Fallout Season 3: What We Know So Far

Weekly updates, stories from your favorite gaming communities, and more

You’re now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful

Looking to add more newsletters?

Get your weekly dose of everything you need to know about the games you love, upcoming titles we think you’ll enjoy, and stories from the vibrant communities that support them.

Our dedicated GTA 6 newsletter delivers breaking news, insider insights, and rumor breakdowns from seasoned experts.

From the minds behind Edge comes a weekly newsletter focused on the gaming industry, featuring analysis from skilled writers, advice from industry professionals, and a glimpse into what’s on the horizon.

Tech enthusiasts, join our free tech newsletter for a weekly roundup of the latest innovations, cutting-edge gadgets, and much more.

Subscribe to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we keep you updated on Nintendo’s upcoming console, share the latest news, and recommend must-play games.

Stay informed with a weekly digest of essential movie and TV news delivered straight to your inbox. From first-look trailers to interviews and reviews, we’ve got you covered.

Get exclusive previews, competitions, and details about special events each month!

Fallout season 3 is on the way, and there’s still so much of the Wasteland to uncover. The adventures of our heroes, Lucy, Max, and the Ghoul, are just beginning, and the season 2 finale has opened up a whole new realm of exciting possibilities for what lies ahead.

The hit series, inspired by the hugely popular video game franchise, debuted in 2024 and quickly became the second-most-watched original series on the platform, following The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. A month after its premiere, the series was renewed for a second season, with a third season ordered in the lead-up to the December 2025 release of season 2. Below, we’ve compiled everything we know so far about Fallout season 3 and will keep you updated on release dates, plot details, confirmed characters, and more.

Beware of spoilers for Fallout season 2 below. For additional insights, check out our guide to the Fallout season 2 ending explained, and don’t miss our roundup of all the Fallout season 2 Easter eggs you might have overlooked.

Fallout season 1 premiered on April 4, 2024, with season 2 following on December 16, 2025. This quick turnaround is impressive, especially considering that many shows take two to three years between seasons.

With filming for Fallout season 3 expected to start around May 2026, a late 2027 release seems likely. Executive producer Jonathan Nolan has noted the long gaps between seasons as an “unfortunate trend,” emphasizing the desire to maintain the show’s scope and return to the air as soon as possible.

Currently, there’s no confirmed cast list, but we can make educated guesses based on the season 2 finale. Our main characters, Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, and Walton Goggins, are expected to return. As for the Vault dwellers, most of Bud’s Buds are seemingly gone (except for Claudia), but members of Vault 32 and Vault 33 are still around… for now. Given Robert House’s significant role in season 2 and the unresolved storylines leading to the apocalypse, we can likely expect his return. The fate of Kyle MacLachlan’s character remains uncertain, which we’ll clarify in our brief recap of Fallout season 2.

Clancy Brown may reprise his role as the last President of the United States, as the Enclave’s mysteries remain unsolved. We might also see Congresswoman Diane Welch in a flashback, despite her severed head being destroyed in the present timeline. Macaulay Culkin’s character is set to become pivotal as he transitions into Caesar, preparing to lead the Legion into conflict.

Here’s our speculative list of returning cast members:

To keep it concise, Fallout season 2 episode 8 kicks off with Legate (Macaulay Culkin) discovering that Edward Sallow, the original Caesar, never intended for anyone to replace him. Frustrated, he takes matters into his own hands and dons the crown, becoming the new Caesar.

The scene shifts to the Ghoul and Robert House, who has digitized his consciousness into a computer system, navigating the management Vault. The Ghoul insists on being taken to his family, and they traverse the Vault to reach Barb and Janey’s cryopods. Along the way, House reveals that Cooper inadvertently caused the apocalypse by delivering the cold fusion diode to the Enclave, where the last President was a member.

Meanwhile, on the surface, Bud’s Buds are moments away from killing Norm when a swarm of Radroaches erupts from an empty elevator shaft, taking them all out (except for Norm and Claudia).

