Fallout Miami just reminded everyone it still exists, and it looks absolutely incredible. The massive fan-made mod dropped a stunning four-minute anniversary trailer on December 12, 2025, showcasing the sun-soaked, post-nuclear vacation wasteland of Miami Beach. After seven years in development, the project continues pushing forward without a release date, but the new footage proves the wait might actually be worth it.
What the Anniversary Trailer Shows
The new trailer, released to celebrate Fallout 4’s 10th anniversary, delivers four minutes of in-engine footage narrated by a laid-back surfer dude character. Most of the material focuses on atmosphere and environment rather than action, giving players a detailed look at how nuclear fallout transformed Florida’s most famous beach destination. The footage showcases crumbling stucco buildings, swampy biomes, the deteriorated streets of Miami Beach, and various interior locations including the Miami Beach Convention Center.
What little story content appears in the trailer teases a mayoral race between challenger Thomas Ranford and incumbent Mayor Janet Anderson. The political conflict apparently intersects with clashes between various factions, including familiar organizations like the Enclave and new groups such as the slavers of Sunshine Cove. The trailer ends with an ominous warning about black-clad intruders claiming to represent the U.S. government, setting up what will likely be a major conflict in the mod’s storyline.
Seven Years and Counting
Fallout Miami first appeared in 2018 with an announcement trailer that immediately captured attention. The concept of taking the Fallout franchise to the southeast United States for the first time, exploring how nuclear war impacted Florida’s unique climate and culture, struck a chord with fans tired of the series’ focus on the northeastern and western United States.
Since that initial reveal, the volunteer development team has released semiregular updates showing steady progress. Screen Rant reports the mod promises a DLC-sized experience, but its total conversion of Fallout 4 to an entirely new climate feels even more ambitious than typical Bethesda expansions. The geographic area covered stretches roughly from South Pointe Pier to the Fontainebleau Hotel, creating a substantial playable space.
What Makes Fallout Miami Different
Unlike some total conversion mods that create entirely separate stories, Fallout Miami continues the adventures of the Sole Survivor from Fallout 4. This makes it feel more like official DLC than a standalone experience. Players won’t need to start a new game, instead traveling to Miami from their existing save files, similar to how Far Harbor or Nuka World functioned.
The mod brings back the faction reputation system that Fallout 4 largely abandoned, meaning your standing with various groups will change based on decisions you make throughout the story. According to the official Fallout Miami website, the central theme explores the struggle between order and freedom. The developers promise numerous perk and attribute checks, support for multiple playstyles, and genuinely impactful choices that lead to varied outcomes.
New features include completely original companions, a full cast of voiced characters, custom weapons and armor, and an ambient soundtrack composed specifically for the Miami setting. The mod also introduces the Nuclear Patriots, described as a nomadic, automobile-worshiping faction that sounds uniquely Florida in the best possible way.
Still No Release Date
| Milestone | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| First Announcement | 2018 | Initial trailer revealed the project |
| Miami Misadventures Episode 1 | 2022 | Standalone prequel quest released |
| Environmental Trailer | April 2024 | Showcased locations and atmosphere |
| 10th Anniversary Trailer | December 2025 | Four minutes of new footage |
| Full Release | Unknown | No public release window announced |
The Fallout Miami FAQ acknowledges the elephant in the room. The team states they have an internal release date and targets to reach that goal, but they don’t plan to share this information publicly yet. Given that the mod is created by volunteers donating their free time, providing a fixed release date remains difficult. This approach makes sense from a development perspective but leaves fans in perpetual anticipation.
The lack of a release window stands in stark contrast to other major Fallout mod projects. Fallout London, the British-themed total conversion, actually released in 2024 to community acclaim after years of development. Its success proved that ambitious fan projects can cross the finish line, giving hope to those waiting for Miami.
The Challenges of Volunteer Development
Fallout Miami’s extended development timeline reflects the realities of volunteer-driven modding projects. Recently, the ambitious Fallout: Vault 13 mod, which aimed to recreate Fallout 1 inside Fallout 4, ended active development. The team cited burnout, personal life changes among core members, and the fundamental challenge of tackling such an ambitious project with limited resources.
Another project, Fallout: Nuevo Mexico, was canceled entirely earlier in 2025, providing a grim reminder of how easily even well-intentioned fan projects can fall apart. These high-profile cancellations make every Fallout Miami update feel more precious. The fact that the team continues releasing polished trailers and maintaining active development seven years in suggests real commitment.
Other massive Fallout mods remain in various stages of development. Fallout: Cascadia promises a Seattle-based adventure with a world almost twice the size of Fallout 4. Fallout 4: New Vegas aims to recreate the beloved Fallout: New Vegas in Fallout 4’s engine with all-new assets. Capital Wasteland plans to bring Fallout 3 to Fallout 4, including re-recording all 45,000 voice lines. All of these projects share the same challenge as Miami: volunteer developers balancing real-world responsibilities against passion projects.
