Amazon’s Fallout series accused of 'retconning' New Vegas

While it sometimes felt like we were locked in our own cruel underground experiment waiting for Amazon's Fallout series to release, Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy's bombastic live-action adaptation proves it's been worth the wait. Dropping its own nuke on us all, all episodes of the series debuted at once, meaning fans have been enjoying the binge. 

Being praised for more than just the performances of key actors Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, and Walton Goggins, Fallout has brought the arid wasteland to life and has been pitched as its very own (almost) Fallout 5. Fallout is a near-perfect premiere season, but as gamers often like to point out, there are a few canon conundrums.

Live-action Fallout accused of retconning New Vegas

Nolan, Joy, and Bethesda's Todd Howard have always made it clear that the Fallout series is supposed to be canon with the games. Set in the year 2296, the live-action Fallout takes place 219 after Bombs Drop Day and 135 years after the events of Interplay's OG Fallout. The other games slot in around this...or so we thought.

When it comes to the best Fallout game, it's all a matter of opinion. Still, many think Obsidian Entertainment's Fallout: New Vegas from 2010 is the peak of the series. It's with some disappointment that others claim Amazon's Fallout is trying to erase New Vegas from the timeline.

Alongside a mention that Goggins' Cooper Howard/The Ghoul helms from Mojave (a nod to New Vegas' locale), we know the New California Republic was once based out of Shady Sands. The NCR was a major faction in New Vegas, but by the time we get to the live-action Fallout, it's been decimated by bombings.

Things reach a head in Episodes 5 and 6 when Lucy (Purnell) and Maximus (Moten) stumble on the remains of Shady Sands. The NCR stronghold was apparently bombed 2277, which is four years before the NCR fought in the First Battle of Hoover Dam during the events of New Vegas. 

The Fallout series depicts the NCR as a scattered group that is a far cry from the army of New Vegas. As the issue spilt over online, Bethesda Design Director Emil Pagliarulo tried to clear up the confusion by posting the official timeline, but only made things worse.

Responding to Pagliarulo, one critic grumbled, "Well. The show is full of many innacuracies. So either the show isn't cannon, or the games aren't." Another added, "You guys massively disrespected New Vegas. It really shows how bitter Bethesda is on how Obisidan made a better Fallout."

One particularly vocal critic raged, "I really hate what ya'll did to this franchise. Absolutely disgusting. IMO Fallout is a trilogy, FO1, FO2, and New Vegas. Everything else is just Todd fan fiction. Bethesda never understood the setting and tone AT ALL. And it really comes off in this show."

Update April 17: Todd Howard has told IGN that the events of New Vegas are canon, telling the site, "We’re careful about the timeline. There might be a little bit of confusion in some places. But everything that happened in the previous games, including New Vegas, happened.

"We’re very careful about that. All I can say is we’re threading it tighter there, but the bombs fall just after the events of New Vegas.”

Fallout could be heading to New Vegas in Season 2

For those who think Todd Howard is trying to scrub non-Bethesda games from the Fallout timeline, the show's final scene teases a trip to the not-so-bright lights of New Vegas in Season 2. Lucy's father Hank (Kyle MacLachlan) is seen looking out on the ruins of New Vegas, which suggests things have also gone to sh*t there.

We know New Vegas exists in some capacity thanks to the pre-war appearance of New Vegas overlord Mr. House, but canon diehards think the live-action Fallout has taken a big dump on the beloved game. There's no official word on Fallout Season 2, but with things looking positive, let's hope the series can spin the roulette wheel and satisfy those ever-disgruntled critics.