2015 could be a big year for “Fallout” fans if the most recent rumors about the series are true. Bethesda have been quiet about the fourth installment in the franchise – perhaps a little too quiet lately, as the studio has been completely avoiding the subject. And yet, certain alleged leaks from behind the scenes indicate that there’s actually a lot of activity going on at the studio right now, as they’re gearing up for a major announcement.
When exactly are they going to reveal “Fallout 4” though? Several major gaming events are coming up, and they all seem like good targets for Bethesda. However, a recent video that recapped talks between Pete Hines from Bethesda and the company’s fans pointed out that Hines stated that he will not be present at GDC 2015, and by extension, most fans assumed, he meant Bethesda. While he only specifically stated this for himself, the message also implied that he was talking about Bethesda as a whole. Of course, he didn’t deny the company’s presence there, so it’s still a possibility.
On the other hand, the studio will be present at PAX East this year, and this is where most of their fans are expecting to see the major revelation. And it doesn’t sound too implausible either, as not only will PAX East attract large numbers of visitors, but its timing would also put Bethesda in a very good spot with regards to marketing potential.
It’s curious to think about the possible situation of seeing “Fallout 4” announced at PAX East though, because it would practically be the biggest revelation during the event, hands down. It’s highly unlikely that another studio would reveal something of this magnitude, so unless Valve decide to attend PAX East and announce “Half-Life 3” out of the blue, Bethesda are pretty much guaranteed all the exposure they could want with this announcement.
The game’s setting and location have been the subject of much discussion and speculation by the community, and it’s still not known where the next game will take place. The most prominent rumors right now are pointing in the direction of Boston, and we’ve already seen several incidents that have made this theory more and more credible.
If that is indeed the location for the next “Fallout” game, this could have some interesting implications for the title, in particular regarding the game’s overall style. Previous “Fallout” games had a slight Western accent to them, while putting the game in an urban environment like Boston would make for a very different experience, closer to the “S.T.A.L.K.E.R” series, and possibly “Wasteland 2”, a game closely related to the “Fallout” franchise which was released in early access not long ago to very positive reactions.