Fallout 4 Could Have Been Set in New York, But Bethesda Declined the Idea

It’s been more than a decade since Bethesda Game Studios released the latest numbered installment of Fallout game series, Fallout 4. Last year, the game received an anniversary edition, though it received a huge wave of criticism. Bethesda is also confirmed to be working on Fallout 5, but Fallout 4 is still in the public’s eye.

As we know, Fallout 4 is set in the post-apocalyptic version of Boston and the part of Massachusetts state; however, as revealed by the game’s lead designer and writer Emil Pagliarulo in a recent interview with PCGamer, the fourth title could have been set in New York City instead of Boston. After all, the idea was scrapped, as Pagliarulo explains, because the city was used many times in other video games, as you can check below:

“We wanted to do something grand and American: that’s New York for you. However, the team ultimately decided to go with another city because of how well-represented New York had already been in other games. At that time, other games were being set in New York, one of the Crysis games just came out, and that was set in New York, then there was another game. You know what? Maybe New York’s not the right call.”

He also reveals he didn’t push Boston to be the city in Fallout 4—and this idea belongs to lead artist Istvan Pely and director Todd Howard:

“I didn’t want to push for Boston, even though I thought it would be a great location, I remember when it came time to do Fallout 4, Emil’s like ‘can we do it in Boston? Can we do my hometown, I don’t know, maybe he got a kick out of that, blowing up his hometown.”

The future of the Fallout franchise looks bright, as Bethesda is planning to release remasters of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas; as being said, Fallout 5 is confirmed to be in development and rumored to be adapted by Amazon’s Fallout TV show. Speaking of which, the show has been renewed for a third season, with the production starting this summer.

What do you think of Fallout 4 being set in New York City instead of Boston? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Fallout 4 is currently available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The game is also confirmed to be released on Nintendo Switch 2 this year, as well as Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered.