Bethesda just tweeted this:

@BGS_Devs: Be a part of our amazing team! We’re hiring top programmers for our next game on future gen consoles/PC.

Who knows, i thought Fallout 4 would be squeezed into the last year or two of this generations' lifecycle.

Am i reading between the lines too much? Is it worth even mentioning? Does it matter? Discuss.

Just because they're hiring programmers for the next generation of consoles/graphics cards doesn't mean they aren't also working on something for this gen.

Hopefully this time they're crafting a new engine for the higher specs of next gen consoles. Better hardware is something that I think Bethesda games could really benefit from, because that would increase the potential of the AI, more NPCs in bigger cities, better physics, and a more complex environment.

Not too mention less bugs. Hopefully.

I think that they are just preparing for the next gen consoles. It's better to be prepared before hand then to not be. But I am still thinking they will put out at least a few more games before the next consoles arrive.

In an interview way back before Skyrim was announced Todd described how insanely tough it was to make Oblivion for a console that was still in development. Considering that, I would be surprised to see them doing it again with their next game (I figured they'd squeeze it into this cycle too), but maybe they feel they're more prepared now.

Sounds like Fallout 4 but it would be much better coming out this gen instead of next gen. Oblivion had huge limitations when it came out at the beginning of the current console gen and I can see Fallout 4 suffering the same problem.

Considering the 3-year development cycle Bethesda typically has, along with them saying that are still working on extensive DLC and expansions for Skyrim, and that the next generation consoles from Microsoft and Sony probably will be announced at next years E3 at the latest, I imagine Bethesda is going to spend some time tinkering with Skyrim, brainstorming technology and working on basic story and setting details until more details about the next-gen consoles appears and first then will they shift primary development focus to a title for those systems.

My guess?

The programmers they have now would undoubtedly be working with the next gen. I think they just want to build their console centric staff to try and avoid problems like they've seen on the PS3.

I don't care when the next Fallout is coming, all I care is that the Enclave should be featured (prominently)!

I think it's fair to say the next gen will be here by Christmas 2013 and at the latest 2014 so yes I think we have seen the last of Bethesda until the next gen.

I hope Bethesda is done with current gen when it comes to releasing big titles (like Fallout 4). I love all the games and all, but Oblivion, Fallout 3, Fallout NV and Skyrim are so similiar when it comes to gameplay that I hope they wait for next gen so they can kick it up a notch. If they were to release another game on the current gen I'll expect it to be very similiar to the other current gen titles, and to be honest it's starting to become outdated.

Hopefully with next gen they are able and willing to rewrite some of the game mechanics and everything so games like Fallout and Skyrim doesn't feel like the same game when it comes to gameplay.

Not bashing Beth or anything, this is just my opinion on why they should wait.

Well IIRC Morrowind was supposed to be a launch title for the Xbox, and Oblivion for the 360, it wouldn't surprise me if they tried to make Fallout 4 the launch title for the next Xbox. And hopefully, unlike with Morrowind and Oblivion, they won't miss the launch due to delays again.

Yes, you are reading between the lines too much. Because an ad that states "Come code for old antiqued platforms and IPs" is not going to get the resumes.

Indeed. However, it's not fully out of the window that Fallout 4 would be out before the next-gen consoles. Oblivion came out 2006, got a ps3 release in 2007 and a lot of DLC followed that year and still Fallout 3 came out 2008.

Well some of us do care about when it's coming out. Fallout is amazing and all, but I'm going to spend $300.00 just to play it. I'll be highly disappointed if I'm unable to play FO4 on my Xbox360. I just know I'll ruin the game for myself by reading every single spoiler available before I ever get the chance to play.

It's inevitable that you're going to have to upgrade sooner or later, may as well be for a game that you really want.

I'd rather have the game I really want on a system I can actually afford. I refuse to buy a console at the full price just because it's othe only way to play Fallout.

And TES 6 after that, and all the other next-gen games.. :/

I totally agree. The AI in Oblivion/Fallout 3 made/makes me so mad, haha, and it appears it didn't change much for Skyrim, >:

Also, bigger and more complex cities would be great. Personally, I think a nice combination between what WoW, LOTRO, and WAR, and Oblivion cities had would be great (haven't played Skyrim yet, so I can't say)

Do you like seeing them die over and over?

Whatever gen they're on, they had better get some people specializing in programming for the PlayStation platform of said generation.

Knowing Bethesda and how they love new hardware, they are probably going to hire people to work on the next game for the new consoles that exploits every inch of the hardware and make it a smash-hit. It makes perfect sense to me. I am not looking forward to having to play my games on medium settings though.

Obsidian should be allowed to handle Fallout 4. That way if the Enclave is in it they would be a playable faction instead of an army of laser-toting Dremora bad guys.

I say that Bethesda is finished with the current generation. Think about it, a few years ago they were considering leaving Skyrim for the next consoles. We will be very lucky if we get another major game before the new generation.

Nah, it'll be even MORE bugs!