Fallout 4 will take place in and around Boston, Massachusetts, according to somebody who "may or may not be" an employee of Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Sketchy? I know, but in these Fallout-deprived times, the slightest budding of insight is welcome.
"The rumors are true, Fallout 4 will take place in Boston," wrote the said Friend of the People on Reddit. "In case you haven't heard, Bethesda has recently been scoping out and researching Boston. They also have a strong connection to MIT. I may or may not be an MIT employee. But that's really all I can say for fear of losing my job."
Another Reddit user, "nMarauder", chipped in with: "I've been hearing reports from people in the Boston area, where my fellow Fallout-obsessed brother lives, that Bethesda has been in the Boston area doing initial research for Fallout 4. It's highly speculative, but the main rumors surround Bethesda's connection to "The Institute", or what we call the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or M.I.T.
"M.I.T., although in populated Cambridge and just across the river from Boston proper, still has a small-town feel when it comes to the way news propagates through the community," he went on. "It is students and staff at M.I.T. that seem to be the ones talking the most about it, and they would be in a position to know. I wouldn't be surprised, at all, if the rumors prove to be true in coming weeks.
"Just thought I'd share! I'm not confirming anything, but all signs point to yes.
Bethesda has yet to announce, tease or indeed breathe the words "Fallout 4" in our hearing, which didn't stop Matt from writing not inconsiderable amounts on the subject in July.
However shaky the sources, a Boston setting would make for a natural expansion of the series lore. In Fallout's post-apocalyptic America, the MIT has become the mysterious "Institute", a sealed-off, high technology organisation which specialises in the manufacture and exploitation of synthetic life. It's referenced in Fallout 3 and certain DLC packs, but has never (to my knowledge) appeared in-game. Also resident in Massachusetts are the Railroad, a guerrilla group dedicated to liberating androids from their owners, and the New England Commonwealth.
What do you make of it all?
26 comments so far...
CunningSmile on 20 Aug '12 said:
It does sound plausible for all the reasons you put in the last paragraphy.
However MIT is home to some of the greatest minds in the US (possibly the world) and we are believing a rumour from a guy that can't spell fool? I Pity the Full (sorry, couldn't resist)
bamozzy on 20 Aug '12 said:
I really enjoyed Fallout 3 - until I stumbled across the ending without really exploring much of the world and the rather abrupt way it did end. After seeing it, I have not really had much motivation to go back and retry as it left me feeling rather disappointed. I really hope this doesn't happen for Fallout 4!
Plamsa wing on 20 Aug '12 said:
It is most liekly to be set in the Commonwealth.
It's actually mention in Fallout 3, The Pitt, Broken Steel and Point Lookout in some form. Also if I remember right, Harkness, Dr. Zimmer and Armitage are from the Commonwealth.
I think Dr. Li leaves to vist it as well.
I'm a bit of a Fallout nut, so it's okay to trust me.
STE MO on 20 Aug '12 said:
In and around MIT would be good thinking, lots of new tech to play around with
Bezza89 on 20 Aug '12 said:
Anywhere other than New York or LA is good.
bamozzy on 20 Aug '12 said:
Nevada - in particular a certain Military base - could also have some interesting artefacts, weaponry and technology. - although in terms of buildings and apocalyptic destruction it would be quite barren. It doesn't even have to be military or sci-fi type as it is also rumoured to contain religious artefacts that could possess some 'power'. After the supposed 'end of the world apocalypse' It could be interesting to use artificial that enhance certain abilities like telekinesis, mind control or something more organic than physical weaponry. Maybe certain types of character are more open to persuasion or dialogue choices if you have acquired certain enhancing artefacts. Maybe some genetic mutations are more open to mind control and could be used to fight against each other (or other characters) where as other mutations just need a good kicking with more physical weaponry.
