Fallout 4 FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about the future Fallout 4 by Bethesda Softworks.

What is Fallout 4?
Fallout 4 will be a futuristic post-apocalyptic action-RPG set in an alternate universe based on 50s pulp sci-fi, as if the world had stopped in the optimistic 50s and found itself on a dystopian post-apocalyptic reality. It is a sequel to the games Fallout, Fallout 2 and Fallout 3.

Is it in production?
Fallout 4 is speculated to be the game Bethesda has had in pre-production since at least August 2010, now that The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has been announced and released.

But will there be one?
Yes, Bethesda definitely intends to make more than one Fallout. Bethesda's Pete Hines said: "The whole reason we went out and acquired the license and that we now own Fallout is that we clearly intended to make more than one." He also added: "This is not something we're going to do once and then go away and never do it again. When that will be or how long that will be God only knows, but we acquired it specifically because we wanted to own it and develop it and work on it like we do with The Elder Scrolls."

Additionally, Erik Todd Dellums, voice of Three Dog confirmed in January 2013 that he has been contacted to do some work with Bethesda that may involve a return of his character.

Will it be a MMORPG?
No, it will be a single-player game, like previous Fallouts. However, Interplay licensed the rights to a Fallout MMORPG from Bethesda in 2007 and is currently developing it under the codename Project V13. Bethesda recently moved to rescind the Fallout MMORPG license, claiming that Interplay is in breach of the licensing agreement. Interplay disputes these claims. As of January, 2012, Bethesda purchased the rights to Fallout from Interplay for 2 million. Interplay may continue selling their numbers in the series until 2013, and may continue production of Fallout Online, but under a different name. Bethesda may or may not produce an official Fallout Online.

For more details, see: Fallout Online FAQ.

Is it the same as Fallout: New Vegas?
No, Fallout: New Vegas is a separate project developed by Obsidian Entertainment. For more information, see: Fallout: New Vegas FAQ.

Who will be making and publishing Fallout 4?
Fallout 4 will be developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks.

Did development begin right after Fallout 3?
Unknown, although Bethesda is more likely to have focused on making The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim after the release of Fallout 3. But another game has been confirmed to be in pre-production, so that may be Fallout 4, though it's not known exactly when work started on it.

What will Fallout 4 be rated?
Fallout 4 has not been announced yet, but the game will likely have an M rating, as with previous Fallout games. This is due to the general mature themes in the Fallout universe, as well as the gore that is so prevalent throughout Fallout.

When is it going to be released?
No development has been announced yet. However with Bethesda having focused on releasing Dishonored in October 2012, and The Elder Scrolls Online slated for a 2013 release, it may be as late as 2014.

Is it made by people who made previous Fallouts?
It will be developed by the same team who made Fallout 3, from Bethesda Game Studios. Interplay and Black Isle, the Fallout and Fallout 2 developers, were not involved in the making of Fallout 3 and they're not likely to be involved in the creation of Fallout 4 either. However, Obsidian Entertainment, who made New Vegas, is made up of former Black Isle members and could be again involved in it, though this is only speculation.

Who is developing Fallout 4?
The exact list of developers is unknown, although they'll likely be mostly the same as the Fallout 3 developers.

Will any characters from previous Fallouts appear?
Possibly. Erik Todd Dellums, the voice of Three Dog, teased in January 2013 that his voice, and potentially the character, may appear in a future title.

Did Bethesda really invite fan suggestions in mid 2013 for Fallout 4?
No.

For years the Bethesda Forums have maintained an "Official" suggestion thread for fan ideas. The purpose of this thread is not to solicit fan ideas, but organise those that are coming in anyway.

"This topic is for a friendly discussion of ideas and suggestions for Fallout 4. This thread is so that we can keep all the discussion in one place."

- Bethesda Forums boilerplate comment put in every single suggestion thread

As per Bethesda Forum policy, all threads are closed at 200 posts. Being a popular topic, a similar topic is posted again almost immediately after the previous ones closure, by a forum moderator.

All forum moderators are volunteer members of the forum community, and are not Bethesda/Zenimax staff. They do not speak for any Bethesda/Zenimax group company in any capacity. (The exceptions are those identified as community managers, such as Gstaff and Nick Breckton).

Sadly, this story has been alleged by an online news site a number of times who are clearly unaware of how the Bethesda forums work.

Examiner.com has