Fallout 5 can wait, we have an excellent 'free' Fallout 3 remaster you can play now

Will this year bring us a Fallout 5 announcement? I’m doubtful.

I’m sorry, but there’s a reason behind my pessimism. You see, Bethesda is full steam ahead on The Elder Scrolls VI – a game which was last showcased in 2018.

It’s therefore desperately in need of a re-reveal, one that’ll hopefully come with a release date or a launch window at the very least.

With that in mind, I cannot imagine Bethesda making reference to Fallout 5 – a title which is not due to enter full development until after The Elder Scrolls VI’s release.

I am hopeful, however, that The Elder Scrolls VI will resurface this year.

Development has been ongoing for many years now, and there are no further announced Starfield expansions to serve as a distraction … Surely I’m not wishfully thinking.

For those of you yearning for more Fallout though, allow me to fill you in on how you can enjoy what has been deemed by fans a free ‘remaster’ of Fallout 3.

This trick comes courtesy of Reddit user bogas04 and is only available to those with access to Fallout 3 on Xbox Series X consoles.

If you’re playing on a Series X, the game is backwards compatible and, as bogas04 points out, benefits from some nice upgrades.

“It’s crazy how game availability (backward compatibility + Game Pass), One X Enhancements (4k + forced 16xAF), FPS boost (60fps), fast loading times (SSD) and Quick Resume transform the game into a remaster,” they wrote.

“I realised this only when I was watching a ‘Let’s Play’ and the game was loading between fast travels, door openings etc,” they continued.

It’s true. The Series X’s upscaling combined with the power of the console’s SSD and the Quick Resume feature make Fallout 3 on the console a pretty unmatched experience.

Of course, PC fans can experiment with mods to boost the game’s quality, but PlayStation users are resigned to only being able to access the bog standard edition via PlayStation Plus’ pricey premium tier.

“I revisited the game after the 60fps addition, and all of those additional factors give it the feel of a remaster. It practically is one all things considered. Instant loading times between zones is awesome,” wrote Buttcheekllama.

“Thanks for the suggestion, will make sure to give it a shot,” replied Noerknhar.