Lead dev of Fallout’s biggest mod is “really worried” Fallout 5 will use Bethesda’s aging Creation Engine, and I am, too — “it needs to be overhauled”

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The next Fallout game, Fallout 5, is still in the early stages of development, and it’s unknown if it will use the same game engine as previous Bethesda titles. Dean Carter, the lead developer of the popular Fallout: London mod, hopes Bethesda either creates a new engine or significantly improves the existing one for Fallout 5.

For over two decades, Bethesda’s games have been built on the same core technology. This began with Gamebryo, which powered titles like The Elder Scrolls 3: Morrowind, Oblivion, Fallout 3, and even Obsidian’s New Vegas. It then evolved into the Creation Engine, used for The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, Fallout 4, and Fallout 76. Most recently, Bethesda updated the engine again – creatively calling it Creation Engine 2 – to develop Starfield.

The Creation Engine has some impressive features, especially how objects interact realistically, but it also has significant flaws that lead Carter to hope Bethesda will either overhaul it or build something new.

He expressed concern about Bethesda continuing to use the Creation Engine. While acknowledging it’s a unique, in-house technology with benefits, he wasn’t dismissing it entirely. He admitted it’s not a *bad* engine, but believes it’s starting to look outdated and could really use a significant update.

When I asked about the biggest problems with the Creation Engine, he immediately pointed to load screens and optimization. He explained that players were right to complain about the game not running smoothly. The team really didn’t want those annoying loading pauses, so they tried some quick fixes, like building areas such as East Minster – which became known for being glitchy – and just adding walls wherever they could to try and improve performance as they neared the release date.

If an upgrade is necessary, the main priorities should be eliminating loading screens and improving how efficiently the system runs.

Carter’s point reflects a common complaint from Bethesda game players: too many loading screens and noticeable performance issues, especially in areas with a lot going on. These areas are often called “cells,” which are essentially the different sections that make up the game’s maps.

Games such as Skyrim and Fallout have vast outdoor areas and many intricately designed buildings and spaces. Moving between these areas often means waiting for loading screens, which can interrupt your experience and pull you out of the game.

Interior spaces are included to maintain a smooth framerate. Large, open areas with many explorable locations can cause performance issues – noticeable dips and stutters – as seen in games like Fallout 4’s Boston. The developers of Fallout: London faced this same challenge, striving to create a seamless experience with minimal loading screens.

Most modern open-world games let you explore without any interruptions from loading screens. Because of this, Bethesda’s games, which still use a lot of loading screens, feel old-fashioned. I personally find it really frustrating, and I completely agree with Carter that the game engine needs a major update to fix this issue.

Future updates could also introduce exciting new features. Carter suggests a major overhaul could allow for additions like drivable cars and even metro systems, similar to the ones created by fans in the Fallout: London mod. He also points out that with horses already existing in Skyrim, adding rideable creatures to Fallout 5 seems entirely possible.

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2026-01-21 01:09