Forget about Fallout 5 (at least for now), because this new RPG will help fill the void and best of all, we can play it for free.
When I say “Fallout 5 can wait”, it’s not like we’ve got a say in that, to be honest. In fact, it’s Fallout 5 that is telling us to wait, because we have no official clue when the Bethesda RPG will be released.
Sure, we know that Fallout 5 will be released at some point. For starters Bethesda’s head honcho, Todd Howard has confirmed it, and there’s no way that the publisher would ignore such a beloved series.
That being said, if there’s one thing that we do know for sure, is that it’s most likely to arrive after The Elder Scrolls VI. Which, by the way, despite being announced in 2018, still doesn’t have a release date or gameplay trailer. What’s more, I’d say that we’ve probably got a better chance of getting the rumoured Fallout 3 remaster before Fallout 5. But I digress.
So, what is this game that will help keep us busy until we agonisingly await the arrival of Fallout 5, I hear you ask? The game in question is called Pioner, developed and published by the indie studio GFA GAMES.
Free Pioner beta available
“Pioner is an open-world MMO first-person shooter set in a haunting, alternative-reality world where Soviet-era structures lie abandoned on a desolate, post-apocalyptic island,” reads the synopsis of the game on Steam.
“In this immersive environment, the gameplay experience is defined by dynamic PvE and PvP elements, where realism takes priority over traditional health bars or character levels. With a sprawling map of 50+ square kilometres, not counting hidden dungeons, players can explore a world rich with mystery and danger, encountering story quests and faction missions that influence relationships and loyalty rewards.”
Pioner does not have a full release date at the time of writing; however, you can request access to its open beta right via its dedicated Steam page. This free beta will not only give you an early taste of the game, but your feedback can help shape the final version.
The beta is quite a substantial one, because the developers say that it grants around 30 hours of gameplay, features missions from the story campaign (Acts I to V), PvE raids, PvP modes, and much more.
The Pioner open beta is open now and will end on 11 November 2025. Pioner will be released on Steam, but no console versions have been announced at this time.
As for Fallout 5, it’s probably safe to assume that its arrival is a good few years away and might end up being a next-gen release. We’ll keep you posted should Bethesda drop new information on Fallout 5 and The Elder Scrolls VI.
