Todd Howard on Fallout 3 and New Vegas: Remasters, Not Remakes

Bethesda’s director explains why he’s “anti-remake” and what it means for the future

Todd Howard just threw cold water on everyone hoping for full Fallout 3 and New Vegas remakes. In a recent interview with Kinda Funny, the Bethesda director made it clear: he’s not a fan of remaking old games, and if you’re expecting ground-up rebuilds of these classics, you’re probably going to be disappointed.

Why Todd Howard Doesn’t Like Remakes

Howard’s reasoning is pretty straightforward: “I’m sort of anti-remake. I respect the other ones out there, but I really think the age of a game is part of what it is and its personality and what it represented when it came out.”

He’s softened on remasters—graphical updates that preserve the original game—but full remakes that redesign core elements? Not his thing.

He expanded on this with a concrete example: “We’re not going to redesign the armor to be something new in The Elder Scrolls. It’s like that version of it looking the way you remember it, but up-resed.”

Basically, Howard wants you to experience these games the way you remember them, just with better visuals and performance. Not reimagined. Not rebuilt. Just refreshed.

The Oblivion Remaster Proved the Strategy Works

Last year’s Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion remaster was a solid hit. It looked modern, ran smoothly, and most importantly—it still felt like Oblivion. The old-school charm stayed intact while the graphics got a significant upgrade.

That success is probably the blueprint for what’s coming next. And based on the rumors and leaks swirling around, Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas are next in line for the remaster treatment.

What This Means for Fallout 3 and New Vegas

Howard didn’t deny that Fallout projects are in development. In fact, he confirmed “multiple” Fallout projects are currently being worked on. But if you’re expecting Fallout 3 remake or New Vegas remake announcements, temper those expectations.

What we’re almost certainly getting instead: remasters.

Here’s why that makes sense:

Remakes are massive undertakings. Building a game from scratch takes years and tons of resources. Bethesda’s already juggling The Elder Scrolls 6, a potential new Fallout game, and the elusive second Starfield DLC. Adding full remakes on top of that workload? Unrealistic.

Remasters are faster and cheaper. Bethesda brought in Virtuos to help with the Oblivion remaster. They could easily partner again to give Fallout 3 and New Vegas the same treatment—upgraded visuals, modern performance, but the same core games everyone loves.

The Fallout Show Changed Everything

The 2024 Amazon Prime Fallout show was a massive success, introducing the franchise to a whole new audience and reigniting interest from longtime fans. That’s why speculation about Fallout 3 and New Vegas returning has been so intense.

But Howard’s comments suggest we shouldn’t expect radical reimaginings. Instead, think Oblivion-style remasters—the games you remember, running better and looking sharper on modern hardware.

Why Remasters Are Actually the Right Call

Let’s be honest: Fallout 3 and New Vegas are beloved because of what they are, not despite it. The janky animations, the VATS system, the way conversations work—it’s all part of the charm.

A full remake risks losing that magic. You’d get prettier graphics and smoother gameplay, sure. But you might also get a sanitized, modernized version that doesn’t feel like the original.

A remaster preserves what made these games special while making them accessible to new players who can’t get past 2008-era graphics.

What’s Next for Bethesda?

Howard also confirmed that The Elder Scrolls 6 is “going back to its roots,” which suggests Bethesda is trying to recapture their classic magic after Starfield’s divisive reception.

With multiple Fallout projects in development, Fallout 3 and New Vegas remasters seem inevitable. Whether they arrive in 2026 or later remains to be seen, but Howard’s philosophy is clear: respect the original, don’t rebuild it.

The Bottom Line

If you’ve been holding out hope for Fallout 3 remake or New Vegas remake announcements, Todd Howard’s comments are a reality check. Bethesda’s focus is on remasters—preserving the original experience while upgrading visuals and performance.

And honestly? That’s probably the right move. These games are classics because of what they are, not what they could be reimagined as. A fresh coat of paint is all they need.

Now we just have to wait for Bethesda to officially confirm what everyone already suspects is coming.

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