Wolfenstein 3 is in production at MachineGames, with B.J. and Grace Walker back

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma confirmed on November 12, 2026 (US time; early November 13 in Malaysia and Singapore) that Wolfenstein 3 is in production at MachineGames, the Swedish studio behind the modern Wolfenstein games. The reveal was a post on X with a photo of a script page, timed to the Xbox FanFest stop in Seattle and the console's 25th anniversary.

There is no trailer, platform list, release window or subtitle yet. What players do know is who is coming back: Brian Bloom returns as B.J. Blazkowicz and Debra Wilson returns as resistance leader Grace Walker.

What's confirmed

The announcement. Sharma wrote that Wolfenstein 3 is "officially in production" at MachineGames and called the series one of gaming's most important franchises. Xbox Wire's anniversary recap repeats the news, quoting Sharma as saying the series has "an important place in gaming history" and that she wants to see the team continue its story.

MachineGames' own post. A few minutes later the studio posted the same script photo with the line "His reputation precedes him. Wolfenstein 3 is in production." PC Gamer reports that the studio also shared a photo of Debra Wilson in a motion-capture session, which suggests performance capture has started. It does not tell us how far along the game is.

The cast. Xbox Wire says Bloom and Wilson are reprising their roles, and PC Gamer reports that Bethesda confirmed both in a follow-up message. Notebookcheck points out that bringing back Blazkowicz and Grace points to a direct sequel to Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus rather than another spin-off.

The same-day id news. Sharma also said id Software is already working on its next game, and id said the project is directed by Hugo Martin, with no title or genre given. We covered that, along with Doom: The Dark Ages' Slaughter Mode, in a separate story.

The setting at Xbox. Eurogamer reports that the reveal arrives during a hard year for Xbox: a business "reset" with proposed studio closures and layoffs that will take about 3,200 Xbox jobs. Eurogamer says the July cuts removed 96 of id Software's 136 staff. MachineGames appears to have avoided the cuts so far, and id's co-studio director Marty Stratton has said id is working more closely than ever with the Swedish studio.

Background

The series started at id Software with Wolfenstein 3D in 1992, the game that set the template for the first-person shooter. MachineGames, founded by former Starbreeze developers, rebooted it with Wolfenstein: The New Order in 2014. It followed with the standalone prequel The Old Blood in 2015 and Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus in 2017, which ended on a cliffhanger with Blazkowicz's fight in occupied America far from over.

The next releases were side projects. Wolfenstein: Youngblood (2019) shifted to co-op with B.J.'s twin daughters in 1980s Paris. After that, MachineGames made Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which launched in December 2024. PC Gamer notes the studio also released a Quake expansion for that game's 30th anniversary. That makes Wolfenstein 3 MachineGames' first new game announcement since Indiana Jones, and it arrives nine years after The New Colossus. PC Gamer adds that a Wolfenstein TV series is in the works from the team behind the Fallout show, which could give Bethesda a reason to bring the game and show closer together.

My take: what it means for players

I'm glad this is a numbered sequel and not another experiment. The New Colossus ended mid-revolution in 2017, and Youngblood never picked that thread up. A third main game with Bloom and Wilson back is the clearest signal MachineGames could send that it is finishing B.J.'s story, not running a spin-off for the sake of the brand.

The studio has also earned more trust since then. The Great Circle showed that it can build bigger spaces and slower-paced exploration on id's tech without losing the cutscene writing that made The New Order stand out. Put that next to Wolfenstein's gunplay, the dual-wielding and the armour pickups that echo the 1990s shooters, and you have a strong base.

What worries me is the timing of the reveal, not the game. A script photo posted from an executive's account during a year of deep cuts reads as reassurance as much as an announcement. Doom Eternal had a full E3 trailer in 2018, and The New Order had a debut trailer in 2013, more than a year before release. "In production" with a mocap photo usually means years, not months, so I would not budget for this before 2028 at the earliest. That last point is my guess, not anything Xbox has said.

What we don't know yet

• Release date or window. Neither Xbox nor MachineGames has given one.
• Platforms. No platforms are confirmed. Recent Xbox-published games have also come to PlayStation, but Xbox has not said whether this one will.
• Subtitle and setting. No subtitle, setting or story details have been shared beyond the returning cast.
• Engine and tech. MachineGames' recent games use id Tech, but nothing has been confirmed for Wolfenstein 3.
• The TV tie-in. Whether the game and the planned TV series are connected is not known.

Quick facts

FAQ

Is Wolfenstein 3 officially confirmed?

Yes. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and MachineGames both said on November 12, 2026 that it is in production, and Xbox Wire repeated the news.

Who is making Wolfenstein 3?

MachineGames, the Swedish studio behind Wolfenstein: The New Order, Wolfenstein II and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.

Is B.J. Blazkowicz in Wolfenstein 3?

Yes. Brian Bloom returns as B.J. Blazkowicz and Debra Wilson returns as Grace Walker, according to Xbox and Bethesda.

When does Wolfenstein 3 come out, and on which platforms?

Neither has been announced. Xbox only says the game is in production.

More: id Software confirms a new game directed by Hugo Martin as Doom gets Slaughter Mode.

Sources: Xbox Wire; PC Gamer; Eurogamer; Notebookcheck. Image: PC Gamer feed image (Wolfenstein II key art, © Bethesda / MachineGames).