Fallout 76's shortcomings if other games do come to . This makes sense, considering the title's inherent issues.
Fallout 76, the first online multiplayer game in the franchise, was nobody's darling when it was released in November 2018. It was panned by both players and critics alike and eventually garnered an unfortunate reputation as the worst-reviewed title the otherwise prolific Bethesda ever put out. The studio did what it could to bring Fallout 76 up to the standard players expect from the popular franchise, but it seemed the game's initial failure may have put the fear in Bethesda's heart concerning multiplayer titles. Bethesda hasn't announced a multiplayer game in the two years since, instead reverting back to type and focusing on single-player titles Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6. However, that doesn't mean Bethesda has put its multiplayer game days behind it for good.
In a conversation with GamesIndustry.biz during the Fallout 76 is far from over, saying he "wouldn't rule out [a new multiplayer game] in the future." However, what that means in detail is unclear, as Howard declined to comment about any projects other than Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6.
It seems Bethesda may not be shying away from multiplayer games entirely, but it's important to take Howard's response with a grain of salt. It's not a promise, nor is it concrete evidence Bethesda will be producing another multiplayer game in the future. Microsoft's recent acquisition of Bethesda through its holding company, ZeniMax Media, may also influence whether the studio dips its toes back into the multiplayer pool. After all, it was Bethesda's single-player franchises that made it such a desirable acquisition, and Microsoft may want to keep it that way.
Regardless, even if Bethesda hasn't given up entirely on open-world multiplayers, fans shouldn't be holding their breath for a new one any time soon. Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6 are still in production, which is the company's focus at this time. It's hard to predict what another multiplayer game from Bethesda could look like, although a new Fallout certainly wouldn't go amiss. This is especially true considering what the studio learned from Fallout 76.
Source: Develop:Brighton Conference
