Bethesda Game Studios director Todd Howard has shared an exciting update on the future of the studio’s three biggest franchises—Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, and Starfield. Alongside teasing what’s coming next, Howard celebrated incredible new milestones that highlight the enduring popularity of these iconic RPG series.
According to Howard, these universes have become a meaningful part of gaming history, reaching hundreds of millions of players across decades. He also confirmed that Bethesda is expanding collaboration across its studios to shape the future of these franchises.
New Fallout game coming with Obsidian partnership
One of the biggest announcements is Bethesda’s continued partnership with Obsidian Entertainment on a new Fallout game.
While Howard didn’t reveal gameplay details, a release window, or a title, the collaboration is significant. Obsidian previously developed Fallout: New Vegas, which remains one of the most beloved entries in the franchise. The renewed partnership has already generated excitement among longtime Fallout fans.
Bethesda and ZeniMax Online Studios working closer on The Elder Scrolls
Howard also revealed that Bethesda will be working more closely with ZeniMax Online Studios on the future of The Elder Scrolls franchise.
The closer collaboration suggests Bethesda is looking to strengthen the franchise across both single-player and online experiences. While The Elder Scrolls VI remains one of the most anticipated games in development, Howard did not provide any launch timeline or additional details.
Bethesda celebrates massive franchise milestones
Bethesda also highlighted several impressive achievements that demonstrate the continued success of its flagship games.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- More than 65 million copies sold
- Now among the 10 best-selling video games of all time
More than a decade after launch, Skyrim continues to attract new players across multiple platforms, making it one of the most successful RPGs ever created.
Fallout 4
- Surpassed 35 million copies sold
- Now ranks among the top 25 best-selling games in history
The success of Fallout 4 has been further boosted by renewed interest following recent Fallout content across television and gaming.
Starfield
- Approaching 1 billion hours played worldwide
Although Starfield launched as Bethesda’s newest original universe, the game continues to see strong player engagement, with the studio expecting players to collectively surpass one billion hours played soon.
What this means for Bethesda fans
Todd Howard’s latest comments reinforce Bethesda’s long-term commitment to its biggest franchises. Rather than focusing on a single title, the company appears to be investing heavily across multiple studios to expand Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, and Starfield simultaneously.
The partnership with Obsidian is especially noteworthy for Fallout fans, while closer collaboration with ZeniMax Online Studios could help strengthen the future of The Elder Scrolls ecosystem ahead of the eventual release of The Elder Scrolls VI.
With record-breaking sales for Skyrim and Fallout 4, along with Starfield reaching another major player milestone, Bethesda’s flagship franchises remain stronger than ever.
As development continues across multiple projects, fans can expect more announcements about the future of these iconic RPG worlds in the coming months.
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