The Complete FALLOUT Timeline Explained!

GameSpot2 minutes read

The Fallout franchise has a long history with a diverse universe that includes games, spin-offs, and a TV show, all set in a post-apocalyptic world after nuclear devastation. The timeline is complex, spanning centuries, with key events such as the Great War in 2077, and various factions like the Brotherhood of Steel and the Enclave playing significant roles in the lore.

Insights

  • The Fallout franchise has a complex timeline that diverges from our world after World War II, leading to a retro-futuristic setting with technological advancements and global conflicts culminating in a post-apocalyptic world after the Great War of 2077.
  • The Fallout TV show, set in 2296, delves into the aftermath of a Vault ambush by Raiders, unveiling a conspiracy involving neighboring vaults, intertwined storylines with factions like the Brotherhood of Steel and Enclave, and a climactic battle between the NCR and the Brotherhood, setting the stage for potential future developments in the series.

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Recent questions

  • What is the premise of the Fallout franchise?

    The Fallout franchise is set in a post-apocalyptic world diverging from ours after a resource war in 2052, leading to global nuclear devastation in 2077. The series follows various protagonists navigating the wasteland, encountering factions like the Brotherhood of Steel, Enclave, and Institute, with themes of survival, exploration, and moral choices.

  • Who is the main character in Fallout 4?

    The main character in Fallout 4 is the Sole Survivor, who enters Vault 111 as nuclear bombs fall, leading to cryogenic sleep. Their quest revolves around rescuing their kidnapped son Shaun, confronting the Institute, and deciding whether to join or destroy them, facing moral dilemmas and complex narratives.

  • What are the factions in Fallout New Vegas?

    Fallout New Vegas offers factions like Caesar's Legion, the New California Republic (NCR), Mr. House, and Benny's group, each with different ideologies and goals. Players can choose to align with these factions, affecting the game's outcome and leading to four distinct endings based on their choices.

  • What is the setting of the Fallout TV show?

    The Fallout TV show is set in California in 2296, focusing on Vault 33's residents after being ambushed by Raiders. The storyline involves revenge, dark secrets, and a conspiracy surrounding neighboring vaults, with characters like Lucy, Norm, Hank, and Cooper Howard navigating the post-apocalyptic world.

  • What major event leads to the world of Fallout?

    The world of Fallout diverges from ours after a resource war in 2052, escalating into global conflict and nuclear devastation in 2077. This Great War transforms the world into a post-apocalyptic wasteland, where survivors face challenges, factions, and moral dilemmas in their quest for survival and redemption.

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Summary

00:00

"Fallout franchise: post-apocalyptic world, diverging history"

  • The Fallout franchise has a long history since 1997, with four mainline games, spin-offs, and a TV show set in the same universe.
  • The timeline spans centuries, overlapping with our real world, but can be confusing due to world-building and diversions.
  • Some games are considered non-canon and have been excluded from the timeline.
  • The world diverges from ours post-World War II, with a 1950s retro-futuristic aesthetic.
  • The US transforms into 13 commonwealths due to Cold War tensions and the threat of Communism.
  • Technological advancements in AI and robotics, led by Robert House, occur in the Fallout world.
  • A resource war erupts in 2052, leading to global conflict and eventually nuclear devastation.
  • Vault-Tec initiates Project Safe House, building 122 vaults for social experiments before the Great War of 2077.
  • The Great War on October 23, 2077, results in global nuclear destruction and the birth of a post-apocalyptic world.
  • Fallout 4 begins with the player character, the Sole Survivor, entering Vault 111 as nuclear bombs fall, leading to cryogenic sleep.

14:06

Fallout Series: Mutants, Vaults, and Wastelands

  • Fallout's RPG mission involves destroying Vats of green fev goop to neutralize Super Mutant threat
  • Vault dweller, despite heroic efforts, is denied re-entry to Vault 13 by the overseer
  • Fallout Tactics Brotherhood of Steel in 2197 expands Brotherhood of Steel's story in the Midwest
  • Fallout Tactics isn't canon but includes references to Brotherhood's Midwest operations
  • Fallout Brotherhood of Steel (2004) is non-canon, largely ignorable in the franchise
  • Fallout 2 in 2241 follows Vault dweller's descendant, the Chosen One, on a quest to find Garden of Eden kit
  • Chosen One saves Aroyo from Enclave, frees Vault 13 hostages, and defeats Enclave's president
  • Fallout 3's prologue in 2258 follows Lone Wanderer's early life in Vault 101
  • Lone Wanderer ventures into Capital Wasteland to find father, encounters Enclave and Brotherhood of Steel factions
  • Lone Wanderer's quest involves Project Purity, Enclave's plan to pollute water supply, and a final showdown with Colonel Augustus

28:08

Fallout TV Show: Revenge, Secrets, and Betrayal

  • Fallout New Vegas offers four different endings based on the player's faction allegiance: attacking side with Caesar's Legion, defense with the NCR, sneaky infiltration with Mr. House, or claiming independence with Benny's mission.
  • Post-release story content for New Vegas includes four story DLCs: Dead Money, Honest Hearts, Old World Blues, and Lonesome Road, each expanding on The Courier's adventures.
  • Fallout 4 follows the Soul Survivor's quest to rescue their kidnapped son Shaun, leading to a confrontation with the Institute and a choice between joining or destroying them.
  • Fallout 4's story continues with four story expansions: Automatron, Far Harbor, Vault-Tec Workshop, and Nuka-World, each adding new adventures and challenges for the Soul Survivor.
  • The Fallout TV show is set in California in 2296, focusing on Vault 33's residents and their struggles after being ambushed by Raiders, leading to a quest for revenge and uncovering dark secrets.
  • Characters in the Fallout TV show include Lucy, Norm, Hank, and Cooper Howard, with intertwined storylines involving the Brotherhood of Steel, Enclave, and a cold fusion device.
  • The Fallout TV show reveals a conspiracy behind neighboring vaults 31-33, involving cryogenically frozen management employees and a quest to fulfill Vault-Tec's vision of a post-apocalyptic society.
  • The Fallout TV show culminates in a climactic battle between the NCR and the Brotherhood of Steel, leading to the activation of a cold fusion device and Hank's escape into the wastelands.
  • The Fallout TV show ends with Hank, Lucy, and the ghoul seeking revenge on Vault-Tec, hinting at the fall of New Vegas and setting the stage for potential future developments.
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