How Fallout Got To Be The Way It Is

A (Super) Abridged Prologue to the World of Fallout

“War. War never changes.” These words serve as the guiding philosophy behind the Fallout franchise. From its humble beginnings in the late 90s as an RPG by Black Isle Studios to a mainstay of Bethesda’s library, Fallout is one of the most exciting settings of any work of modern fiction. Set in a world where our fears of a nuclear war became a terrifying reality, Fallout is a series that asks what would come next. With the franchise now boasting a show on Amazon Prime, more people will get into Fallout than ever. However, with thirty years of material to work with, it might be hard for new fans to grasp how things got to where they are. But fear not, fellow wasteland wanderers, someone who’s been around the Wastelands, like me, can help get you up to speed. 

I’m RJ Writing Ink, and this is an (extremely) abridged recap of the events that led to the creation of the world of Fallout. Because there’s so much to get through, this will only cover the big plot points. If you want to learn more, there will be some suggestions at the end. That being said, put on your Pip-Boy, grab a Nuka-Cola, and enjoy.

The Point of Divergence & End of the World

Technically, the events of Fallout begin with the end of WWII, with America dropping the atomic bombs on Japan. However, the real point the timeline diverges from our own takes place two years later. In history, adopting the transistor chip made technology more diminutive and efficient. The world of Fallout either didn’t adopt or invent them for another century, leaving its people reliant on less efficient vacuum tech. That would come back to haunt humanity in the 21st century.

While we’ve been working on alternative energy sources to fall back on, the Fallout-verse failed to do so. Thus, when the Earth’s supply of fossil fuels started running out in the 2050s, wars began to break over what was left. Not helping matters was that in Fallout, the Cold War never ended. The only difference was that China became America’s chief opponent in the Communist Bloc. The two spent decades fighting each other and wasting their few resources. Then, on October 23rd, 2077, the worst-case scenario happened: nuclear war.

It’s never made clear who set them off first, but when the nuclear missiles launched, the whole world burned. In the span of a few hours, the so-called Great War bathed Earth in atomic hellfire. Cities were set aflame, radioactive dust blocked out the sun, and poisonous rain scarred the surface, wiping out most life on the planet. It looked like the end of everything.

Yet, life finds a way.

Vault-Tec is a Lie

In the decades before the Great War, the movers and shakers of America started to see the writing on the wall. They knew that a nuclear war was coming. Rather than find a way to prevent it, they sought a way to survive it. So the US Government hired the megacorporation Vault-Tec to build massive, underground bunkers called Vaults. They claimed it was so their people could ride out the nuclear holocaust and rebuild the world when the time came.

That was a big, fat lie. In reality, the leaders of America had given up on salvaging Earth after a nuclear war. Instead, they thought it better to leave the planet altogether and find a new one to settle on. So, to prepare for this possible interstellar journey, many hid on a secret oil platform off the West Coast. Meanwhile, Vault-Tec used most of its Vaults to run various scientific and social experiments. Experiments that, more often than not, disregarded any moral and ethical boundaries. Experiments are too numerous to list here. However, none of it mattered because this Enclave decided it was better to re-establish control over the land formerly known as the United States. 

Yet, despite everything, life still found a way.

Life Finds a Way

Even though the Great War seemed like the end of the world, it was only the beginning of a new one. In the days and years after the bombs fell, life came back from the brink. The plants and animals on the surface that survived evolved, boasting new traits from nuclear radiation. And not everyone trapped on the surface perished. Some found refuge in their shelters, while others proved immune to radiation despite it scarring their flesh. 

In this new world, the Vault Dwellers began to emerge. Some would join with those on the surface to rebuild what was lost. Others fell victim to the wastelands. A rare few Vault Dwellers would help shape this new world for years. Yet even after everything that happened, humankind continued to fight wars for one reason or another. Because war, war never changes.

And there you have it- an abridged summary of how the world of Fallout came to be in all its violent glory. However, this is only a surface-level look at this post-apocalyptic world. The amount of lore in this franchise is so dense that even if I tried to fit it all in here, it wouldn’t do it enough justice. I’d recommend you play the games for yourself to experience things first-hand. However, if you don’t have time for that, the franchise has its own Wiki that you can use to read up on everything. You can also go to YouTube and find one of the many YouTubers who have covered Fallout Lore. There are more than enough to explain everything.