Only time will tell whatFallout 5will look like, but one can assume that it will retain a good amount of its predecessors' core characteristics. Bethesda does seem to appreciate tradition, after all, building upon its time-tested formula rather than radically reinventing it or issuing other fundamental changes. This could wind up working inFallout 5’s favor, or to its detriment, depending on a number of factors.
One surprisingly contentious mechanic that could help influenceFallout 5’s success is the settlement system. AlthoughSkyrimandStarfieldfeature their own unique base-building systems, with the latter integrating the feature into its broader resource economy, the player-designed settlements introduced inFallout 4serve a markedly unique function. In essence, these settlements are customizable strongholds for friendly NPCs, many of whom can act as merchants or quest-givers. Though seen as superfluous and even annoying by some players, there’s a case to be made thatFallout 4’s settlementselevate the specific role-playing experience that the game is trying to evoke, feeding into the broader post-apocalyptic fantasy by allowing the player to work as a productive member of society rather than just another wanderer.
Linking Settlement-Building to Faction Loyalty Could Deepen the Mechanic in Fallout 5
Folding Faction Relationships Into Settlement-Building Could Improve Both Elements in Fallout 5
Perhaps the greatest shortcoming ofFallout 4’s settlement featureis that it winds up feeling anticlimactic and tacked-on. Certainly, it’s a great addition for players who want to exercise their creativity and base-building skills, but those seeking a more focused, traditional RPG experience often end up ignoring the system altogether. This is because the rewards players earn from founding and improving settlements are often too small to be worth the trouble.
ButFallout 5could retain the strengths ofFallout 4’s settlement-building while injecting it with narrative and role-playing significance by linking the mechanic to faction relations. Disparate factions are a staple ofBethesda’s RPGs, and increasing the player’s image in their eyes can be a critical aspect of these games' side content. Unfortunately, upholding the player-character’s reputation with such groups is often less complex than it appears at first, typically boiling down to little more than completing specific quests. But if the player could curry a faction’s favor by expanding their territory via settlements, it would imbue the reputation system with some much-needed flexibility, critical thinking, and depth.
This would also lead to some obvious benefits forFallout 5’s settlement mechanics. Instead of simply existing as chores or NPC hubs, which can often feel like the case inFallout 4, these player-created locales would have a direct impact on the game world. Additionally, new weight could be given to things like defensive structures—turrets and the like—since other factions would be actively attempting to claim each settlement as their own. In essence, conquering strongholds for various factions would allow Bethesda to evolveFallout 4’s settlement-building system into a reactive, deep minigame that leverages elements of grand strategy and tower defense titles.
It’s also worth considering this theoretical gameplay shift in the context of narrative and adaptive world-building. InFallout 4, the player can build settlements as a productive member of this new society, helping to create a sense of community and security in a world where many only want to look out for themselves. This thematic framing would still exist when players are building settlements on behalf of a faction, but it could be messier, in a good way. The player would have to actually consider the ideologies and goals of whatever group they choose to align themselves with, as they would be playing a direct role in expanding their influence and building their empires, as it were. This could lead to innumerable unique narrative scenarios, which would bea boon forFallout 5.
Fallout 4
WHERE TO PLAY
Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of Fallout 76 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, invite you to the ambitious open world of Fallout 4. Do whatever you want in a massive Commonwealth with hundreds of locations, characters and quests.As the sole survivor of Vault 111, only you’re able to rebuild and determine the fate of the Wasteland. Join multiple factions vying for power or go it alone - the choices are yours.From a Power Armor-toting soldier to the charismatic smooth-talker, be whoever you want with the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. character system and develop your own playstyle from hundreds of Perks.Experience exciting first- or third-person combat with the dynamic Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System, or V.A.T.S., targeting enemies for maximum tactical advantage (and cinematic carnage!) Collect, upgrade and build thousands of items with Fallout 4’s crafting system. Weapons, armor, food and with the right materials, even entire settlements are possible. Welcome home.
