Todd Howard, head of Bethesda Game Studios, has made a rare appearance on Reddit. His arrival follows the release of a roadmap detailing the start of pre-production for Fallout 5 and the development of remasters for Fallout 3 and New Vegas.

Howard left a comment on the r/Games subreddit. Using the account 'ToddBethesda,' he appeared under a thread discussing the development plans Bethesda Game Studios released on the 17th. He introduced himself as a 'professional lurker,' revealing that he regularly reads user comments and that many others within the studio do the same.

Howard acknowledged that Bethesda has been overly quiet in the past. He explained that the roadmap release was an attempt to shift that approach and to keep fans informed about what the studio has been working on and what is coming next. He added that he has found many good ideas on Reddit and encouraged users to keep sharing their feedback. He ended with a lighthearted joke, promising to consider suggestions that receive high upvotes, while immediately adding the caveat, 'Maybe.'

It is highly unusual for Howard to leave a public comment on Reddit. This is effectively his first time appearing on the platform to discuss development-related matters.

The backdrop for this interaction is the recent Fallout-related announcements. Through the roadmap, Bethesda confirmed that Fallout 5 is currently in pre-production and is being developed alongside The Elder Scrolls VI using the new 'Creation Engine 3.' The studio's primary focus remains on The Elder Scrolls VI, with Fallout 5 serving as a long-term project for the future. The company also officially confirmed that the long-rumored remasters for Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas are in development, along with a separate new Fallout title being created in collaboration with Obsidian.

However, the reactions under Howard's comment were far from focused on the new titles. The most upvoted request was for the studio to resume patching the 'Oblivion Remaster.' One user urged the studio to show the same level of attention to that title as they have to Skyrim, noting that it currently feels effectively abandoned. The Oblivion Remaster was released last April and was developed by the external studio Virtuos.