Bethesda has confirmed that Fallout 5 is officially in development, though it remains years away from release. The studio's future slate indicates that Fallout 5 will launch after The Elder Scrolls 6. Both titles are being developed using Creation Engine 3, a shared technology platform designed to allow Bethesda's teams to support multiple projects simultaneously.
Fallout 5 is currently in pre-production. While specific details about the game's setting and plot remain speculative, Todd Howard has indicated that the series intends to predominantly stay within the United States, while also acknowledging the potential for incorporating narratives or events from the recent Amazon television series.
The development timeline for Fallout 5 suggests Bethesda is aiming to shorten the gap between its major RPG releases. The studio previously mentioned having a "one-pager" for Fallout 5 as early as 2021. The current pre-production phase suggests the game is beyond initial concept stages but still far from a playable version. The use of Creation Engine 3, which has been in development since Starfield's launch, is intended to streamline the development process for future projects.
Speculation regarding the setting for Fallout 5 includes potential midwestern locations like Detroit, or northern areas such as Montana, offering distinct geographical and historical backdrops. The developers aim to capture a strong sense of place, similar to the approach taken with Fallout 76's Appalachian setting. The exact release window for Fallout 5 is currently unknown, but its position after The Elder Scrolls 6 places it further down Bethesda's development roadmap.