I know MIT also has one some research into these type of human abilities too but it has been alleged that there are more artefacts of significance in Area 51
Bezza89 on 20 Aug '12 said:
After New Vegas I doubt we'd go back to Nevada even if area 51 wasn't in that game. Be good to see some research facilities though as you say.
michaelhill2110 on 20 Aug '12 said:
... does "new vegas" mean anything to you?
golliwoza on 20 Aug '12 said:
There is actually an Area 51 mod on the PC version of New Vegas, and I have heard it is quite good try it if you have a PC version. Shame though that there is not much quality dialogue in the majority of the mods but the NV Bounties mod has to be the best for spoken dialogue, fun and story.
I would prefer the setting to be closer to Fallout 3's rather than NV, or for it to include more character at least in the landscape and environment.
bamozzy on 20 Aug '12 said:
New Vegas could be actually anywhere - hence 'NEW' for all I know. I haven't actually played it or read much about the game. As I said I was very disappointed with how Fallout 3 ended for me and at the time of New Vegas I was still annoyed with that experience so didn't really give this game much consideration (financial issues and I was also suffering personal and health related issues too also played a factor)
To be honest I was more interested in the concepts I mentioned that could come from an Area 51 type situation rather than Nevada itself and I don't know where else that could play a factor. Maybe a completely new setting outside of America would be good too. It could run alongside the same timeline but from another areas perspective like Europe for example...
Plamsa wing on 20 Aug '12 said:
New Vegas is set in Nevada.
Speaking of Fallout being set somewhere else, Allistair Tenpenny is supposedly from the UK, but went from the UK to the US to seek his fortune.
Desmond from Point Lookout is also from the UK.
I think J.E. Sawyer also said he would like to make a Fallout made during the Resource Wars, involving the Royal Armoured Corps.
Haven't tried the Area 51 mod yet, the weather effects mod makes it run slow enough already at times.
New Vegas Bounties is agood one though, I'd recommend the Fallout 3 weapon restoration mod as well.
SkinnerChinner on 20 Aug '12 said:
Any Fallout 4 news is good news in my book, however unfounded the rumours are. The M.I.T location sounds really interesting, with all the suggestion of "sweet tech/loot", I can imagine Bethesda using it. Coincidentally, I've recently started playing F3 again..."exploding pants" never gets old!
SkinnerChinner on 20 Aug '12 said:
Without opening that whole "forcing players into purchasing DLC" can of worms, Bethesda did address that with 'Broken Steel', which is well worth its price tag on it's own merits regardless - not to mention allowing you to continue after the main quest, raising the level cap to 30 & the extra gear.
bamozzy on 20 Aug '12 said:
I actually thought the ending itself was very disappointing not just the fact that I stumbled upon it and I did know about the 'Broken Steel' expansion too. This however did not change the ending itself which ruined the game for me - and after seeing what happens I lost all motivation to play it. When you know how it ends and it is as bad as I found it then you lose all motivation to play through regardless of whether you could continue on afterwards. I didn't care about the side quests either if it ultimately boiled down to that ending (which I won't spoil in case others haven't played it) and people complained about MAss Effect 3's!
Grummy on 20 Aug '12 said:
just to clear up any suggestions people may have, Fallout will never be set outside of the US. It *might* venture into Canada at some point for part of a game, but completely set somewhere else? A main Fallout game? Not happening. Why? 2 reasons. First of all, it's a recognized fact that American gamers don't like playing games set in other countries and would rather the games they play be set in US, or somewhere completely fictional (I'm pretty sure I remember Edwin bringing this point up once somewhere, may have been Jonty) either way, developers tend to take this into consideration when making their games. This also ties nicely into the 2nd reason. Fallout is steeped in American history and lore, the entire setting and feel is based around a B-movie esque view of the future from 1950's small town America, that's what gives it a lot of its charm, to move it to Russia or England or somesuch, no matter how cool the settings, is to lose that Small town America B-movie soul. I could perhaps see another spin-off game being set somewhere else, just to see how they are faring in this post Apocalyptic world, but it's not likely. A game the size of Fallout, that has hundreds of hours worth of gameplay, all played in another country with Russian or English accents etc, I'm not sure how much people could take of it. I'd love to see the game set in London for example, but with every 3rd NPC then having a terrible cockney accent it would feel more than a little ridiculous. Fact is, these games need to be set in America.
