Does Fallout TV show Season 2 make a New Vegas ending canon? Creators say they took a “fog of war approach” — here’s what that means

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The second season of the Fallout TV series is almost here, launching on December 17th with new episodes released weekly. Fans are especially curious about how the show will adapt the story of the popular video game, Fallout: New Vegas.

Ever since the first season ended with a hint of a ruined city, fans have been speculating about where the story would go. The recent trailer revealed at Gamescom confirmed those suspicions – the next season will be set in the iconic city from the beloved 2010 game. Marketing materials also showcase familiar groups and characters from the game, including the Kings, Caesar’s Legion, and the city’s founder, Robert House (Mr. House).

The new TV show takes place in 2296, several years after the events of the Fallout 4 and New Vegas games. This raises the question of how things unfolded, considering that in New Vegas, players can influence who controls the city and surrounding area – the New California Republic, Caesar’s Legion, Mr. House, or even take control themselves through their choices.

Before the new season comes out, the creators of the Fallout show have explained their decision regarding the multiple endings of Fallout: New Vegas. They deliberately avoided choosing a single ending as the official storyline for the TV series, opting for a more open-ended approach.

So, what does that actually mean? According to executive producers Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Jonathan Nolan, co-showrunner Graham Wagner (and Robertson-Dworet) intentionally left the outcome of the New Vegas events open to interpretation. They wanted each side to have a reasonable claim to victory.

Nolan explained their intriguing concept: imagining that after a 15-year conflict, each side could believe they were victorious, finding a certain beauty in that idea. Robertson-Dworet elaborated, saying it reflects how history is often a matter of perspective – the narrative changes depending on who tells it. That was the core of what they aimed to achieve.

Nolan explained that the various groups in New Vegas are all struggling to recover after the major events of the game, which has caused the area to fall into disrepair. For instance, the Kings, a gang known for worshipping Elvis, have all turned into ghouls, and the glamorous image of Las Vegas has been tarnished.

One interesting concept is that no matter which faction—the Legion, the NCR, or the Kings—ends up winning, a lot of rebuilding would still need to happen. He explained that whoever prevailed, everyone would be focused on recovery. The unique safety that House maintained in Vegas has been compromised—we’ll learn why later in the season—leaving those who were once protected to face difficult times.

Fans of New Vegas will immediately recognize places like The Strip and Freeside – the city hasn’t been completely destroyed. According to writer Zak Robertson-Dworet, The Strip is a particularly important location, so it shouldn’t look drastically different from the original game.

The Fallout TV show is doing right by New Vegas players

As a gamer myself, I really appreciated how the showrunners approached the story. Robertson-Dworet explained they deliberately avoided establishing *one* definitive ending to the game that would dictate everything happening in the show. They wanted to respect all the different choices players make and all the unique experiences we all have, so they built the story to accommodate pretty much any outcome. It’s cool they prioritized honoring the player’s agency like that!

I was really pleased to read this! When adapting a role-playing game where player choices matter, it’s crucial to remember how those choices impact each person’s experience. Choosing a lesser-known part of the game’s story allows for creativity and prevents dismissing what players did in the previous game, New Vegas. I really appreciate that thoughtfulness.

It’s currently unclear exactly what happened to create the New Vegas we see today, but we’ll likely find out more when the second season of Fallout arrives on December 17th.

Fallout: New Vegas, along with all other games in the Fallout series, is available to play with an Xbox Game Pass subscription – that includes Xbox Game Pass Premium, PC Game Pass, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

FAQ

Does the Fallout TV show retcon New Vegas?

Despite what you might have heard, the Fallout TV show hasn’t changed the story of New Vegas. We proved that last year, and the people making the show have confirmed they’re working hard to stay true to the original game and its events in the upcoming season.

Does the Fallout TV show take place after Fallout 4?

The Fallout TV show is set in the year 2296, following the storylines of previous games. It takes place nine years after the events of Fallout 4 and fifteen years after Fallout: New Vegas.

Does the Fallout TV show follow the game?

Yes, the Fallout TV series is a continuation of the story established in the Fallout video games. It takes place after the events of the games and shares the same universe.

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2025-12-06 01:10