Along with the announcement that yes, Virginia, there is a Fallout 4, Bethesda gave us a sneak peak at the upcoming game’s setting: Boston, MA. Post-war however, Massachusetts is given a new name: “The Commonwealth”. As exciting as a new setting is, we’ve heard about The Commonwealth before in previous Fallout entries. Here’s what we know:

The Commonwealth Is Part of a Larger New England Commonwealth: Prior to the Great War (but after WWII) the USA was divided into 13 commonwealths across the country by the federal government. Massachusetts, along with Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Connecticut were placed in the New England Commonwealth. These 13 Commonwealths give the American flag in Fallout lore it’s unique pattern: 14 stars, one for each commonwealth and a large center star for the federal government itself.

The Dominant Faction in The Commonwealth is Called “The Institute”. Prior to the war, The Institute was known as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Post-war however, MIT became a secretive research house with unparalleled advancements in the sciences, including true artificial intelligence and life-like androids. Science-minded survivors flock to The Institute from all over the wasteland, hoping to see its wonders for themselves.

The Institute Already has a Rival. As seen in the Fallout 3 quest “The Replicated Man”, not all agree with The Institute’s policy on AI and androids (basically, they’re slaves). A rival group called “The Underground” (as in The Underground Railroad) believes that these androids are entitled to just as many rights as natural-born humans and will attempt to sneak them out of The Commonwealth at any cost.

We’ve Met Commonwealth Residents Before. Speaking of “The Replicated Man”, the quest giver, Dr. Zimmer speaks at length regarding his Commonwealth origins: notably, his android Harkness has gone rogue, and the Lone Wanderer is tasked with tracking him down (made that much harder when it is revealed that the droid has had facial-reconstruction surgery). Depending on your choice, Zimmer may or may not have returned to The Commonwealth after the events of Fallout 3. Speaking of…

We May Meet a Friendly Face. On the topic of Fallout 3 characters who reside in The Commonwealth, Dr. Madison Li (a key character of the Fallout 3 main quest and a good friend of the Lone Wanderer’s father) may currently reside at The Institute. Following the events of Fallout 3, Li made it clear that she intends to leave The Capitol Wasteland and travel to The Commonwealth in order to continue her research. Assuming Fallout 4 takes place within a relatively close time frame to it’s predecessor, she may have a large role to play in the game’s events.

BONUS FACT: Massachussetts isn’t actually the full name of the current-day state. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the full name given to the state upon being given statehood after the Revolutionary War. (This, of course being where the Fallout writers most likely got the name for its fictional counterpart)