GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links.

Fallout 4 set in Boston?

Reddit tipster claims Bethesda has been "scoping out and researching" Massachusetts capital for upcoming unannounced game; Fallout 3, New Vegas in-game messages lend credence to assertion.

560 Comments

If a new rumor proves accurate, Bethesda's next Fallout game will be set in Boston. A Reddit user going by "fallout4boston" claims the unannounced Fallout 4 will be set in the Massachusetts capital city.

Might Fallout 4 do battle in Faneuil Hall?
Might Fallout 4 do battle in Faneuil Hall?

This tipster says Bethesda has been "scoping out and researching" the city, and suggests the developer has a "strong connection" to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a prestigious research university near Boston. The Reddit user "may or may not be an MIT employee," according to the post.

A Bethesda representative told GameSpot, "We don't comment on rumors and speculation."

According to the Fallout Wikia page, "The Commonwealth" was referenced in 2008's Fallout 3. Four real-world states in the US categorize themselves as Commonwealths: Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Virginia, and Massachusetts. Bethesda lead designer Emil Pagliarulo told 1UP in 2009 that the Commonwealth reference in Fallout 3 was in fact speaking about Massachusetts, not any of the other three states.

Additionally, Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas included mentions of a mysterious "Institute," which is located in The Commonwealth. This could potentially be related to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology referenced by the Reddit user.

The most recent Fallout title was 2010's Fallout: New Vegas, which was developed by Obsidian Entertainment and set in a postapocalyptic Las Vegas. Its predecessor, Fallout 3, was developed by Bethesda Game Studios and took place in Washington DC and the surrounding area.

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

Join the conversation
There are 560 comments about this story