Amazon’s “Fallout” TV series, the latest canonical addition to the beloved Fallout franchise, introduces significant changes to the video game’s established lore. This adaptation has been both praised for its fidelity to the source material and noted for its creative liberties that alter key elements of the Fallout universe. Below are some of the most significant alterations made by the show, which have implications for the future of the franchise.
Major Lore Adjustments
The show has introduced three new vaults: Vaults 31, 32, and 33, which are interconnected—a concept not previously seen in the games. This new type of vault design adds a fresh layer to the lore, suggesting different experimental purposes and broader implications for the survivors’ society. Moreover, the show concludes with radical changes to the narrative of “Fallout: New Vegas,” one of the most revered entries in the series. This includes a dramatic alteration of the fate of the New California Republic (NCR) and its capital, which significantly impacts the political landscape of the wasteland.
Rewriting the NCR and Shady Sands
In a significant departure from the games, the show depicts the NCR’s capital, Shady Sands, as having been destroyed by an atomic bomb. This event is a major shift as it was not mentioned in “Fallout: New Vegas,” where the NCR played a substantial role. The destruction of Shady Sands not only alters the NCR’s influence in California’s wasteland but reshapes its entire societal structure, making the struggle for the Mojave Wasteland a desperate fight for survival.
The Enclave’s Continued Presence
Unlike in “Fallout: New Vegas,” where the Enclave’s presence in the West had dwindled to nearly nonexistent, the TV show portrays them as still significantly active in the wasteland. This revision not only challenges the narrative established in the games but also reinvigorates the Enclave as a major player in the Fallout universe. The show introduces elements like Siggi Wilzig’s escape from the Enclave with a key to cold fusion, and a splinter group running an organ trade out of the Super Duper Mart. This increased activity suggests a potential resurgence of the Enclave in future storylines, diverging sharply from their diminished role in the later game timelines.
Vault-Tec’s Role in the Great War
Another profound revelation made in the show is Vault-Tec’s direct involvement in initiating the nuclear apocalypse. This is the first time the series explicitly confirms the corporation’s role in the disaster, painting them not just as opportunistic, but as orchestrators of the apocalypse for profit. This is a significant shift from the games, where Vault-Tec’s involvement was heavily implied but never confirmed, and it adds a darker dimension to their already morally ambiguous character.
Collaboration Among Pre-War Companies
The show also explores a collaborative effort among pre-war companies, suggesting they united to support Vault-Tec’s initiative, contrasting sharply with the games where these companies largely operated independently and often in competition with each other. This change implies a more coordinated pre-war corporate landscape and potentially sets up more complex post-war corporate dynamics than previously explored in the games.
Destruction of New Vegas
The most dramatic alteration perhaps is the fate of New Vegas itself. Unlike the game “Fallout: New Vegas,” where the city’s fate hinges on player choices, the show depicts New Vegas as already destroyed and abandoned by the time the storyline reaches it. This not only removes a crucial location from the narrative but also redefines the geopolitical landscape of the Fallout universe dramatically.