Fallout 5: everything we know so far
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Fallout 5 is officially in development, but sadly probably a long way from being released. It’s easily one of the most anticipated games, especially considering we haven’t had a single-player Fallout game since 2015. For now, it looks like Bethesda is busy with other games.
Starfield is the first game to be released before Fallout 5, and thankfully it’s not far off. Beyond that, we’ve got The Elder Scrolls 6 to look forward to, although obviously that’s not launching for a while. After that, we can finally expect Fallout 5, although we may all be old and gray by then.
In terms of official Fallout 5 info, there certainly isn’t much at the moment. What we do have are comments from Bethesda, Todd Howard, and even some rumors that have surfaced in recent years. Some indicate a possible setting, while others are a bit more difficult to discern. For now, here’s everything we know about Fallout 5 so far. As new details are revealed, you’ll find this page updated with the latest news.
Fallout 5: straight to the point
- What is it? The next part of the Fallout franchise
- When can I play it? To be determined
- What console will it come on? Probably not a PlayStation
Fallout 5 release date and platforms
While there’s currently no confirmed release date for Fallout 5, speculation abounds. We’ve seen optimistic predictions, but given Bethesda’s resolute focus on Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6, regardless of the fact that the game hasn’t even been revealed yet, we’re a long way from expecting it.
As it stands, we expect Fallout 5’s release date to be many years later, really widening the seven-year gap between Fallout 3 (2008) and Fallout 4 (2015). Right now, 2025 or later feels more realistic.
It depends on how far along the Bethesda teams are with each game. Since Todd Howard said in a November 2021 interview with IGN that the studio has a “one-pager on Fallout 5” – a broad overview of what they want – we think it will be a while before we hear anything more.
What’s more, talk to IGN (opens in new tab) in June 2022, Howard confirmed that Fallout 5 would be Bethesda’s project after The Elder Scrolls 6. With that game still in pre-production and a release probably a few years away, we can imagine we’ll have a long wait for the next Fallout.
Platforms for Fallout 5 haven’t been confirmed yet, 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 right now, that is. PS5, however, is another matter.
It goes without saying that Microsoft and Bethesda would make this an exclusive title due to the former’s purchase of the latter. However, Xbox has said that exclusivity deals for new games from Bethesda will be decided on a case-by-case basis, so it’s hard to be sure. At the very least, we should expect Fallout 5 to be an Xbox Game Pass title.
Since the lifecycle of consoles usually lasts about seven years, it seems likely that we’ll see Fallout 5 appear on these systems before the next next generation systems are introduced.
Location and setting of Fallout 5: where can it be set?
If you’ve ever played a Fallout game, you know how much it loves its doomsday nuclear-ravaged American setting. Fallout games are all set in a US state, so it would make sense that this aspect wouldn’t change. For example, Fallout 3 was set in Washington while Fallout 4 took place in Boston.
It would be nice to see Fallout explore different parts of the world, but that could change the game too much and alienate longtime fans who mostly love the setting. You don’t have to go far to see fans discussing and fantasizing about where Fallout 5 will take place.
Here are the most rumored ones we’ve heard so far:
New Orleans
Rumors that a new Fallout game would be set in New Orleans began after a trademark application for “Fallout New Orleans (opens in new tab)was spotted online in 2016. In the end, more than five years later, this offer has come to nothing, but it could all be clever bait and switch.
We’ve already visited swampy areas in Fallout, but a game set all the way in the Deep South would certainly be an interesting look.
Chicago
This one is a bit more ‘out there’ in terms of validity. A game set in the Windy City is only speculated because Fallout: New Vegas fans remember there’s a hint of an Enclave outpost in Chicago.
Anywhere in the world
No Fallout game has ever appeared from the United States, so could Fallout 5 be the trend? Having a game set in Korea, China, Russia, or anywhere else would be an excellent outlet to change the look of the entire map and locations. A new installment is a great opportunity to bring a fresh aesthetic to the franchise.
Fallout 5 multiplayer: will it have it?
Multiplayer and online co-op
Every regular Fallout game was single player only. Fans probably always loved the idea of wandering the apocalyptic wasteland with a few friends, but when this was tried with Fallout 76, it didn’t work so well.
Fallout 5 would likely be made solely as a single-player experience, given that the Fallout 76 team is constantly updating and trying to improve the multiplayer experience of its online service. Given 76’s rocky history, Fallout 5 would probably suffer too much from a “bad” multiplayer experience. That seems like something Bethesda would like to avoid right now.
That’s not to say there won’t be any social features. There could be a social system, as we’ve seen in games like Dark Souls and Bloodborne, to leave messages for other players to give them hints (or troll them), but that might be out of place in the world of Fallout.
Fallout 5 news and rumours
Fallout 5 comes after The Elder Scrolls 6
In an interview with IGN (opens in new tab)Todd Howard confirmed that Fallout 5 will be Bethesda’s next project after The Elder Scrolls 6.
“Yeah, Elder Scrolls 6 is in pre-production and, you know, we’re going to do Fallout 5 after that, so our slate has been pretty full for a while now,” Howard told the publication. “We have a few other projects that we also look at from time to time.”
Work has begun… sort of
Work on Fallout 5 has begun, but don’t hold your breath to see it soon. Speak against IGN (opens in new tab) November 2021, regarding the upcoming release of The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim Anniversary Edition, Bethesda studio executive Todd Howard revealed that there was already a “one-pager” design document 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 overview and therefore has little to share. With Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6 both coming first, it’ll be a while before we hear more about Fallout 5.
As to whether or not Obsidian – the studio that handled development duties on Xbox 360-era Fallout: New Vegas – might have any involvement, Howard said, “We’ve worked with other people from time to time. I can’t say what’s going to happen… happen… If I could wave my hand and have [Fallout 5] out… you know, I’d love to find a way to speed up what we’re doing, but I can’t really say or commit to anything today, what’s going to happen when, other than our cadence, Starfield is then Elder Scrolls 6” .
Fallout 5 new engine
Bethesda has confirmed that it has updated its engine, which was previously used to make The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, Fallout 3, Skyrim and even Fallout 4. As we all know, the engine used for those games, Creation Engine, was.. janky at best. It was riddled with countless animation issues and something was wrong with all the character designs and movements.
According to Bethesda, this new engine, called Creation Engine 2 for short, will be used to develop Starfield and the Elder Scrolls 6. GamesRadar (opens in new tab)the new engine brings new renderings, lighting, animations (hallelujah), scenery system and photogrammetry.
Speaking about the engine after the announcement of the 2021 Microsoft merger, Todd Howard said: “It has led to our biggest engine overhaul since Oblivion, with all the new technologies powering our first new IP in 25 years, Starfield, as well as The Elder Scrolls 6.”.