For those of us invested in Bethesda’s style of role-playing games, delving deep into the surrounding lore of Fallout and its spinoffs can make for an exciting afternoon. But one of the most basic pieces of lore that may elude newcomers to the franchise is what year does Fallout 4 take place? It’s mentioned in the game, surely, but easily overlooked by those more excited to dive headfirst into the gameplay.
Sure, you could probably use Fallout 4 console commands to alter the year entirely or search around the map of Fallout 4 to track down dates and sources. Or, you could visit us for the latest Fallout 4 guides and lore walkthroughs!
Related: Fallout 4: What Are the Minutemen Quests?
What Year is Fallout 4 Set In?
First and foremost, Fallout 4 takes place in 2287, approximately ten years after the events witnessed in Fallout 3 and 210 years following the Great War between the United States and China.
In the opening scene of Fallout 4, we experience firsthand the bombs dropping on The Commonwealth. As players descend into Vault 111, the first bomb strikes Boston and a blinding flash of light is witnessed in the distance as the shock wave rapidly approaches. This entire scene sets the scope of the game and alludes to precisely what world we’re stepping back into in the future.
What Time Period is Fallout 4 Set In?
The time period of Fallout 4 is based on the future envisioned in the Atomic Age (1945-1965). Back then, folks genuinely believed that, by now, we would have flying vehicles and robotic butlers to care for our every whim.
The reality is, obviously, far more grim and less exciting. In the world of Fallout 4, they realized these dreams through nuclear power, which runs the electrical grid and vehicles we see abandoned on the side of the road.
What Year Does Fallout 76 Take Place In?
Let’s talk about the ugly stepbrother in the room: Fallout 76. What year does Fallout 76 take place in?
Fallout 76 acts as a prequel of sorts and as such, is set in 2102. This period is just 25 years after the Great War when the full effects of the nuclear bombs are still felt nationwide.
What Year Does Fallout 5 Take Place?
Of course, we can’t talk about Fallout 4 without thinking ahead to the future of the franchise. So, what year does Fallout 5 take place?
According to various leaks and rumors, Fallout 5 will take place approximately ten years after the events in Fallout 4, so around 2297, and 220 years after the Great Way.
That said, the Fallout 5 release date is still quite a ways off, and it’s likely that Bethesda is still working to iron out the details of the game.