Bethesda "It's hard to imagine Fallout outside of America"

 

One of the longest-running debates among Fallout fans is whether the franchise could ever expand beyond the United States. Since its inception, the series has remained firmly within America's borders, traveling across regions from Washington, D.C. and Nevada to West Virginia and Pennsylvania. But at Summer Game Fest 2025, the developers made it clear that the chances of Fallout leaving its home country are slim.

During a conversation with Bethesda Game Studios creative director Jonathan Rush and Fallout 76 producer Bill LaCoste, it became clear that the idea of ​​moving the action abroad, while not completely ruled out, goes against the very essence of the series.

"I wouldn't say never, but probably not," Rush admitted.

He explained that Fallout is, first and foremost, a reflection of American Cold War culture, with its corporate gloss, radiation fears, and idealized retrofuturistic vision of the future. Every element of the game, from the music to the architecture and visual language, is deeply rooted in 1950s American identity.

"America is kind of the spirit of Fallout. It permeates everything from the landscapes to the dialogue. To bring that atmosphere outside of the US is almost impossible. The balance between satire, darkness and lightness is what makes Fallout special," Rush added.

Bill LaCoste also noted that the mystery of the rest of the world in the Fallout universe is an intentional creative decision:

"We tell the story from our vantage point, the American one. That leaves room for imagination about what's happening in other countries. And that's what's kept fans interested for decades."

So Bethesda clearly isn't ruling out the possibility that Fallout could one day venture overseas. For now, though, everything suggests that the series will stay true to its roots—with nuclear winter, patriotic robots, and the retro-US culture that gamers around the world know and love.