The future of Fallout currently remains uncertain, but the hope for an announcement sometime in the future persists. Despite no official reveal, Bethesda leader Todd Howard confirmed that a new Fallout game is on the company's to-do list after The Elder Scrolls 6 sees the light of day. Unfortunately, that likely means a long wait is ahead for Fallout 5, but there is always the chance that an announcement could come sooner than expected.
In every Fallout game, the location has served as the heart of each new story. From Fallout 4's Boston setting and Fallout 76's Appalachian landscape, the varied regions of America have continued to make each entry in the franchise unique from one another. Speculating about the setting of Fallout 5 is intriguing, and many theories and hopes have pointed toward a return to the West Coast. If Bethesda brings the franchise back to California, this could also open the door for a long-awaited return to the city of New Vegas in the next Fallout.
Fallout 5 Could Also Serve as a Partial Sequel to New Vegas
Revisiting One of the Franchise's Most Beloved Cities
Bethesda has retained ownership of the Fallout brand since Fallout 3, but Fallout: New Vegas' development was headed by Obsidian Entertainment, while the former acted as publisher. New Vegas quickly proved to be a standout entry in the series and continues to be a favorite among many fans of Fallout. Whether in the city itself or the surrounding Mojave Desert, New Vegas brought a blend of fresh ideas while still retaining lore from the first two games, like Fallout's New California Republic. The game's connection to California has helped make the overall franchise feel more connected, and a return to the state would greatly benefit from the inclusion of New Vegas.
Apart from New Vegas, every other Bethesda-owned Fallout game has been set on the East Coast.
A New Vegas Sequel May Not Happen, But There is the Next Best Option
A full-blown New Vegas 2 would be ideal, but that seems unlikely, at least at this point. However, Fallout 5 could potentially include the city as its own side map that players can find if they venture far enough out into the desert. Even better, Fallout 5 returning to the West Coast could be the perfect excuse to give the game its own DLC centered around a fresh New Vegas-focused story.
It doesn't necessarily have to be a “true” New Vegas sequel to be worthwhile, and a decently sized expansion would definitely be better than nothing. Bethesda may have yet to confirm a return to the West Coast, but if that is the route chosen, leaving New Vegas out completely would likely be disappointing. Although fairly close, the stretch between Southern California and New Vegas is still extensive, so featuring the location in a base game may not be feasible for the map's size, but DLC is highly possible. The best Fallout DLCs have taken players to all-new regions, and this is where New Vegas could easily make an appearance.
In every Fallout game, the location has served as the heart of each new story
A Return to New Vegas is Imminent
The city of New Vegas' place in future games may be questionable, but fans of this entry still have something to look forward to with Amazon Prime's live-action series. At the end of the first season, a thrilling reveal teased that its story would be heading to the iconic city in some capacity. Set photos potentially revealing the New Vegas town of Novac further prove that season 2 could be big moments to life.
Season 1 of Fallout takes place in post-nuclear Los Angeles and the West Coast. If the games and show plan on becoming intertwined, returning to New Vegas may become more likely.
While season 2 of the Fallout series may not be a game, revisiting New Vegas in any capacity is an exciting development, if done properly. Of course, getting to actually explore New Vegas in the next Fallout game would be preferred, but only time will tell what Bethesda has planned for its next chapter.
- Video Game(s)
- Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout 3, Fallout 4, Fallout 76, Fallout Shelter, Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel, Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel
- Creation Year
- 1997
- Developer(s)
- Interplay, Black Isle Studios, Bethesda, Obsidian Entertainment, Micro Forté
- Publisher(s)
- Interplay, Bethesda Softworks