Fallout 4 endings

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Unlike previous games, the Fallout 4 ending cutscene does not change based on how the Sole Survivor has finished most quests or interacted with other people. Only the choice of completing Nuclear Family or The Nuclear Option has any effect on the ending. Also, unlike previous games, the ending is voiced by the Sole Survivor instead of Ron Perlman. Unlike the Fallout 4 intro, the voice is based on the chosen gender.

Ending

Part 1:

• Video scene 1-3 - Based on choosing to complete Nuclear Family or The Nuclear Option. In the latter case, it's also based on the gender of the Sole Survivor (One will always be included).

Part 2:

• Video scene 4 - Always included.

Part 3:

• Video scene 5 - Always included.

Part 4:

• Video scene 6 - Always included.

Part 5:

• Video scene 7-8 - Based on the gender of the Sole Survivor (One will always be included).

Video scenes

Due to the limited variables affecting the ending cutscene, the cutscene itself is not broken down into segments like in Fallout 3 or Fallout: New Vegas; but exists as 4 separate, complete videos for the two endings and two genders. To maintain the format, "scenes" will be used instead of "segments."

#	Scenes	Voice-over narration	In-game Condition
1	1/3	I can feel it all wash over me. The heat. The force. The radiation...the fear. It's the end of the world - all over again.	Complete The Nuclear Option for the Brotherhood of Steel, The Minutemen, or The Railroad, as a male character.
2	1/3	I can feel it all wash over me. The heat. The force. The radiation...the fear. It's the end of the world - all over again.	Complete The Nuclear Option for the Brotherhood of Steel, The Minutemen, or The Railroad, as a female character.
3	1/2	I've lost Shaun - all over again.	Complete Nuclear Family for the Institute.
4	1/5	I close my eyes, I see my life before all of this. Before the bombs. Everything can change in an instant, and the future you plan for yourself shifts - whether or not you're ready. At some point, it happens to all of us.	None.
5	1/5	This, wasn't the world I wanted; but it was the one I found myself in. The Commonwealth, my home. Ripped apart, and put back together.	None.
6	1/4	I thought I...I hoped I could find my family. Cheat time. Make us whole again. The way we were.	None.
7	1/5	But now, I know. I know I can't go back. I know the world has changed. The road ahead will be hard. This time, I'm ready. Because I know, war...war never changes.	Male character chosen.
8	1/5	But now, I know. I know I can't go back. I know the world has changed. The road ahead will be hard. This time, I'm ready. Because I know, war...war never changes.	Female character chosen.

Faction endings

Although there are two real endings (Nuclear Option and Nuclear Family) as far as cutscenes are concerned, there are four major endings (one for each faction) and their variants (though there are no cutscenes or ending slides for them). The most notable effects of the ending are what faction patrols the Commonwealth and whose flags appear in Diamond City. And while there are no ending slides which tell the player the future, Mama Murphy can give the player the vision of the future once they choose their side (as part of the quest The Sight).

• The Fallout (TV series) establishes either the Minutemen or Brotherhood of Steel endings as possibly canon, as The Prydwen arrives on the West Coast.

The Minutemen ending

“You're standing with... the people. Working together. United. I see a land filled with hope again. Fear falls away as the brave step forward to join the ranks. You're a hero. A symbol for a better world. Our world.”— Mama Murphy

This ending can only be achieved if the player character got into hostile relations with the Institute. In this ending, the Minutemen become the dominant force in the Commonwealth and the player character restored the Minutemen to their full power. It is possible to stay on positive terms with the Railroad and Brotherhood of Steel by not making any of those two factions hostile.

Variations

• Minutemen destroy the Brotherhood of Steel - should the player character become hostile with the Brotherhood of Steel, be it before or after the end of the main quest, they can destroy the Prydwen with artillery and then fight off the retaliation force.
• Minutemen and Railroad become enemies - should the player character not trigger the evacuation signal before destroying the Institute and then speak to Desdemona, the Railroad will become hostile to the player character (there are claims that the player character can get Tactical Thinking if the Brotherhood of Steel still exists and they didn't get the quest earlier).
• Minutemen, Railroad, and Brotherhood coexist - should the player character not allow themself to participate in any turning point missions which would make them enemies with another faction (Tactical Thinking from the Brotherhood, or Underground Undercover for the Railroad, or starting Mass Fusion for the Institute). They rather get banished from the Institute by themself, and then trigger the Evacuation Protocol BD-2 while eventually destroying the Institute with the Minutemen. The player character is supposed to be promoted to sentinel by the Brotherhood, however due to a glitch, the quest does not trigger.

Brotherhood of Steel ending

“You're wearing a suit of steel and energy. You're standing with... your brothers. Your mission. Accomplished. I see a land secured, contained. Dangerous objects taken from those who don't understand. Those who can't be trusted. You are the uniform, and you wear it well. And your rank and chain of command protect you better than the thickest armor.”— Mama Murphy

In this ending, the Brotherhood of Steel destroys The Railroad and The Institute and the Sole Survivor is promoted to the position of sentinel. Even though their missions have been accomplished, the Brotherhood does not leave the Commonwealth and continue with their other tasks.

Variations

• Brotherhood and the Minutemen allied - with the Brotherhood's new sentinel being none other but the Minutemen general, the two factions are technically in alliance.
• Brotherhood of Steel gets betrayed and destroyed by the Minutemen - should the player character become hostile to the Brotherhood after the main quest is completed, the player character can ask the Minutemen to help them destroy the Brotherhood, just like in the Minutemen ending.

The Railroad ending

“You're wearing a mask. You're standing with... outcasts. The underdogs. The lanterns in the dark. I see a world that will never know your sacrifice. You have led the enslaved to freedom, but they must still hide from those who don't understand. But you'll be there for them. You'll see their humanity when no one else will. You'll be their guardian in the shadows.”— Mama Murphy

In this ending, the Railroad destroys the Brotherhood of Steel and The Institute, after which their organization starts focusing on protecting the synths from groups which persecute them. Furthermore, their military presence seems to grow as their agents patrol the wastelands and they also put up their flags around Diamond City.

The Institute ending

“You're wearing a lab coat. You're standing with... men of science. Visionaries. Brilliant but misunderstood. I see a land marked up, like a great experiment. Each test a new beginning. Each sacrifice an acceptable loss. You will not be loved, but you will save humanity. However you choose to define it.”— Mama Murphy

In this ending, the Railroad and the Brotherhood of Steel are destroyed. With their enemies gone and their improved Nuclear Reactor activated, the Institute cements its dominance over the Commonwealth and becomes even more assertive, with numerous synths patrolling the Commonwealth and the Diamond City being decorated with the flags of the Institute. The Sole Survivor is promoted to the position of the director and declares their standing on the future of the Institute and the Commonwealth (although it does not have in-game consequences other than their speech repeating on Diamond City Radio).

Variations

• Institute and Minutemen have questionable relations - if during quest Pinned the player character failed to convince the Minutemen to stand down then they will be forced to kill them (or side with them, but that will lock the player character out of the Institute ending)
• Institute and Minutemen allied - although it does not have a direct effect on the game world, the player character can tell the Minutemen that they are now allied with the Institute during the quest Pinned.
• Publick Occurrences spreads pro-Institute articles - the formerly anti-Institute newspapers release a pro-Institute article if the player character sides with the Institute and has a high affinity with Piper Wright.

Notes

• The Sole Survivor will always take on the default appearance of Nate/Nora and wear their vault suit in all endings.