The Bombs Dropped, But Not the One We Were Waiting For
October 23rd is a sacred day for wasteland wanderers. Fallout Day, the anniversary of when the bombs fell and the world changed forever, has become Bethesda’s annual check-in with its most passionate community. This year’s broadcast was packed with exciting news for fans of ‘Fallout 4’ and ‘Fallout 76,’ but as the stream neared its end, a familiar feeling began to creep in. There was no ‘one more thing.’ No teaser for a ‘Fallout 3’ remaster. No surprise announcement of ‘Fallout 5.’ The disappointment in the live chat was palpable.
But then, a familiar face appeared. Todd Howard, the creative director of Bethesda Game Studios, materialized with a message that was equal parts apology, reassurance, and a plea for patience. He’d seen the comments. He knew what the fans wanted. And he had a simple message: “we are working on even more.”
A Day of Celebration and Acknowledgment
Before diving into the promise of the future, it’s worth noting that Fallout Day 2025 was still a huge success. The announcements of the ‘Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition’ and the massive ‘Burning Springs’ expansion for ‘Fallout 76’ (featuring The Ghoul from the TV series) are fantastic additions that will bring a ton of new content to players. But they aren’t a new, single-player mainline game, and that’s the elephant in the room that Todd Howard chose to address directly.
“Even though I am recording this—it’s not live—and I’m probably watching myself right now from my desk and I’m reading your chat and these…that thing you want and this other thing you want…Hey, we read it all,” Howard said, with a knowing look. It was a candid moment of acknowledgment from one of gaming’s most famous figures. He knows fans are desperate for a ‘Fallout 3’ or ‘New Vegas’ remaster, and he knows the ultimate prize is ‘Fallout 5.’
The Long Road to Fallout 5
Howard’s promise that “we are working on even more” is exciting, but it comes with a major caveat: time. It is a well-known fact that Bethesda’s next major project is ‘The Elder Scrolls VI.’ That game is still years away from release. ‘Fallout 5’ is scheduled to come *after* that. This puts the next mainline Fallout game on a timeline that is likely a decade or more away. It’s a tough pill to swallow, especially with the franchise’s popularity at an all-time high thanks to the hit TV show.
This long wait has fueled a popular and recurring suggestion from the community: why not license out the IP? Many fans point to the success of ‘Fallout: New Vegas,’ which was developed by Obsidian Entertainment, as a model. The idea is that another trusted studio could create a standalone spinoff game to fill the massive gap between mainline entries. It’s a solution that would give fans the new single-player experience they crave without disrupting Bethesda’s own long-term development plans.
| What Was Announced | What Fans Were Hoping For |
|---|---|
| Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition | Fallout 5 Announcement |
| Fallout 76: Burning Springs Update | Fallout 3 or New Vegas Remaster |
| New Fallout: New Vegas Bundle | A ‘New Vegas’ style spinoff from another studio |
So What Does ‘Even More’ Mean?
If ‘Fallout 5’ is a decade away, what could Todd Howard’s promise refer to? The most likely candidates are the rumored remasters. A ‘Fallout 3’ remaster was leaked back in 2023, and with the recent success of ‘The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered,’ it feels like a logical next step. There is also a massive fan campaign for a ‘Fallout: New Vegas’ remaster, a call that was recently amplified by Raul Tejada’s own actor, Danny Trejo.
These remasters would be a fantastic way to bridge the gap and introduce a new generation of players to the classic games that defined the series. Howard’s message suggests that Bethesda is aware of this demand, and while he couldn’t share any specifics, his words offer a glimmer of hope that these projects are on the table.
Conclusion
In the end, Todd Howard’s appearance was a masterful piece of community management. He didn’t promise ‘Fallout 5’ tomorrow, but he did promise that the studio is listening and that the future is bright. It was a message of patience, but also one of hope. The wasteland is a vast and lonely place, and the journey ahead is long. But for the millions of fans who call it home, knowing that someone is still out there, working to keep the lights on, makes all the difference.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Todd Howard say at the end of the Fallout Day broadcast?
He acknowledged that fans were likely disappointed by the lack of a new game announcement and reassured them by saying, “Just know we are working on even more. We are looking forward to the day when we can share that with everybody.”
Was Fallout 5 or a Fallout 3 remaster announced?
No, neither ‘Fallout 5’ nor any new remasters were officially announced. The announcements were focused on new editions and updates for ‘Fallout 4’ and ‘Fallout 76’.
Why will it take so long to get Fallout 5?
Bethesda Game Studios develops one major game at a time. Their next big release is ‘The Elder Scrolls VI,’ which is still years away. ‘Fallout 5’ is planned for development after ‘The Elder Scrolls VI’ is completed.
What new Fallout content was announced?
Bethesda announced ‘Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition,’ which bundles the game with all its DLC and over 150 Creation Club mods. They also announced ‘Burning Springs,’ a major free expansion for ‘Fallout 76’ featuring The Ghoul from the TV show.
What could Todd Howard’s promise of “even more” refer to?
While unconfirmed, speculation heavily points towards potential remasters of older games. The most likely candidates are a ‘Fallout 3’ remaster (which was previously leaked) and a ‘Fallout: New Vegas’ remaster, which is heavily requested by the fan community.
What is the community’s suggestion for getting more Fallout games sooner?
Many fans have suggested that Bethesda should license the Fallout IP to another trusted development studio to create a spinoff title, similar to how Obsidian Entertainment developed the beloved ‘Fallout: New Vegas’.