Todd Howard said Bethesda plans to keep Fallout games “predominantly” set in the United States—not that the series will never leave it. In remarks published in May 2024, he tied the setting to Fallout’s Americana and said some parts of the fictional world can remain mysterious. The statement describes Bethesda’s broad plan; it does not specify where Fallout 5 will take place.
What Todd Howard said about Fallout’s setting
In a Kinda Funny interview, Howard said: “My view is part of the Fallout schtick is on the Americana naivete and part of that. 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.” Nerdist published the remarks on May 3, 2024, and identified the relevant point in the interview at 56:42. GamesRadar+ also reported on the interview in April 2024.
The key word is “predominantly.” Howard described a preference for keeping Bethesda’s Fallout games mainly in the United States, not an absolute rule that every future Fallout story must take place there. GamesRadar+ framed the answer as meaning no overseas setting “in the foreseeable future,” but that is the outlet’s paraphrase, not the full scope of Howard’s quoted wording.
Why the United States is central to Fallout
Howard connected the setting to what he called Fallout’s “Americana naivete”: the series’ distinctively American cultural backdrop and tone. He also said he is comfortable leaving parts of the world unexplained: “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.”
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Those remarks give two creative reasons for Bethesda’s stated approach: the United States supports the atmosphere Howard associates with Fallout, and keeping distant places unknown can preserve mystery. They explain his preference; they do not establish a formal ban on stories set elsewhere.
Does this confirm where Fallout 5 will be set?
No specific Fallout 5 location is confirmed by this statement. Howard spoke about Bethesda’s plan for the games in general, using “predominantly” rather than naming a location or making an exception-free promise. It is reasonable to take his answer as evidence that Bethesda expects its Fallout games to remain mainly US-set, but it does not settle the exact setting of a particular future release.
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- Freedom and Liberty Do whatever you want in a massive open world with hundreds of locations, characters, and quests. Join multiple factions vying for power or go it alone, the choices are all yours
- Be whoever you want with the special character system. From a power Armored soldier to the charismatic smooth talker, you can choose from hundreds of perks and develop your own playstyle
- New next generation graphics and lighting engine brings to life the world of fallout. From the blasted forests of the common wealth to the ruins of Boston, every location is packed with dynamic detail
- Intense first or third person combat can also be slowed down with the new dynamic Vault Tec Assisted Targeting System (V.A.T.S) that lets you choose your attacks and enjoy cinematic carnage
What later Fallout comments add—and what they do not
A GamesRadar+ report published around July 2026 surfaced comments from Fallout 76 creative director Jon Rush about Americana’s importance to the series and stories taking place beyond the United States. Its excerpt also gave a “special shout-out” to Fallout London. That provides context about the wider fictional world and creative work beyond Bethesda’s main games; it is not an announcement of an official overseas mainline Fallout game.
Fallout London is a fan-created mod, not evidence that Bethesda has changed its stated plan for the franchise. Howard’s 2024 remarks concern Bethesda’s games, while discussion of other regions or fan projects should not be mistaken for confirmation of a new official setting.
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