On the strip, the battle against the Deathclaws rages on. Maximus nearly meets his end, but a one-armed Thaddeus saves him with a remarkable sniper shot. Unfortunately, this doesn’t last, and Maximus trades his NCR suit for a stick and a poker table, wielding them as makeshift weapons. Just as the Deathclaws charge, the newly united New California Republic arrives to turn the tide.

Deep within the management Vault, Lucy discovers that her father, Hank, has been using Congresswoman Diane Welch’s severed head to keep House’s robot experiments functioning and give them a semblance of “personality.” After she destroys the head, Hank attempts to implant one into Lucy to make her “his little girl again.” Fortunately, the Ghoul intervenes, shooting Hank in the leg. Lucy then implants a chip into Hank’s neck, demanding to know his secrets. Hank reveals he has already sent the technology out into the Wasteland before activating his own chip. Lucy weeps in his arms, but he doesn’t recognize her. As Lucy surveys the Wasteland, Maximus appears, and they finally reunite.

In Vault 32, the dwellers are still banging on Steph’s door, demanding she face the consequences. Realizing she has no other choice, she opens the box given to her by Betty. Inside is a special Pip-Boy designed for the Enclave. She dons it and introduces herself as Hank Maclean’s wife before initiating “Phase 2.”

As the Ghoul enters the cryopod chamber, we cut to Coop answering a payphone at the airport. Upon picking up, Robert House’s voice warns him, “I want you to know that it wasn’t me… whatever is about to happen. There are far worse people than me, Mr. Howard. I commend you for trying to play the hero… I really do.” Coop is then arrested and taken into custody.

The Ghoul finds Barb and Janey’s cryopods empty, but inside Barb’s pod is a postcard featuring the stunning mountains of Colorado. The back reads, “Colorado was a good idea.” The episode concludes with Lucy and Maximus gazing over the Wasteland, aware that war is imminent, while the Ghoul reaches Colorado. In a post-credits scene, the Brotherhood of Steel reveals blueprints for a new, destructive suit known as Liberty Prime Alpha.

The potential for new adventures is vast. Colorado, never before featured in any Fallout games, opens the door to fresh locations and creatures. Back in Vegas, the Civil War between Caesar’s Legion, the New California Republic, and the Brotherhood of Steel is about to ignite (and if that post-credits scene is any indication, the Brotherhood seems to have the upper hand).

However, within the Vaults, a dire situation looms. Steph calling in “Phase 2” likely means the FEV (Forced Evolutionary Virus) will be unleashed on Vault 32’s inhabitants. We might witness Chet and the others transform into mutants, which is terrifying yet thrilling for fans of the games. The Enclave remains a threat, and the extent of Hank and Steph’s involvement is still unclear. We can also expect to learn more about their relationship and why Hank had children with another woman in the Vaults.

Cooper Howard’s unlawful arrest explains his role as a birthday party cowboy in Fallout season 1 episode 1, but the details between his arrest and the bombs dropping remain a mystery. We also don’t know how he becomes separated from Barb and Janey, so hopefully season 3 will provide that closure.

The future for Lucy and Maximus, who reunited at the end of season 2, is uncertain, but Hank Maclean’s fate is even murkier. The once-powerful overseer and secret Enclave member is now a blank slate with a microchip. After Lucy leaves him in Vegas, he’s left to wait until someone gives him orders. But remember what he told Lucy: “The surface is the experiment.” Microchips are already scattered throughout the Wasteland, so the implications for humanity’s future are anyone’s guess.

So far, the cast and crew are keeping details about Fallout season 3 under wraps. However, executive producer Jonathan Nolan mentioned that filming should commence in mid-2026, noting the unfortunate trend of longer gaps between seasons. “You don’t want the show to lose any of its scope, so we like to be back on the air as soon as we can.”

In an interview, Goggins hinted that the third season will take unexpected turns, with clues sprinkled throughout. Showrunner Geneva Robertson-Dworet also teased that fans can look forward to “new creatures” making their debut.

For more on Fallout, you can check out our review of Fallout Season 2. And if you’re a gamer, we also have a guide covering everything you need to know about Fallout 5.