Todd Howard mentioned in an interview with Kinda Funny Games that Bethesda has always been open to the idea of third-party developers making spin-offs similar to New Vegas. Jez Corden of Windows Central also speculated that a new game from the Fallout franchise could be released within the next six years, indicating that Microsoft, which owns three studios with a history in Fallout – Bethesda, Obsidian, and InXile – is keen on further expanding the franchise and its universe. Howard emphasized that although it might seem like there isn’t a big new game out, they have added content to Fallout 76.
He also hinted at a map expansion called Skyline Valley, set to release in the summer. He praised the work done on New Vegas and acknowledged its significance to Bethesda and its fans, expressing admiration for the game. Now that Microsoft owns three studios with Fallout lineage – Bethesda, Obsidian, and InXile – there is potential for them to further develop the franchise.
It is noted that Obsidian not only created New Vegas but also has ties to the original Fallouts through its founders, while InXile Entertainment was also founded by individuals with a link to the original Fallouts. Additionally, there is a possibility that Microsoft and Bethesda might assign the Fallout IP to a completely different studio without any previous ties to the franchise. Finally, it is worth mentioning that discussions have included ideas for a potential Fallout game set in New Orleans, and that the Fallout franchise has also expanded into tabletop games and plans for a TV series from Amazon Studios.
