Bethesda Aims to Create Fallout 5 as a 600-Hour Experience

As the second season of the series **»Fallout»** draws in a fresh audience for the franchise, representatives from **Bethesda** recently shared their vision for the future of the series in an interview with [Game Informer](https://gameinformer.com/exclusive-interview/2025/12/23/bethesda-talks-fallouts-future-and-lessons-learned). While specific details about **Fallout 5** remain under wraps, design director *Emil Pagliarulo* offered insights on what he envisions for the next major installment of **Fallout**.

According to *Pagliarulo*, the new game should retain the elements that fans adore about the series: an engaging storyline, familiar mechanics, and a sense of freedom. He aims for a significantly larger scale than previous entries, aspiring for **Fallout 5** to be more than just a 20 or even 100-hour experience. He hopes it will be a game that players can immerse themselves in for 200, 300, or even 600 hours—projects that, as he puts it, are characteristic of **Bethesda**.

The substantial length of **Bethesda**’s games has long been a hallmark of the studio. Titles like **Fallout 3**, **Fallout 4**, **The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim**, and **Starfield** provide players with countless hours to explore their worlds and undertake side quests, often neglecting the main storyline. For many gamers, this feeling of endless adventure is what sets **Bethesda**’s games apart.

However, the team does not intend to simply replicate past strategies. *Pagliarulo* advocates for a fresh and modern approach to the new **Fallout**.

*Emil Pagliarulo*

Studio director *Angela Browder* emphasized that every **Bethesda** game serves as a lesson. The experience gained from **Fallout 76** taught the studio how to handle multiplayer and the repercussions of a lukewarm reception at launch. This has encouraged the team to listen to players, enhance their strengths, and tackle challenges effectively.

**Starfield** marked another significant milestone as the studio’s largest project, where developers literally «created space.» Although the next **Elder Scrolls** installment won’t take players into space, the lessons and advancements from **Starfield** will influence the upcoming entry in the «Elder Scrolls» series.

*Browder* also highlighted that **Bethesda** has a seasoned team with a rich history, ensuring that knowledge from every project is retained. The studio closely monitors player feedback and incorporates it early in development. Occasionally, ideas from comments or discussions resurface years later, as players may not always see the extensive connections being made.

Nevertheless, she disagrees with the notion that **Bethesda** overlooks feedback; developers read all comments, although due to the scale of **Fallout** and the franchise’s popularity beyond just games, it can sometimes be challenging.