As E3 2021 approaches, many Bethesda fans are hoping for news regarding Fallout 5, the development of which has yet to be confirmed. However, despite the currently-unknown state of the game, fans of the franchise have been speculating about several rumors regarding what Fallout 5 could hold in store for players.
Among Bethesda's recently announced titles is The Elder Scrolls 6, the upcoming release of which was announced in a trailer during E3 2018. Since then, little has been brought up regarding the game, though it's been confirmed that it won't be releasing until after Starfield. The space RPG is a new IP from Bethesda, and the release window has yet to be announced. It's very likely, however, that Starfield will be shown at E3 2021 - and, potentially, a tentative release date for the project might even be announced. The possibility of hearing more news regarding Elder Scrolls 6 isn't off the table, either.
Where does this leave Fallout 5? At the moment, it seems unlikely that Fallout will get much focus during E3 2021, though there remains the chance that development on a new Fallout game will be announced. Despite this lack of focus from the studio - or maybe even because of it - longtime fans of the franchise haven't stopped theorizing about what to expect from the game. Speculation regarding its gameplay, notably what it will take from other recent Fallout entries such as Fallout 4 and Fallout 76, is common. Additionally, potential new settings have been suggested by many players of the series.
What Fans Expect From Fallout 5's Setting And Gameplay
Dozens of potential locations for Fallout 5 have been suggested by fans, though some ideas have more ground than others. Rumors that New Orleans could be the setting of the next Fallout game have been around since 2016, but since then very little has resulted from these claims. Chicago is another location many fans have considered a strong possibility, as Fallout: New Vegas specifically makes reference to an Enclave outpost located in Chicago. Other players are hoping that the latest Fallout game will be set somewhere outside of the United States, something that has yet to be done throughout the course of the franchise.
In terms of gameplay, many fans are hoping for a return to the silent protagonist featured in the majority of Fallout games. The dialogue system and voiced protagonist in Fallout 4 were harshly criticized, with returning players to the series feeling that the inclusion of voiced dialogue sacrificed much of both the player freedom and unique writing that the serious was known for. Following the generally poor reception of Fallout 76, rumors of Fallout 5 including a multiplayer game mode also seem less than likely. What does seem likely, however, is that the game will use an updated gaming engine to improve visual quality and performance. Fans will have to wait until E3 to see if any concrete news regarding Fallout 5 is presented.