Bethesda's Todd Howard has confirmed that Fallout 5 will use Creation Engine 3, the same engine powering The Elder Scrolls 6. The revelation came during an interview with Windows Central following Bethesda's announcement that Obsidian Entertainment is developing a new Fallout game and that Fallout 5 has entered pre-production.
Creation Engine 3: A Double-Edged Sword
Creation Engine, first used in The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, has undergone multiple iterations. Creation Engine 2 powered Starfield, and now the third iteration is being developed for The Elder Scrolls 6. While Howard praised the tech team, saying, "I can't say enough about our tech team. It's just incredible. Our designers ask for so much crazy stuff, and our tech team finds a way to do it," the engine has faced criticism for being outdated.
Players have noted persistent issues: load screens when transitioning between indoor and outdoor areas, bugs, and instability. Starfield, despite its ambition, suffered from crashes and visual glitches. This has led to mixed fan reactions regarding the engine's future use.
Modding: The Engine's Saving Grace
Despite its flaws, Creation Engine offers unparalleled modding capabilities. The Creation Kit allows fans to create extensive mods, a feature Howard is keen to preserve. "It harkens back to when you played D&D and you can make your own adventures," Howard said. "That spirit of creation. It takes a lot of different flavors, so it's really about supporting all those different flavors."
This commitment to modding is a key selling point for many in the community, who value the ability to customize their experience. However, it remains to be seen whether Creation Engine 3 can address performance issues while retaining this flexibility.
Fallout 5's Timeline and Obsidian's Project
Fallout 5 is in early pre-production, with a likely long wait before release, as Bethesda focuses on The Elder Scrolls 6 first. Meanwhile, Obsidian's new Fallout game is under development, but it is unclear whether it will use Creation Engine or Unreal Engine 5, as seen in The Outer Worlds and Avowed. Bethesda previously allowed Virtuous to use Unreal Engine for the Oblivion remaster, suggesting a potential engine shift for Obsidian's project.
As fans digest this news, the debate over Creation Engine's future continues. While it ensures modding continuity, technical limitations may persist in Fallout 5.
