Fallout 3 and New Vegas remasters: current status and playable versions
Fallout 3 launched on October 28, 2008, as Bethesda Game Studios’ first fully 3D open-world entry in the series, set in Washington D.C.’s Capital Wasteland. Fallout: New Vegas followed on October 19, 2010, developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Bethesda. Both titles remain accessible today through backward compatibility on Xbox Series X|S with performance upgrades, available via Xbox Game Pass and the Microsoft Store, and on PC through Steam’s official release. The sections below track the documented timeline of remaster planning and answer common questions about what has been confirmed versus speculated.
Timeline: From original releases to remaster rumors
Key milestones from the original 2008 and 2010 launches through leaked internal documents, the Oblivion Remastered release pattern, and current-generation compatibility updates.
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Oct 28, 2008Fallout 3 launches
Bethesda Game Studios releases Fallout 3 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Windows PC, introducing the first fully 3D open-world Fallout with real-time combat and V.A.T.S. targeting. The game receives multiple Game of the Year awards and sells over 12 million copies by 2015.
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Oct 19, 2010Fallout: New Vegas arrives
Obsidian Entertainment’s Fallout: New Vegas releases, using the same engine as Fallout 3 while expanding the reputation system, faction dynamics and branching narrative choices. The game earns an 84 Metacritic score and a dedicated fanbase over the following decade.
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July 2020Internal roadmap lists Fallout 3 Remaster
Bethesda planning documents dated July 2020 reference a “Fallout 3 Remaster” among future projects. These materials were prepared before Microsoft’s acquisition of ZeniMax Media was announced in September 2020 and finalized in March 2021. The documents would not surface publicly until September 2023.
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Sept 2023FTC court documents leak roadmaps
During FTC proceedings related to Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition, internal Bethesda documents from 2020 leak online, revealing planned remasters for both Fallout 3 and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. The leak generates widespread discussion about legacy Bethesda RPG updates.
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April 22, 2025Oblivion Remastered shadow drops
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is announced and released simultaneously during a livestream event, launching on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC with Xbox Game Pass support. The surprise release establishes a precedent for how Bethesda may handle other legacy RPG remasters.
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Jan 2026Insider claims about F3 and NV remasters
Industry insider NateTheHate states on social media that “Fallout 3 Remaster is a planned release, yes.” Windows Central editor Jez Corden subsequently reports that both Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas remasters are in development, with Fallout 3 expected first but neither title considered imminent.