Bethesda has confirmed that The Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5 are being developed using Creation Engine 3, the latest version of its proprietary game engine. While studio director Todd Howard has praised the technology behind the upcoming RPGs, the announcement has sparked mixed reactions from fans, many of whom remain concerned about the engine’s history of technical issues and dated design.
The news was shared as part of Bethesda’s recent roadmap update, which also confirmed that Fallout 5 has entered pre-production, remasters of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas are in development, and a new Fallout project is being created with Obsidian Entertainment.
Bethesda said Creation Engine 3 is a shared technology platform developed since the launch of Starfield, allowing multiple teams to build games simultaneously with improved rendering, tools, and gameplay systems.
Todd Howard praises Bethesda’s technology team
Speaking to Windows Central, Howard credited Bethesda’s engineers for making ambitious RPG ideas possible.
“I can’t say enough about our tech team. Our designers ask for so much crazy stuff, and our tech team finds a way to do it. And I think that’s really defined our games where you feel like anything is possible.”
Howard’s comments highlight Bethesda’s confidence that Creation Engine 3 will support the scale and complexity expected from its next generation of open-world RPGs.
Despite Bethesda’s optimism, many players have responded cautiously across Reddit and social media. Critics argue that previous versions of the Creation Engine contributed to launch-day bugs, aging visuals, and frequent loading screens, issues that have followed Bethesda titles for years.
“The Creation Engine is fun for modders, but it is complete dogshit compared to most other big game studios’ engines.”
“Games are gonna release in an absolute buggy mess… Bugs and Bethesda. A tale as old as time.”
Loading screens have also become a major talking point. Several fans expressed concern that The Elder Scrolls 6 and Fallout 5 could continue requiring transitions for entering small interior locations, something many believe feels outdated compared to modern open-world games.
Bethesda has not yet showcased Creation Engine 3 in action, so it remains unclear how significantly the technology has evolved. With both RPGs still years from release, players will be watching closely to see whether the upgraded engine can deliver the seamless experience Howard believes it can.