OK, as for the Boston setting, I've heard about this a couple of months back, there was a suggestion on Reddit that Bethesda were scouting locations, and now we have this latest suggestion. Now then, I'm not against the idea of Boston, indeed, I think it is a very strong likelihood, it has a great number of positives, not least of all that it is a much greener area, very different from the massive desert and highly urban areas we've had so far. But, I find myself sceptical of these comments from redditors, I mean, for one thing, how on earth do they know it's Bethesda? Are they driving around in a massive truck with BETHESDA RULZ YO ASS printed on the side or something? Are they only talking in Dova and it just some happens that the redditors in question are nerdy enough to have memorized the entire dragon language? Are they just walking around with massive I WORK FOR BETHESDA SOFTWORKS badges on them? Boston has, I don't know, a million or more tourists every year, so how on earth could they know that one particular set of people taking photos are from Bethesda? If this was Bethesda, they'd either be keeping it quiet, so they wouldn't know, or it would be common knowledge and they'd be open about it. Also, only just scouting for locations now? I find that HUGELY doubtful. I know skyrim has just finished, but entire dev teams don't just sit and work together from start to finish, some people finish their jobs long before A game is released and move on to something else, and considering Skyrim doesn't exactly have to follow any realistic landscape, I'm pretty sure people would have been free for a few years now to scout out potential locations for the next FO game.
As I said, sceptical.
MrDaRkAsSaSsIn6 on 20 Aug '12 said:
I hope Bethesda doesn't make the mistake of not letting you roam the world after you complete the main story line. They should do it like Skyrim, so if you finish the main story line you can finish all the other side quests etc. I went the whole way through the game, got to the highest level, thinking that I could roam the world when I finished the main story line. I was bitterly disappointed.
I don't really mind where it's set just as long as it's a good game. I also don't think we will see this game on current gen consoles. Can't wait nevertheless.
SkinnerChinner on 21 Aug '12 said:
That's a shame, I'd agree the end game was...lackluster, in terms of writing and the way it played out, not the worst I've seen but not the best either. Half the fun in the game is the side quests & exploration (much of which isn't even related to the main story) so I wasn't too bothered how it played out (did have its moments), add in the different ways of playing i.e. bad/negative karma - still, I recommend giving F:NV a go its story arc is actually very well written. Reasonably cheap these days to - always a bonus.
CunningSmile on 21 Aug '12 said:
The main story (particularly the ending) tends to be the weakest part of Bethesda games for me. I usually only play through them to get the upgrades like the shouts in Skyrim or the power armour in Fallout in order to make the real game more enjoyable.
SkinnerChinner on 21 Aug '12 said:
Spot on Cunning, haven't played Skyrim but that was exactly the feeling I got from F3 - Obsidian vastly improved the storyline in NV.
Clanger67 on 21 Aug '12 said:
Seattle would be a good setting i reckon.Fair enough it is a city again but there is plenty of countryside around it.Plus it would take you back to the West coast.
CptBomBom00 on 21 Aug '12 said:
I think Boston should be the but maybe Beth could make it go up, lots of skyscrapers, also where's the VaultTech HQ actually located, because I can't remember.
golliwoza on 21 Aug '12 said:
I believe Vault Tec HQ was in Washington DC. It is a location in Fallout 3 and if I remember correctly a location where you can find all the vault locations in Fallout 3.
http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Vault-Tec_Headquarters
CptBomBom00 on 21 Aug '12 said:
Yeah I found it, but I've always though it was somewhere in New York or L.A.
cyclekarl on 24 Aug '12 said:
I love Fallout games,but wish they would iron all the bugs out of it before release and a Fallout set somewhere in Europe or even China would be nice.
Ninja Squirrel on 25 Aug '12 said:
Why not set it in London? all the tube system could be explored and hold towns etc. and the chance to meet a cockney ghoul would be fun.
michaelhill2110 on 26 Aug '12 said:
read Grummys post... thats why not london or anywhare els