Why Fans Should Care
Fallout 5 remains years and potentially decades away. Bethesda has confirmed The Elder Scrolls 6 comes before the next mainline Fallout game, and TES6 itself has no release date. The Fallout TV show’s success on Netflix brought renewed attention to the franchise, but it didn’t accelerate Bethesda’s development timeline. This creates a massive gap that ambitious mods like Fallout Miami can fill.
The Miami setting offers something genuinely different from anything official Fallout has explored. The series has visited the Capital Wasteland, the Mojave Desert, Boston, West Virginia, and even went international with Fallout: London. But Florida’s unique ecosystem, culture, and geography provide fresh opportunities for environmental storytelling and world-building.
Imagine radiated alligators lurking in the swamps. Picture Art Deco architecture slowly crumbling under the tropical sun. Consider how beach resort communities would transform into post-nuclear settlements. The concept practically writes itself, and based on the trailers, the Fallout Miami team understands exactly what makes the setting special.
How to Get Involved Now
For fans who can’t wait for the full release, the Fallout Miami team released Miami Misadventures: Episode 1 in 2022. This standalone mod sticks to Fallout 4’s Commonwealth setting but tells a short adventure that ties into the world of the main mod. Think of it as a prequel or promotional teaser that offers a taste of the writing and design philosophy while you wait.
The team has also released several smaller independent mods, including a quad-barrel shotgun that will appear in the full release. These bite-sized releases serve dual purposes: they give fans something to play with immediately while allowing the developers to test features and gather feedback before the main mod launches.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Fallout Miami be released?
The development team has not announced a public release date or window. Their FAQ states they have an internal release date but don’t plan to share it publicly yet. Given the volunteer nature of development and the project’s seven-year timeline so far, expect to wait at least through 2026, if not longer.
What platforms will Fallout Miami support?
Fallout Miami is a PC-only mod for Fallout 4. Console players unfortunately cannot use complex mods of this scale due to platform limitations and file size restrictions imposed by Sony and Microsoft.
Do I need to start a new game to play Fallout Miami?
No. Fallout Miami continues the Sole Survivor’s adventure from Fallout 4, functioning like official DLC. You can load your existing save file and travel to Miami from the Commonwealth, similar to how Far Harbor and Nuka World work.
What DLC do I need to run Fallout Miami?
According to the official FAQ, Fallout Miami requires a copy of Fallout 4 and all DLC expansions, including Far Harbor and Nuka World. The team has no plans to release a version without DLC requirements, as it would require major rework of the worldspace.
How big is Fallout Miami compared to official Fallout 4 DLC?
The developers describe the scope as comparable to an official expansion, featuring a main quest, multiple side quests, new items, and a large cast of voiced characters. The geographic area covers roughly from South Pointe Pier to the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach.
What is Miami Misadventures: Episode 1?
Miami Misadventures is a standalone prequel mod released in 2022 that takes place in Fallout 4’s Commonwealth but ties into the Fallout Miami storyline. It offers a short adventure that gives players a taste of the writing and design while they wait for the full mod.
Will Fallout Miami conflict with other mods?
As with any large-scale mod, there’s potential for conflicts depending on what else you have installed. The Fallout Miami team will likely provide compatibility information and recommended load orders closer to release. Major total conversion mods sometimes require relatively clean installations to function properly.
Can I help with Fallout Miami’s development?
The Fallout Miami website occasionally posts recruitment information for various roles including level designers, writers, voice actors, and technical artists. Check their official site and social media for current openings if you have relevant skills and want to contribute.
The Waiting Game Continues
Seven years is a long time to wait for anything, let alone a video game mod. But the consistent quality of Fallout Miami’s promotional materials, the steady stream of updates, and the team’s apparent commitment to finishing what they started all point to a project that will eventually see release. Unlike Vault 13 or Nuevo Mexico, this mod continues pushing forward with visible progress.
The 10th anniversary trailer serves as both a celebration of Fallout 4’s legacy and a statement of intent from the Fallout Miami team. They’re still here, still working, and still building something that looks genuinely special. While fans would obviously prefer a concrete release date, the footage speaks for itself. This isn’t vaporware or an abandoned project. It’s a labor of love that’s actually coming together.
With Fallout 5 nowhere on the horizon and Bethesda focused on The Elder Scrolls 6, ambitious mods like Fallout Miami represent the franchise’s near-term future. The volunteer developers keeping these projects alive deserve recognition for their dedication. Whether Fallout Miami releases in 2026, 2027, or beyond, it’s already accomplished something remarkable: seven years of consistent development on a truly massive undertaking. That alone is worth celebrating, even if we’re all still waiting to actually play it.