Todd Howard has publicly dismissed the notion of a rivalry between Bethesda Game Studios and Obsidian Entertainment, stating there is significant mutual respect between the two studios. This comes as Obsidian begins work on a new Fallout game, and Bethesda confirms Fallout 5 has entered pre-production.
Speculation about animosity between the developers has often centered on Obsidian's creation of Fallout: New Vegas, a title many fans consider the best in the series. However, Howard has consistently downplayed these suggestions. He noted in a 2019 interview that Bethesda has "always had a great relationship" with Obsidian, even stating that the New Vegas team was the only group Bethesda trusted to handle the project.
"For me, it was either this group or nobody," Howard previously said regarding Obsidian's involvement with New Vegas.
In a recent statement, Howard expressed Bethesda's excitement about collaborating with Obsidian on their upcoming Fallout project. "Behind the scenes, there's a huge amount of mutual respect [between Bethesda and Obsidian]," Howard told Windows Central. "We're always kind of wondering if we could find a way to work together in the right way. And when those things come up, I think I definitely look at the franchise all up... And so we're super excited about the opportunity, working together."
This collaboration is part of a broader roadmap for the Fallout franchise revealed by Bethesda. The studio confirmed that Fallout 5 has entered its pre-production phase, signaling a long-term commitment to the series' mainline entries. Additionally, remasters of both Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas are in development, though specific release dates have not yet been announced.
Howard also provided updates on existing Fallout titles. Fallout 76 will receive a major expansion next year, titled Raven Rock, which will serve as a prequel story to Fallout 3. The live-service game continues to be a priority, with nearly 70 free updates already released.
Fallout 4, which has sold over 35 million copies, remains a popular entry, attracting new players annually. On the mobile front, Fallout Shelter has surpassed 250 million players and will introduce new Seasons. Furthermore, a Fallout Shelter television project is in development with Amazon Studios and Kilter Films, following the success of the live-action Fallout series, which is currently in production for its third season and has garnered 10 Emmy nominations for its second season.
Bethesda is also planning a special event to celebrate Fallout's 30th anniversary in 2027, with a live celebration planned in Washington, D.C. While the specifics of Obsidian's new Fallout game remain undisclosed, the confirmation of multiple projects in active development underscores the franchise's continued importance to Bethesda and Xbox.