So far, every game in theFalloutfranchise has been set entirely within the confines of the United States.Fallout 1,2, andNew Vegastook place on the West Coast of the U.S., whileFallout 3and4used the Eastern U.S. as their setting. Even theFalloutspin-offs, likeFallout 76,Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel, andFallout Tacticshave adhered to this rule in one way or another.Falloutfans have wondered for years if a future installment in the franchise will ever let players explore a location outside the United States. Luckily, a few employees from Bethesda Game Studios have recently shared their thoughts on this matter, though it’s likely not the answer a lot of players would like to hear.
During Summer Game Fest, Insider Gaming’s Grant Taylor-Hill spoke with Jonathan Rush and Bill LaCoste, two lead developers onFallout 76, and asked themifFalloutcould ever leave the United States. In response, they said “never say never, but probably not.” According to Rush, “a big part of the spirit ofFalloutis that sense of America,” so if the series was taken out of the United States, it would be hard to retain its tone and feel. LaCoste agreed with what Rush said and added that Bethesda likes to “keep people very mystified about what else is happening” in other parts of the world.
The Fallout Franchise is Deeply Rooted in American Culture
A New Fallout Game that’s Set Outside the U.S. Would Have a Lot of Potential
With that being said, it’s a bit disappointing that Bethesda isn’t willing to experiment more with locations and settings in theFalloutseries. A mainlineFalloutgame set in Europe or Asia could bring a very refreshing perspective to the franchise’s narrative, and it would give players a clearer picture of what’s happening outside the U.S. Even thoughtheFalloutgames have really extensive lore, they provide surprisingly few details about the state of the world beyond North America. Countries like China, the Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom are referenced regularly throughout the series, but it’s unclear if they’re still inhabited by large human populations.
The Canceled Fallout Extreme Would’ve Been the First Fallout Game Set in Asia
Prior to Bethesda’s acquisition of theFalloutfranchise in 2007, Interplay Entertainment (the original owner of the IP)was working on aFalloutgamethat could’ve shed some light on the condition of some of these countries in the franchise’s world. In the year 2000, some employees at 14° East, a subsidiary of Interplay, were making a first and third-person squad-based tactical shooter calledFallout Extreme. This game was being developed exclusively for home consoles, and it would’ve featured several explorable regions like Russia, Mongolia, Canada, and even China. Sadly, the proposal forFallout Extremewas rejected by Interplay, and the game never saw the light of day.
Fallout: London Shows that a Non-American Fallout Game Could Work
AlthoughFallout Extrememay have strayed too far from the RPG core of theFalloutseries, it still would’ve been nice to see aFalloutgame that lets players travel to non-American countries. American culture plays a big role in determiningFallout’s identity, but there’s still a lot of demand for a new installment in the franchise that’s set in other parts of the world.The 2024 fan modFallout: London, in fact, is the biggest proof of this. This game was downloaded by over one million people in just three months, and it still retained the essence ofFalloutdespite being set in London, England. Bethesda probably won’t release aFallout: LondonorFallout Extreme-esque game anytime soon, but it will hopefully reconsider this in the future.
Fallout 4
WHERE TO PLAY
Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of Fallout 76 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, invite you to the ambitious open world of Fallout 4. Do whatever you want in a massive Commonwealth with hundreds of locations, characters and quests.As the sole survivor of Vault 111, only you’re able to rebuild and determine the fate of the Wasteland. Join multiple factions vying for power or go it alone - the choices are yours.From a Power Armor-toting soldier to the charismatic smooth-talker, be whoever you want with the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. character system and develop your own playstyle from hundreds of Perks.Experience exciting first- or third-person combat with the dynamic Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System, or V.A.T.S., targeting enemies for maximum tactical advantage (and cinematic carnage!) Collect, upgrade and build thousands of items with Fallout 4’s crafting system. Weapons, armor, food and with the right materials, even entire settlements are possible. Welcome home.
