Summary
TheFalloutfranchise has been subjected to a huge amount of exposure recently, thanks to the successful launch of Amazon’s live-action adaptation of the IP. The show has opened up the wider lore of the franchise up to a whole new audience, with a new lens being placed on narratives dating as far back as 1997’s debutFalloutrelease.
Fallout’s first story is often forgotten in the context of the wider franchise, but a major writer for the IP recently alluded to a huge Easter egg in the title that relates to a major character of 2015’sFallout 4. While a link between the earliest and most recent mainlineFalloutgames is a fascinating concept, the implications that the Easter egg has on such an important character inFallout 4has made the connection a massively controversial one.
A Fallout Writer Suggested That Fallout 4’s Protagonist Was a War Criminal
This controversy began on April 13, when Emil Pagliarulo, the lead writer forFallout 4, took to social media to offer some extra narrative insight into the franchise amidst the show’s success. Posting on X, formerly known as Twitter, Pagliarulo told fans that Nate,the male protagonist ofFallout 4, actually appeared in the infamous opening cinematic of the originalFalloutgame.
Pagliarulo told fans that Nate appearedas a solider donning Power Armorduring this cutscene, watching on as one of his comrades executes an unarmed resistance member during the franchise’s infamous 2072 Annexation of Canada. This is a massively important event in the pre-war narrative ofFallout, with the United States taking the country by force to fuel its war efforts, andFallout’s devastating nuclear conflict happening just five years later in 2077.
Of course, Nate’s military history is a well-established part of his character and backstory, with Nate even being the one to deliverthe iconic “war never changes” line inFallout 4. The controversy behind thisFallout 1connection actually stems from the role-playing implications of the link, as well as how it goes against what is already known about Nate.
Nate’s Connection to Fallout 1 is Filled with Moral Questions and Timeline Inconsistencies
The soldier that Pagliarulo alleged to be Nate witnesses the execution of an unarmed prisoner and waves at the camera during the cinematic, with this having huge implications on Nate’s character. This knowledge significantly narrows the scope of how players can choose to role-play around Nate’s military history, taking a great level of agency away from players inFallout’s focus on player choice.
Many fans took to social media to air these grievances, with Pagliarulo quickly issuing some follow-up posts that clarified that Nate’s appearance inFallout 1is merely the writer’s head-canon, and is not an officially confirmed aspect ofFalloutlore. The broadcast inFallout 1’s opening cinematic also takes place after the Annexation of Canada was completed in 2077, with Nate having canonically left the military in 2076. This timeline inconsistency, accompanied by the huge moral hangups forFallout 4’s main character, made Pagliarulo’s claims about Nate very controversial, although this has died down since Pagliarulo clarified the unofficial nature ofthe character’s connection toFallout 1.
Fallout 4
WHERE TO PLAY
Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of Fallout 76 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, invite you to the ambitious open world of Fallout 4. Do whatever you want in a massive Commonwealth with hundreds of locations, characters and quests.As the sole survivor of Vault 111, only you’re able to rebuild and determine the fate of the Wasteland. Join multiple factions vying for power or go it alone - the choices are yours.From a Power Armor-toting soldier to the charismatic smooth-talker, be whoever you want with the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. character system and develop your own playstyle from hundreds of Perks.Experience exciting first- or third-person combat with the dynamic Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System, or V.A.T.S., targeting enemies for maximum tactical advantage (and cinematic carnage!) Collect, upgrade and build thousands of items with Fallout 4’s crafting system. Weapons, armor, food and with the right materials, even entire settlements are possible. Welcome home.
