Bethesda’s Todd Howard recently addressed the controversy surrounding the Fallout TV show’s treatment of the Fallout backstory. He reassured fans that the canonicity of Obsidian’s Fallout: New Vegas is being maintained. The show is being careful to ensure consistency between the games and the TV series, according to Howard.
For those unfamiliar with the latest lore scandal, there is a blackboard sketch in the TV show that has caused quite a stir. The sketch features “The fall of Shady Sands” and “2277” with a large arrow pointing to a mushroom cloud. This suggests that Shady Sands, the capital of the New California Republic, was nuked in 2277, which contradicts the events of Fallout: New Vegas.
Howard clarified that there is no clash between the TV show and the Fallout game series. He mentioned that Shady Sands was nuked after the events of Fallout: New Vegas, not in 2277 as suggested by the blackboard sketch. However, Howard did not address the blackboard message directly, leaving room for interpretation.
One possible explanation for the discrepancy is that the “fall of Shady Sands” began in 2277 and culminated in the city’s destruction at a later time. Another explanation is that the blackboard date was a mistake made by the production team, which Howard chose not to disclose.
Collaboration for Consistency
The idea of nuking Shady Sands came from the Fallout TV showrunners, Graham Wagner and Geneva Robertson-Dworet. This proposed story moment served as a catalyst for closer collaboration between Bethesda and the TV production team to ensure consistency with Fallout lore. Howard emphasized the importance of maintaining the timeline of previous games, including Fallout: New Vegas.
For fans eagerly awaiting more Fallout content, there is a potential announcement coming in November. Speculations suggest that it may be the first trailer for Fallout TV Season 2. Whether this announcement will address the controversy surrounding the first season remains to be seen.
Overall, the Fallout TV show controversy highlights the challenges of adapting a beloved video game franchise to a different medium. Fans can only hope that the creators will continue to respect the established lore and deliver an engaging and authentic experience for both new and longtime fans of the Fallout series.
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