Xbox is placing renewed attention on Fallout, The Elder Scrolls and Starfield as it prepares Bethesda’s major franchises for the years ahead.
Xbox chief Asha Sharma recently highlighted the scale of all three series following Bethesda Game Studios’ latest roadmap. She pointed to strong lifetime sales for Skyrim and Fallout 4, while also noting that Starfield is approaching one billion total hours played.
The figures help explain why these franchises are likely to remain central to Microsoft’s future plans. Bethesda has already outlined further work across all three properties, including closer collaboration with other Xbox owned studios.
Sharma also confirmed that Obsidian is involved in a new Fallout project, while ZeniMax Online Studios will work more closely with Bethesda on The Elder Scrolls. The exact scope, release timing and structure of those projects have not yet been detailed.
| Franchise | Reported milestone |
|---|---|
| The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim | More than 65 million copies sold |
| Fallout 4 | More than 35 million copies sold |
| Starfield | Approaching one billion hours played |
| Fallout | New project involving Obsidian |
| The Elder Scrolls | Closer work with ZeniMax Online Studios |
Skyrim and Fallout 4 remain among Bethesda’s strongest releases
Skyrim has now passed 65 million units sold, placing it among the most commercially successful games ever released.
Its long life has been supported by repeated editions, ports and updates across several console generations. The game has appeared on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo and PC platforms, allowing Bethesda to continue reaching new players long after its original launch.
Fallout 4 has also passed 35 million sales. That places it among the top selling games in the industry and confirms the lasting commercial strength of the Fallout name.
Both games were released before Xbox Game Pass became central to Microsoft’s strategy. Their success is therefore measured mainly through traditional unit sales, which makes direct comparisons with newer subscription releases more difficult.
Even so, the results show why Microsoft sees Bethesda’s established role playing series as valuable long term assets.
Starfield is being measured through engagement rather than sales
Starfield’s milestone is based on hours played rather than copies sold.
The game is expected to pass one billion hours of total playtime, giving Microsoft a broad measure of engagement across purchases and Xbox Game Pass access.
That figure does not reveal how many copies were sold or how much revenue the game generated. It also cannot be compared directly with the sales totals for Skyrim and Fallout 4.
However, hours played are more relevant for a game that launched through a subscription service from day one. A large number of players accessed Starfield through Game Pass rather than buying it separately.
The metric still has limits. It does not show how many players completed the game, how long they remained active or whether they returned after major updates.
Microsoft’s decision to mention Starfield alongside Skyrim and Fallout 4 nevertheless suggests that the company still considers the new franchise important. Future expansions, updates or a sequel may remain part of Bethesda’s long term plans.
Obsidian’s involvement could expand the future of Fallout
One of the more important details is the planned partnership with Obsidian on a new Fallout game.
Obsidian previously developed Fallout: New Vegas, which remains one of the most highly regarded entries in the series. The studio is now owned by Microsoft, making a new collaboration easier to arrange than it would have been under separate companies.
No title, release date or development structure has been announced. It is also unclear whether Obsidian will lead the project or work alongside Bethesda in a supporting role.
The announcement still shows that Microsoft is willing to use several internal studios to increase the number of projects connected to major franchises.
That could help reduce the long gaps between main entries, especially as Bethesda Game Studios continues balancing Fallout, The Elder Scrolls and Starfield.
The Elder Scrolls may receive wider support across Xbox studios
ZeniMax Online Studios is also expected to collaborate more closely on The Elder Scrolls.
The studio already operates The Elder Scrolls Online, giving it extensive experience with the setting, lore and long term management of the franchise.
Closer cooperation could involve technology, world building, online systems or future content. Microsoft has not confirmed whether the partnership relates directly to The Elder Scrolls VI.
The next mainline Elder Scrolls game remains one of Bethesda’s most anticipated projects, but detailed information is still limited. Additional support from another experienced studio could help with development, although that remains an inference rather than a confirmed plan.
Microsoft has previously acknowledged that some of its largest franchises have not received enough funding or attention to reach their full potential. The renewed focus on Bethesda’s strongest properties appears to be part of an effort to address that problem.
DOOM, Quake and Wolfenstein are still expected to continue through other studios, so Bethesda’s future will not be limited to three franchises. Fallout, The Elder Scrolls and Starfield are simply the clearest priorities because of their scale, player interest and long term commercial value.
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