Todd Howard Explains Why Bethesda Plans to Keep Fallout Set in the U.S.

For years Fallout fans have wondered if a video game in the franchise will ever leave the United States for another country. According to Fallout lore, the nuclear war of 2077 upon which the franchise is based was not localized to the U.S., but a global event. And so, the idea of traipsing astound post-apocalyptic London or even Canada has long-been mooted by fans.

In a new interview with Kinda Funny Games, Bethesda development boss Todd Howard ruled out such a move, confirming that the studio’s plan is to keep the Fallout series set in the U.S.

Howard explained the decision by saying he’s a big fan of the “Americana naivete” that informs so much of Fallout’s tone. Fallout is set in a retro futuristic post-apocalypse in which players contend with the remnants of everything from evil American corporations to various factions based upon existing U.S. entities. Fallout works as a satire of American exceptionalism as much as it does as an open-world playground.

With this in mind, it’s perhaps unsurprising to hear Howard confirm Fallout’s future as firmly within the confines of the U.S. “My view is part of the Fallout schtick is on the Americana naivete and part of that,” Howard said. “And so, for us right now, it’s OK to acknowledge some of those other areas. But our plan is to predominantly keep it in the U.S.”

Howard continued: “I also like in any sort of world, I don’t feel the need to answer. It’s OK to leave mystery or questions: what is happening here? What is happening here? I think those are good things. In Elder Scrolls everybody wants to go to these other, mysterious lands. The worst thing you could do to mysterious lands is remove the mysteriousness. Keep mysterious lands mysterious!”

The Fallout series has so far focused on the West and East coasts of the U.S., with California, Nevada, Washington, D.C., and Boston recreated in the video games. Fallout 76, the most recent mainline Fallout game, is set in Appalachia, a representation of West Virginia. The Fallout TV show is set in post-apocalyptic Los Angeles. With Fallout 5, Bethesda may venture further inwards than it has before, but based on Howard’s comments, fans shouldn’t expect to visit another country.

Of course, the high-profile Fallout: London mod does exactly that, although a release date remains unannounced after the recent Fallout 4 next-gen update broke key third-party mods for the game.

Kinda Funny Games’ interview with Howard also revealed Bethesda’s plans to launch Starfield’s expansion in the fall, release what sounds like two Fallout projects, and more. Meanwhile, here’s everything we know about Fallout 5.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.