatives in improvement, Bethesda is not leaving Starfield behind. It considers that to nonetheless be “an necessary a part of our future.” Bethesda plans to deploy “new tales, focused gameplay enhancements and extra updates, whereas getting ready for the launch of recent Starborn content material subsequent 12 months.”
Bethesda’s Todd Howard informed Bloomberg he would like to not focus on the developer’s initiatives till they’re nearly prepared for launch. Nonetheless, Bethesda revealed the roadmap to provide followers a clearer image of what is forward. “We do understand we have to discover a approach to say a bit extra in order that our followers perceive what we’re doing and why, whereas additionally defending that second if you actually see the sport and also you press play,” Howard stated.
Bethesda laid off dozens of staff as a part of the Xbox reorganization, whereas The Elder Scrolls On-line developer ZeniMax On-line Studios misplaced 213 staff at its Maryland location. The latter is now stated to have 186 employees — around 40 percent of the workers it had in early 2025. ZeniMax On-line will proceed to work on its recreation whereas collaborating with Bethesda on different Elder Scrolls initiatives.
Xbox lower 1,600 jobs in early July and introduced plans to shed one other 1,600 or so over the subsequent 12 months. Online game unions within the US and Canada this week accused Microsoft of unfair labor practices, corresponding to unhealthy religion bargaining and failing to offer staff with discover. Tons of of staff protested the layoffs at varied studio places this week, together with a number of of Bethesda’s.
