The long-awaitedFallout 5may come with the usual Bethesda issues, but it will need to avoid one ofStarfield’s major mistakes to succeed. TheFalloutfranchise is one of the most beloved RPGs but has its fair share of issues.Fallout 4was an overall good entry but had some RPG aspects stripped from it that made its predecessors feel more immersive. Meanwhile,Fallout 76launched as an empty and buggy mess that, while currently a fun game, never had the chance to be massive.
Luckily, the franchise has been revitalized by themassive success of theFalloutTV show. The show created a lot of hype around the franchise and set new high player counts for most of the games. It is also likely the show gets at least another season beforeFallout 5launches, which will continue to raise the excitement if the product is good. While not directly related to Bethesda, the largeFallout Londonmod forFallout 4was a huge, recent boon for the franchise.
Fallout 5 Should Not Be An Xbox Exclusive
A Wasteland Anyone Can Explore
One of the best thingsFallout 5can learn fromStarfieldis not being an Xbox exclusive. Since Bethesda now falls under the Microsoft umbrella, it seems like its titles will be Windows and Xbox only. Though this still allows for the games to sell extremely well, it is missing a sizable amount of money because of not launching on other platforms. This may seem like a pretty easy decision to make from the monetary aspect, but there are reasons outside that to keep it exclusive or break the trend.
Why Fallout 5 Should Not Be Exclusive To Xbox & PC
Returning To A Multi-Platform Release Is Key
The most obvious reason forFallout 5breaking the exclusivity trend is money. The extra profit Bethesda and Microsoft would make would likely be immense, barring an unimaginable flop. From a business standpoint, this is a huge deal, but it also plays into the game aspect as well. More money coming in means more that can go towards developing DLC for the game, which the last twoFalloutgames can attest to.
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The other reason for allowingFallout 5on other platforms like PlayStation is to restore its previous status.Fallout 4andFallout 76were both non-exclusive games, which was important for the latter due to its multiplayer-focused gameplay. Though it is unknown ifFallout 5will have multiplayer features or not, if it does, it would be best to have the largest audience possible. Lastly, it would just be good for everyone to be able to play this beloved franchise regardless of platform.
Would Fallout 5 Succeed As An Exclusive?
Xbox Needs Reinforcements, As Starfield Proved
The best argument forFallout 5being exclusive is to help bolster Xbox’s lackluster exclusivity roster. Though Xbox is making strides when it comes to Cloud gaming and PC/Xbox flexibility, it hasn’t been enough. PlayStation has been winning the console war in sales and exclusive titles. Two of the biggest hopes of Xbox wereHalo InfiniteandStarfield, the former being a flop and the latter needing some time to become a worthwhile entry.
Meanwhile, Sony has had multiple hit exclusive games from multiple franchises.Though many of these eventually made their way to PC, they no doubt contributed to the massive success of the company. In this regard, it would be best forFallout 5to be an Xbox exclusive and give Microsoft a well-known IP to compete with. However, this also does hinge on the game being a larger success than other party exclusives.
Will Fallout 5 Be Exclusive Or Not?
Only Time Will Tell If Fallout 5 Moves To Other Platforms
As of now,it is hard to predict what the outcome will be, butFallout 5will likely be an Xbox exclusive. Even though Microsoft has started allowing some exclusives likeSea of Thievesto be on PlayStation, it has kept big titles likeStarfieldandIndiana Jonesto itself. This points to the next entry in the post-apocalyptic RPG not being as widespread as it could be. The one caveat to this is, that sinceFallout 5islikely not to be released till the late 2020s at the earliest, Microsoft’s plan could change.
Another determining factor is when Xbox plans to move to a new generation of consoles. New generations or major upgrades usually want big titles to help sell the launch, and what better option thanFallout 5? With the state other first-party titles that fall under Microsoft are in,Fallout 5may be the only option for a game that will still sell well even if it doesn’t end up being a huge success long-term.
What Is Known About Fallout 5 (So Far)
An Unknown Plot & Setting
Unfortunately, little is known about whereFallout 5will take place and what plot it will revolve around. Besides the general idea of the release date,the only other information given to fans is that this entry will use an upgraded engine. This point is big as, while its predecessors can run well, they were starting to show their age and limit what could be done. Despite the lack of information, there have been early theories about the story andforgottenFalloutfactions that could return.
Though this doesn’t tell anything specific, it has been said ininterviews with Todd Howard that theFalloutshow was told to avoid certain plot points as Bethesda wanted to use them inFallout 5. Given how early the game is in development and the show’s success, there is a chance the game intertwines in some capacity. The other option is, at worst, the game may explore the same areas from the show.
The important thing withFallout 5is that the game comes out good. It won’t matter what platforms it can be played on if no one wants to play it to begin with. Given the development time, technical upgrades, and excitement around the franchise, this title may face the most expectations of the series. In the case the game does launch to positive reviews, it would be helpful forFallout 5’s future if it avoidedStarfield’s mistake of being an Xbox exclusive.
