The immense rise in popularity of Fallout 4 in recent weeks, due to the Fallout TV series on Amazon Prime, has left fans eagerly speculating about what Fallout 5, the next chapter in the post-apocalyptic RPG franchise, will hold.
While Bethesda remains tight-lipped about the official setting of the next game, a persistent theory has emerged that injects an interesting (and mutated twist) into the franchise’s formula – a return to the concept of a Fallout game set in New York City.
Fallout 4 Was Supposedly Set In New York Originally
The notion originates from Twitter user SynthPotato, who claimed that New York was the original setting for Fallout 4. According to them, Bethesda not only envisioned the Big Apple as a potential wasteland, but also created a complete design document for it, However, the concept was allegedly shelved for Fallout 4 and could be reserved for a future installment, possibly Fallout 5.
Willing to bet actual money that Fallout 5 will take place in:
NEW YORK CITYNYC was originally going to be the location of Fallout 4, with an entire design document already mapped out on the story and how the setting plays into it according to Emil Pagliarulo, Lead Designer at… pic.twitter.com/T2RQdLDa4j
— Ameer (@SynthPotato) April 25, 2024
The claim appears plausible when examined alongside established Fallout lore. Emil Pagliarulo, Lead Designer at Bethesda, has confirmed New York City’s existence within the Fallout universe. However, details regarding the city’s state are ambiguous, at the very least.
The Intriguing Directions Fallout 5 Could Take With A New York Setting
Fallout‘s lore paints a picture of New York being utterly obliterated, and a breeding ground of infested bugs, mutants, ghouls, and radiation. This desolate environment presents a unique opportunity for Bethesda to redefine the Fallout formula with the next game.
Traditionally, Fallout games cast players as Vault dwellers emerging from their underground shelters or as human raiders carving out a living in the wasteland. A New York setting, however, offers the chance to venture into new territories with the player character.
The narrative possibilities of playing as a Ghoul, a mutated human struggling for survival amidst the irradiated ruins of the Big Apple, are immense. Alternatively, players could take control of a powerful Mutant, carving out their own territory in the ravaged cityscape.
Furthermore, the concept of Bethesda adapting the “glowing sea” concept from Fallout 4 is also a possibility. With a speculated release window of “2030 minimum,” concerns regarding technical limitations are largely dismissed by the rumor, with the implication being that modern hardware will allow Bethesda to create a far more detailed and immersive Fallout experience.
The official location for Fallout 5 remains a mystery, but director Todd Howard has confirmed that the series won’t be heading out of the United States. Therefore, the New York theory looks to be even more credible, but right now, there’s no concrete way of knowing which direction Bethesda will take the franchise in.
