Highlights

  • The next Fallout game's release may still be years away, despite high hopes for the series to return sooner.
  • Todd Howard confirmed that Fallout 5 will come after Elder Scrolls 6.
  • Speculation suggests Fallout 5 may return to the New California Republic or San Francisco.

After the events of the Fallout TV series, there are now many questions surrounding Fallout 5 and what the game will be about. There are high hopes for Fallout 5 to be released soon, but it's more likely that the game won't be released for several more years. It's been nearly a decade since the last mainline Fallout game, and although Fallout 76 is a fun way to experience the world in online multiplayer, many want to know more about the fictional post-apocalyptic America.

The Fallout franchise is now bigger than ever. Following an incredibly successful first season, Amazon Prime's Fallout TV series has already been renewed for a second. Whether one is a long-time fan or a newcomer to the franchise and its lore, the Fallout show has brought the games to the forefront, and with that, discussions and speculations on Fallout 5 have been more prevalent than ever. Although there isn't really much known about Fallout 5, the game's setting may already be set in stone.

Fallout 5's Setting Could Already Be Planned

There have already been quotes from Todd Howard in the past that have confirmed Fallout 5 is on the way, which is great news. The bad news, however, is that it's slated to come after The Elder Scrolls 6, which has no sign of release on the horizon. When talking to IGN back in 2022, Howard stated, "Yes, Elder Scrolls 6 is in pre-production and, you know, we’re going to be doing Fallout 5 after that, so our slate’s pretty full going forward for a while". The settings of the Fallout franchise play major roles in the overall story, and this is likely a major starting point for Bethesda and its world development.

Theories About Fallout 5's Setting

One prevailing theory among a few fans is that the franchise will return to the New California Republic. Based on dialogue from the character Kellogg in Fallout 4, some have been led to believe that Fallout 5 will take place in San Francisco. As the Fallout TV series is set in California, it could prove to be a fun way to connect the two properties.

Series producer Jonathan Nolan has already confirmed that the show had to edit some of the story to avoid clashing with Fallout 5 ideas that Todd Howard had already thought of. Although this would be a fun tie-in, and California has played a major role in the franchise, a completely fresh setting may be what's actually in store for Fallout.

Yes, Elder Scrolls 6 is in pre-production and, you know, we’re going to be doing Fallout 5 after that, so our slate’s pretty full going forward for a while.

Fallout's Next Location Sets the Tone for Development

With each new Fallout game, the locations the stories are set in play just as much of an important role as the various characters. From the New California Republic to the Commonwealth, every setting in Fallout is the starting point, with Bethesda building events around it. Despite there being no confirmation of what the setting of Fallout 5 is, it is almost guaranteed that Bethesda has at least decided on a place. It may not be a fully formed city or community yet, but a general region has probably been decided upon.

As Fallout's popularity rises higher and higher, there is at least a new spotlight shining brightly on the franchise. There may be a long wait ahead for Fallout 5, but there are at least plenty of great games in the history of the series that provide hours of exploration and lore. Whatever the setting of Fallout 5 turns out to be, it's almost certain to bring more exciting insight into such a compelling world.

The perfect template for Fallout 5 protagonist is one of the oldest characters in Fallout 4
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