How Bethesda Can Make The Canon Amazon Fallout Series Matter

The Fallout franchise saw a huge boom this year with the arrival of Amazon’s live-action series. As one of the most notable RPG franchises in the industry, the recent Fallout renaissance brought many of the games back into the spotlight. Between the Amazon series confirming that it’s canon to the overall story and hopes for a Fallout 5 announcement, there are questions about whether the two will be intertwined or not.

The live-action adaptation’s introduction of Vault 33 and its characters made for a compelling branch of the overarching Fallout narrative. Protagonist Lucy and her journey with the human-turned-Ghoul Cooper Howard made for a solid first season. With such strong characters and the finale’s confirmation that New Vegas is set to play a role in Season 2, Fallout 5 could take full advantage of the series by, at the very least, paying subtle homage.

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Fallout 5 Has the Chance to Go Beyond the Amazon Series While Still Acknowledging Its Canon Status

The Next Fallout Game is a Huge Mystery

As of now, there is nothing known about Fallout 5 or what it will have in store for fans. With The Elder Scrolls 6 planned to release first, Fallout 5 is years away, but depending on what happens in Season 2 of the Amazon series, it could set the stage for what the next game could feature. Since Amazon’s Fallout series offers a glimpse into the furthest point of the Fallout timeline, a compelling angle would be for Fallout 5 to continue stretching the timeline forward. Not only would this give players a look at what lies ahead, but it would also be the most realistic way to reference events and characters from the show.

Potential Fallout Series References in Future Games

• Character cameos
• Major plot points, like Moldaver’s research and Cooper Howard’s past celebrity status
• The Snake Oil Salesman and his ghoulification serum

Since each game in the Fallout franchise explores a different era of post-nuclear America, it’s unlikely that Fallout 5 will be set around the exact same time as the show. However, it is still highly possible that the next game could jump forward in time far enough to be familiar with the events of the series. In the show, Lucy is in her early 20s, which could leave plenty of room for an older version of the character to make an appearance in the next chapter. References to Moldaver’s cold fusion research or small pieces of evidence referring to The Ghoul could be fun, but effective, ways to give a nod to the series.

Of course, this could also greatly hinge on Fallout 5‘s setting. Potentially, staying in Los Angeles could be exciting, but since the show has covered this area, it may be less likely. However, an LA setting for Fallout 5 isn’t completely off the table. Also, as Hank MacLean heads to New Vegas, this could open the door for the hoped-for Fallout: New Vegas sequel, but that may be even less likely.

Questions About Fallout 5 Remain Unanswered

Unfortunately, until Bethesda officially confirms something, the details of Fallout 5 remain in the dark. As time goes, it will be fascinating to see if plot points and characters from the Amazon series bleed into the next Fallout game. From character cameos to plot references, there is a treasure trove of possibilities.

While the wait for Fallout 5 continues, there may be a long time until audiences see Season 2 of the Fallout series, too. There’s no telling what Bethesda and Amazon have planned for the future, but there will hopefully be some fun references that link Fallout 5 and the series in compelling ways.