There is really only one prominent controversy when it comes to the release of the new Fallout show, its affect on another West Coast Fallout story, New Vegas, the 2010 Obsidian spin-off.
Fans believe that several things, including Shady Sands being destroyed in relation to the proclaimed Fallout show timeline, means that the events of New Vegas are non-canon.
Now, Bethesda’s Todd Howard has stepped in to make an official declaration about all this.
Here’s Howard speaking to IGN about the timeline: “We’re careful about the timeline,” Howard said.
But everything that happened in the previous games, including New Vegas, happened.
We’re very careful about that.” And about the bombing of Shady Sands?
Fallout will continue forward as a TV series for at least a few years, is my guess.
But it’s clear fans are going to be having these sort of debates forever, right down to every detail.
Regarding the debut of the new Fallout series, there is essentially only one major dispute: how it affects the 2010 Obsidian spin-off New Vegas, which is another Fallout story set on the West Coast.
Supporters assert that the events of New Vegas are not canonical for a number of reasons, including the destruction of Shady Sands in respect to the approved Fallout show timeline. Todd Howard of Bethesda has now intervened to provide an official statement regarding all of this. Howard discussed the timeline with IGN as follows:.
Howard remarked, “We’re cautious with the schedule.”. It’s possible that some areas are a little unclear. However, all of the events from the earlier games—including New Vegas—took place. Regarding that, we exercise extreme caution. “.
What about Shady Sands being bombed?
“We’re threading it tighter there, but the bombs fall right after the New Vegas events,” is all I have to say. “.
He acknowledges that there may be some misunderstanding, but the statement is that yes, New Vegas is canon and no, the Fallout television series was not intended to render it non-canonical, despite some theories that Bethesda wanted New Vegas removed from the timeline because they still harbored animosity toward the game because Obsidian created it.
That has always seemed unrealistic, and regardless of Bethesda’s views on New Vegas (I believe they are over it now that it’s been almost 15 years), the game and the show are still canon for the whole series. Furthermore, if you’ve watched the show—spoilers ahead—you’ll notice that the last scene features a view of New Vegas. Season 2 will undoubtedly use that as a pivotal location with several allusions to the game.
Research has also revealed that, since you do have to choose one to advance the plot, the show appears to have established a particular “multiple choice” ending for Fallout 4 as canon. Since the Brotherhood airship from Fallout 4 has been verified to be the same airship seen in the show, either the Brotherhood eliminated every character in that game, or the Minutemen ending was used in a version of the game where the airship survived.
My guess is that Fallout will be a TV show for a few more years at least. Fans will, however, undoubtedly continue to debate these kinds of topics indefinitely, down to the smallest detail.
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