Bethesda outlines franchise roadmap amid Microsoft gaming restructuring and layoffs
The studio confirms The Elder Scrolls VI remains the primary focus with a 2028 release window, while detailing new Fallout titles and Starfield updates against a backdrop of significant workforce reductions.
Bethesda Game Studios has released a comprehensive development roadmap detailing the future of its major franchises, set against a backdrop of significant restructuring within Microsoft’s gaming division. The announcement coincides with plans for 3,200 job cuts across Xbox and ongoing layoffs at ZeniMax Online Studios, prompting protests from video game unions in the United States and Canada who have accused the company of unfair labour practices and bad faith bargaining.
The studio confirmed that The Elder Scrolls VI remains its primary development focus, with the majority of its team dedicated to the project. Bethesda noted that the sequel is not expected to launch before 2028, aligning with previous comments from former Xbox chief Phil Spencer who described the title as being more than five years away. The studio acknowledged the long wait for fans, citing the enduring popularity of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, which has sold over 65 million copies 15 years after its initial release.
In the Fallout franchise, Bethesda stated it is in pre-production on Fallout 5, while remasters of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas are currently in development. The studio also confirmed that Obsidian Entertainment is working on its own distinct Fallout title, following reports that Microsoft cancelled a sequel to Obsidian’s Avowed and other projects. Additionally, a major expansion for Fallout 76 is scheduled for release next year, serving as a prequel to Fallout 3 and potentially setting the stage for the remastered version of that game.
Starfield continues to be treated as an important part of Bethesda’s future, with plans to deploy new stories, targeted gameplay improvements, and additional updates. The studio confirmed that new Starborn content is preparing for launch next year. Bethesda also outlined plans for new seasons of Fallout Shelter and an unscripted television show based on the mobile game, which is currently in development.
The release of this roadmap comes as Microsoft’s gaming division undergoes a major reorganisation. Xbox cut 1,600 jobs in early July and announced plans to shed a further 1,600 positions over the next year. Concurrently, ZeniMax Online Studios reduced its Maryland workforce by 213 employees, leaving it with approximately 186 staff members, which represents around 40 per cent of its headcount in early 2025. Hundreds of workers have protested these layoffs at various studio locations, including several Bethesda facilities.
