Fallout 5 remains years away from release, and Bethesda has revealed virtually nothing about the game beyond confirming that another mainline entry is planned. One of the biggest unanswered questions is where the next Fallout game could take place, especially since every mainline installment so far has remained within the United States.
Former Bethesda designer Bruce Nesmith believes that restriction does not necessarily mean Fallout 5 has to stay in America. In an exclusive interview with Insider Gaming, Nesmith discussed possible locations for the next game and argued that the series could benefit from visiting a place with a strong visual and cultural identity.
“I think it can go to any city that has a really distinctive style to it,”
Nesmith said.
“It would be very tempting to go outside of the country too even though Fallout is highly rooted in Americana.”
That opens the door to locations Fallout has never explored before, including some major international cities.
Bruce Nesmith Thinks London or Paris Could Work
Nesmith specifically pointed to London and Paris as two locations that could provide compelling settings for Fallout 5.
“I think London or Paris could be amazing settings,”
he said, while also suggesting that Bethesda could remain in the United States and explore cities such as New Orleans or St. Louis.
His reasoning fits the design philosophy behind previous Fallout games. Fallout 3 used Washington, D.C., Fallout: New Vegas focused on Las Vegas and the Mojave, while Fallout 4 transformed Boston and its surrounding areas into a post-apocalyptic playground. Each location gave Bethesda opportunities to build quests, factions and environmental storytelling around recognizable landmarks.
A city such as London could similarly give the series an entirely different visual identity. Paris could offer another distinct combination of historic architecture and post-apocalyptic environments, although either choice would require Bethesda to establish how Fallout’s alternate-history world developed outside the United States.
Why Fallout Has Always Stayed in America
There is an important reason an international Fallout game would represent such a significant change. The franchise is deeply connected to American culture, politics, consumerism and the retro-futuristic vision of the United States that defines its alternate history.
Todd Howard previously indicated that Fallout would remain in America, while Fallout 76 creative director Jon Rush also suggested that leaving the country was unlikely. Much of the franchise’s worldbuilding revolves around American institutions and concepts such as Vault-Tec, pre-war corporations, the Enclave and the country’s nuclear history.
An overseas Fallout game would therefore have to preserve those elements without simply recreating the American setting somewhere else.
Nesmith believes Bethesda has plenty of possibilities even if it decides to remain stateside. He highlighted New Orleans as a particularly interesting choice and also mentioned St. Louis and Los Angeles.
“New Orleans is a great place to set a Fallout game,”
Nesmith said.
“I think St. Louis could be fun too.”
Los Angeles could also work, particularly if Bethesda explored Hollywood and the city’s entertainment industry, although the region has already appeared extensively in earlier Fallout games.
Fallout 5 Doesn’t Necessarily Need a Major City
Nesmith also suggested that Bethesda could move away from the traditional major-city formula altogether.
“We don’t even need to go to a city,”
he explained.
“What’s happening in the Grand Canyon?”
However, he ultimately believes an urban environment remains particularly well suited to Fallout because dense locations provide more opportunities for exploration, characters, factions and hidden stories.
Nesmith’s perspective carries particular weight because he worked on several major Bethesda projects, including Fallout 3 and Fallout 4, as well as Skyrim and Fallout 76. While his suggestions do not indicate where Bethesda is actually setting Fallout 5, they offer an interesting look at how someone involved with the franchise’s development views its future possibilities.
For now, Bethesda has given no indication that Fallout 5 will leave the United States. But if the studio ever decides to break that long-standing rule, Nesmith believes London or Paris could be more than just a gimmick. They could give Fallout a dramatically different setting while preserving the exploration-focused structure that defines the series.
