Fallout 5: everything we know so far

Fallout 5 is being worked on by the folks over at Bethesda Game Studios. It’s been in development for a little while, though for now we only know that it is indeed being worked on in some capacity. There’s been no official reveal, no title given to the project, and very little in the way of leaks and rumors.

What we do know is that Fallout 5 will not be out until two other Bethesda projects are released first. This puts its potential release date at years away, though hopefully we hear more sooner rather than later.

Starfield is the first Bethesda game that is set to release before Fallout 5, and luckily it’s not far off. Beyond that, we have The Elder Scrolls 6 to look forward to, but that game is even further out. In all likelihood, we won’t be seeing Fallout 5 for many years yet, depending on how the development of these other projects goes.

While we wait for more news on Fallout 5, you’ll find everything we know about the game so far, on this page. As more is revealed, we’ll add the details here.

Fallout 5: cut to the chase

• What is it? The next installment of the Fallout franchise
• When can I play it? TBC
• Which console will it be on? Likely not PlayStation 

Fallout 5 release date and platforms

While there’s currently no confirmed release date for Fallout 5, there’s plenty of speculation. We’ve seen optimistic predictions but given Bethesda’s focus is resolutely on Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6, nevermind the fact that the game hasn’t even been revealed, we’re not expecting it for a long time. As it stands, we’re expecting Fallout 5‘s release date to be many years down the road, really stretching the previous seven-year gap between Fallout 3 (2008) and Fallout 4 (2015). At the moment, 2025 or later feels more realistic.

Platforms for Fallout 5 haven’t been confirmed but it’s likely we’ll see the next Fallout release for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and PC. If we’re not looking at the next-generation of consoles by this point, that is. PS5, however, is another matter.

Fallout 5 story and setting: where could it be set?

If you’ve ever played a Fallout game, you’ll know how much it loves its doomsday nuclear-ravaged American setting. Fallout games have all been set in a US state, so it would stand to reason this aspect wouldn’t change. Fallout 3, for example, was set in Washington while Fallout 4 took place in Boston.

It would nice to see Fallout explore different parts of the world, but that might change the game up too much and alienate long-term fans who are particularly fond of the setting. You don’t have to look far to see fans discussing and fantasizing about where Fallout 5 will take place. 

Here are the most rumored places we’ve heard chatter about so far:

New Orleans
Rumors that a new Fallout game would be set in New Orleans started after a trademark application for ‘Fallout New Orleans’ was spotted online in 2016. Ultimately, this listing hasn’t resulted in anything more than five years later, but it could all be a clever bait and switch.

We’ve already visited swampy areas in Fallout, but a game set entirely around the deep south would certainly be an interesting take.

Chicago
This one is a bit more ‘out there’ in terms of its validity. Having a game set in the Windy City is only being speculated over because fans of Fallout: New Vegas remember that there is a hint towards an Enclave outpost in Chicago.

Anywhere else in the world
There has never been a Fallout game set outside of the United States, so could Fallout 5 be the one to buck the trend? Having a game set in Korea, China, Russia or elsewhere would provide an excellent outlet to change up how the entire map and locations look. A new installment is a great opportunity to give the franchise a fresh aesthetic.

Fallout 5 news

Fallout 5 is coming after The Elder Scrolls 6
In an interview with IGN, Todd Howard confirmed that Fallout 5 will be Bethesda’s next project after The Elder Scrolls 6.

“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” Howard told the publication. “We have some other projects that we look at from time to time as well.”

Work has begun…sort of
Work has started on Fallout 5 but don’t hold your breath for seeing it any time soon. Speaking to IGN in November 2021, regarding the impending release of The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim Anniversary Edition, Bethesda studio director Todd Howard revealed that a “one-pager” design document was already in place for Fallout 5, being a very early blueprint for what the studio has planned for the game. 

Being a “one-pager”, the design document is a high-level outline and there is, therefore, little to share. With Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6 both up first, it’ll be a while before we hear more about Fallout 5. 

As for whether or not Obsidian—the studio which handled development duties on the Xbox 360 era Fallout: New Vegas—could have some involvement, Howard said “We’ve worked with other people from time to time. I can’t say what’s gonna happen…If I could wave my hand and have [Fallout 5] out…you know, I’d like to find a way to accelerate what we do, but I can’t really say today or commit to anything, what’s going to happen when, other than our cadence is Starfield then Elder Scrolls 6“. 

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