Summary
TheFalloutfranchise is known for taking its players to vastly different locations with each entry, which goes a long way toward making each game feel immediately unique. While fans have spent a good deal of time speculating about differentpotential settings for the fifthFalloutgame, there is one city that has gotten more attention than others: San Francisco.
Given its relatively grounded and gritty science-fiction premise,Falloutis fertile ground for the exploration, analysis, and deconstruction of various real-world locations. Its retrofuturistic aesthetic, alternate historical takes on entities like China, the Soviet Union, and the United States, and its reflections on aspects of American history, both real and imagined, all add up to make for enthralling open-world RPGs. Naturally, where eachFalloutgame is set plays a major role in the cumulative tone and thematic makeup of the experience, so the setting ofFallout 5is no small detail.
Locations Visited in Fallout Games and DLC
Why Fans Think Fallout 5 May Take Place in San Francisco
A Return to Fallout’s Roots
Looking at all thelocations featured in theFalloutfranchisefollowing the first two games, it’s clear that Bethesda seems to greatly favor the American East Coast. This can be viewed as Bethesda Game Studios attempting to distance the modern generation of games from the old generation, literally putting the contemporary releases on the opposite side of the country. Even if this was BGS' intention at one point, though, the franchise is now associated with the East Coast, which has been almost exhausted by everything that came afterFallout 2, so perhapsFallout 5heading back west would be a geographical refresh that could help the series.
Hints About San Francisco in Fallout 4
Though manyFalloutfans are hoping for a game set in New Orleans, others suggest that Bethesda Game Studios has already decided on San Francisco based on references to the city inFallout 4. There are a few references to the city throughout the game, with most of them being minor and alongside the mention of other cities, but the most notable references to San Francisco relate to Kellogg, one of the game’s main antagonists.
It’s revealed that, before coming to the Commonwealth, Kellogg lived in San Francisco, where he worked for The Shi, a notable faction on the West Coast that was prominently featured in the earlyFalloutgames. There are also references to the New California Republic, confirming that the West Coast entity is still in power. SinceBethesda has a history of foreshadowing plot elementsand setting of sequel games, some have taken these details as hints that San Francisco could play a significant role in the next entry. Since Kellogg’s San Francisco backstory doesn’t seem to otherwise have too great an impact on the plot, the notion that it is being used to hint at a future game seems somewhat plausible.
It’s important to note that this is simply speculation and has not been confirmed by Bethesda. The San Francisco references inFallout 4could hint atFallout 5’s setting, but they could just as well be throwaway lines or included solely to flesh out theFalloutworld. San Francisco does seem like a promising city to visit, but until more information is revealed by Bethesda,Fallout 5’s map and settingare something fans will just have to keep imagining or hoping for.
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 may 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.
