Bethesda is not working on Fallout 4 and has no timetable for the game, according to one of the top men at the company.

Bethesda game director Todd Howard is adamant nothing is being planned for the fabled franchise.

"We don't [have a timeframe for our next game announcement], but I think it's gonna be a while," Howard explained, Rock Paper Shotgun reported. "We've gotten fairly used to all the questions and curiosity over the years. Everyone wants information. Right now, we're just trying to figure out which of our ideas are going to stick and finding an appropriate time to talk about it."

Many fans had their hopes raised when some alternate reality game's (ARGs) websites were created in Fallout 4 themes and some fake trademarks were allegedly filed for the game, which turned out to be pranks made by fans. Howard said that he found the false paper trails very amusing.

"The ARG was very, very well done. It's a testament to our fans. And they're doing that stuff and making mods. The stuff they do, we often look at and go, 'Well, why don't we just do that? That's really great," said Howard.

However, while Howard denied a new Fallout title was anywhere near complete, one particular point of the interview may indicate Bethesda is bluffing. When asked about the reports that voice actors were being rounded up and part of the script was allegedly leaked, Howard refused to comment. Was the leak real? Does Bethesda know more about Fallout 4 than the company is letting on?

Based on the previous rumors concerning Fallout 4, many fans expect the game to take place in Boston; the leaked script featured characters traveling around the MIT campus. Howard did not deny that this was the official script for the game, so this portion of the rumor mill may still be considered plausible. Until Bethesda officially confirms the game, however, it is unlikely that fans will get concrete information about the game. With the company busy at work with The Elder Scrolls Online, it could be many more years before Fallout 4 is launched.