Report: Bethesda's Destiny-like MMO was cancelled so devs can focus on Fallout 5

Fallout 5 has reportedly been greenlit at Microsoft, but another game may have been sacrificed to free up resources for the new Fallout game.

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There are rumors that Xbox is working on multiple Fallout projects right now, including a potential Fallout 3 Remake. With 10 years in between mainline games, fans are looking forward to Fallout 5 the most, yet Bethesda's Todd Howard has confirmed that Elder Scrolls 6 has priority.

Now there are new reports that Microsoft may have shelved another ZeniMax/Bethesda project in order to make way for Fallout. Sources tell Windows Central's Jez Corden (via Xbox Two podcast) that Microsoft essentially cancelled ZeniMax's MMORPG project codenamed Blackbird, and moved the resources and investment from Blackbird over to Fallout.

Blackbird was an action-based MMO that was likened to Bungie's popular online shooter Destiny, sources told Bloomberg's Jason Schreier.

Corden explains the rationale behind the move, centering on Microsoft's established empire of online games, including the most popular MMORPG ever made, World of Warcraft. Microsoft doesn't necessarily want to release a game that competes directly with its own heavy hitters, so Blackbird was cancelled.

"I heard it was a case of trade-offs, and that the program to expand Fallout 5, just Fallout in general, that's where they've decided to make the investments, and where the money will be translated into more of a surefire win," Corden said.

Corden was also careful to tell viewers to take this info with a grain of salt, and that the report didn't carry enough weight to justify a full-on post. "This is just podcast back-and-forth."

There's further speculation that Microsoft could make some sort of new dedicated team for new Fallout games, but this seems potentially friction-inducing, especially with the Fallout New Vegas fiasco from decades ago.

"If it's true, then I'm assuming you're spinning up a new team for that, right? Maybe some of the Elder Scrolls Online developers end up working on that side, end up working on a new Fallout game."

Neither Microsoft nor Bethesda have announced any details on a new Fallout game.