Summary
Fallout 76is going to be incredibly important for Bethesda’s future if the probable development timeline forFallout 5holds up. TheFalloutseries is one of Bethesda’s biggest properties, alongsideThe Elder Scrolls, so the bar forFallout 76to impress is already high based on that alone. The game’s place in the series could grow even more important in the near future.Fallout 5is a title that has been subject to many rumors, and that will likely continue until its actual release. However, it isFallout 76that is currently positioned to make the most impact.
Seeing how muchFallout 76rose following its launchhas been impressive, to say the least. Originally considered underwhelming, the developers have since put in a lot of work to fix the game. Through several updates and plenty of maintenance, the game has managed to reach a respectable state, doing wonders to restore its reputation. Just likeThe Elder Scrolls Online,Fallout 76is focused on bringing its parent series' gameplay to an online crowd, while also creating new adventures for them to experience in the process. Bethesda’s jump into online gaming wasn’t flawless, butFallout 76has settled into a comfortable place.

Fallout 76 Will Have to Sustain the Series Until Fallout 5’s Release
Fallout 5 Won’t Come Out for Many Years
WhileFallout 5is exciting to think about, it’s worth remembering thatElder Scrolls 6’s release is still far away. SinceFallout 5won’t be a priority until afterThe Elder Scrolls 6comes out, that means that the wait for it will be even longer. That amounts to a long wait without a newFalloutgame coming along, barring any unforeseen circumstances or surprise reveals. While a sequel toFallout: New Vegasis occasionally speculated on, there isn’t any concrete proof of one being planned. It looks like it will be several years before another newFalloutgame will hit the market.
Fallout 76 Will Have to Hold Fans Over
SinceFallout 5is so far away, that puts extra pressure onFallout 76to remain consistent.Fallout 76is still being updated, which is a good sign for the game’s future. Simply continuing maintenance may not be enough, though. SinceFallout 5is so far away, fans will need consistent content updates so the series can continue to feel fresh. IfFallout 76simply remained as is, it may remain consistently solid, but fans could eventually tire of playing through the same content.Fallout 76is in the critical position of keeping fans invested in the series untilFallout 5finally comes out.
Fallout 76 Has the Potential to Continue For Years
Fallout 76may be under a lot of pressure, but fans can feel optimistic about its future. In particular, theplanned map expansion forFallout 76is exactly what the developers need to do to remain relevant. Expanding the world, introducing more characters, and adding more quests are all great ways to keep an ongoing game likeFallout 76relevant. This is especially true considering how core exploration generally is to the experience of playing aFalloutgame.
It will probably take several years of updates on a semi-regular basis, but the developers can keepFallout 76going strong for the foreseeable future.

It’s a simple fact that fans can’t expectFallout 5to come out anytime soon, andFallout 76will have to hold them over in the meantime.Fallout 76is still worth playing, and it looks to have a bright future ahead. The challenge for its developers will be continuing to keep the game active and relevant during the long wait forFallout 5. However, withGrand Theft Auto Onlinemanaging to last for a decade, the possibility is plausible. For now,Falloutfans haveFallout 76’s progress to look forward to.