Fallout 5 Officially Greenlit – But Who’s Making It?

The Fallout universe is officially expanding! Fallout 5 has reportedly received the green light for development, setting the stage for the next chapter in one of gaming’s most iconic post-apocalyptic sagas. However, the big mystery remains: who’s actually developing it?

The update comes courtesy of the latest episode of the Xbox Two Podcast, where Windows Central’s executive editor Jez Corden shared what he’s heard behind the scenes. According to Corden, while Fallout 5 is definitely moving forward, the development leadership is still up in the air.

“From what I heard, it was a case of ‘Do we want to sink a ton of money into getting this [project Blackbird] to a point where it can compete with the established players in the market, or do we want to allocate that investment towards making Fallout 5?’” – Jez Corden

Fallout 5 Moves Forward, But Bethesda Is Busy Elsewhere

Corden speculates that Bethesda Game Studios – the team traditionally behind Fallout – might not be directly leading this project. That’s because they’re already juggling Starfield DLC and active development on The Elder Scrolls VI.

Instead, another studio could be stepping in, but Corden didn’t specify which one. It’s all still under wraps, so fans will have to wait for official confirmation.

One of the most surprising details? The push for Fallout 5 reportedly came at the expense of another game. Codenamed Project Blackbird, the unannounced MMO from ZeniMax Online Studios was scrapped during Microsoft’s recent wave of layoffs.

MMOs are a massive investment and must go toe-to-toe with giants like World of Warcraft or even ZeniMax’s own Elder Scrolls Online. Microsoft, it seems, chose to play it safe, betting on an established winner like Fallout rather than a risky new IP.

Project Blackbird had been in pre-production since 2018, using a brand-new engine and aiming to launch a sci-fi MMO. Though progress was reportedly strong and internal support was growing, it was ultimately cut before seeing the light of day.

Although Fallout 5 is officially in motion, don’t expect a release anytime soon. Big RPGs like this take years to build—especially without a confirmed lead studio. That said, there is a silver lining for fans:

A remastered version of Fallout 3 is reportedly in development, potentially arriving much sooner than the next mainline game.

And of course, hype around the series is riding high thanks to Amazon’s Fallout TV show, which dropped in 2024. Actor Walton Goggins recently teased fans with news about Season 2, fueling excitement across the fanbase.

Fallout isn’t the only iconic franchise getting attention. Bethesda’s Todd Howard recently assured fans that development on The Elder Scrolls VI is “obviously” still in full swing.

Fallout 5 might still be shrouded in mystery, but its confirmation is a huge deal. Between renewed fan interest, strategic investment shifts, and the booming success of the Fallout TV series, the Wasteland is gearing up for an exciting future.