Fallout 4 released on November 10, 2015. While the open-world RPG was mostly well-received and managed to sell extremely well, many veteran fans of the series were well less than enthused at some of the changes made to the core Fallout formula. This dissatisfaction did not start with the game's release, since a plethora of rumors swirled surrounding the project long before even the official announcement.
The rumor mill definitely raised some eyebrows, but no one could say anything definitively until Bethesda confirmed it. A surprising amount of the rumors turned out to be true, however, including some of the more outlandish ones, as the ten entries below show.
10 The Setting
Fallout 3 includes some mentioning of the Commonwealth. After some script leaks and a now deleted reddit post from someone claiming to be a former Bethesda employee - which will be the source of many of the following rumors - most figured this would be the setting of Fallout 4. Turns out, they were right. It does not have the same flash as the west coast or the country's capital, but it makes up for it with increased verticality. The area is also more colorful than the greens presented in Fallout 3.
9 Announcement Date
The former Bethesda employee claimed to know the release plan for Fallout 4, including the DLC. Most of these ended up being completely wrong, including a PS3 and Xbox 360 version, which would have been disastrous considering the lackluster performance on the modern consoles at times.
The one thing they did get right was the June 2015 announcement, which ended up being the big blowout during Bethesda's E3 press conference.
8 The Institute
A side quest in Fallout 3 called "The Replicated Man" tasks the player with tracking down an android that escaped from the Institute. The depth of this quest led many to think this group would play a bigger role in the series' future. They were paid no lip service in Fallout: New Vegas, so the next opportunity would not be until Fallout 4. Rumors led more credence to this idea. The finished game heavily features the Institute, and players determine its fate.
7 Railroad
The android in "The Replicated Man" quest escaped the Institute through the help of the Railroad, an alliance of humans and synths who believe the androids deserve freedom because of their sentience. Their name came up again among the many Fallout 4 leaks, and they were foretold to be a major faction. In the finished game they are just as integral a faction as the Institute and Brotherhood of Steel, and players can side with them in the end.
6 TV Show
Another widely-spread rumor during Fallout 4's production was a TV show. This one kind of came true and also kind of did not. Whatever plans were boiling at the time ultimately did not pan out. However, a television series based on the popular video game series was recently announced by Amazon. Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan, who worked on Westworld, will write and executive produce the show.
5 The Creation Engine
When initial rumors stated the game would use the Creation Engine, many fans collectively sighed with slight disappointment. While technically only in use since Skyrim, the engine does not differ enough from the Gamebryo engine, which powered Oblivion and Fallout 3.
People were hoping to be blown away by the visuals, but instead they received a decent upgrade. The world is certainly more colorful, but it is not leap fans wanted.
4 Speaking Protagonist
When an alleged script for Fallout 4 leaked in 2013, one of the biggest surprises was the addition of a speaking protagonist. This was so shocking to hear, most thought the entire document was forged. However, at the E3 2015 Bethesda press conference Todd Howard confirmed that the protagonist would indeed be fully voiced. Fortunately, an exclusively male protagonist turned out to be an unfounded rumor. The opening cinematic is oddly male-centered, however.
3 Synths
With the Institute and Railroad heavily rumored, there was only one more piece of the puzzle required to make the whole thing make sense; Synths. The androids and their self-awareness are at the center of the conflict. The last several years of gaming has brought this theme to the forefront, with Quantic Dreams' Detroit: Become Human dealing with similar themes in addition to several quests in Cyberpunk 2077.
2 Taking Place In 2287
Another major plot detail leaked before official announcement was it taking place in 2287. This places it just ten years after Fallout 3, a rather short gap in the fictional timeline when compared to other sequels. Perhaps the team did not want the prior game's ending to have as big of an impact, since the Water Purifier could help rebuild civilization after numerous decades and generations. This also allows more connection between Fallout 3 and Fallout 4.
1 No Ron Perlman In The Introduction
This one hurt the most to hear, and was even more painful when it turned out to be true. Ron Perlman said he was not the opening narrator of Fallout 4. The opening is ultimately done by the male protagonist, which was a weird choice, especially if the player chooses to play as his wife. Fortunately, Ron Perlman still plays a role as a newscaster during the quest "War Never Changes", an iconic phrase that defines the Fallout series.