Fallout canon

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The '''''Fallout'' canon''' is a set of ideas considered to be an official part of the [[Fallout world|''Fallout'' universe]].

==Canon disputes==
Because each game of the [[Fallout series|''Fallout'' series]] was created by a different development team and the plot and dialogues were created by mostly different people each time around, there are numerous inconsistencies between them and the canonicity of each game is a point of contention between various ''Fallout'' fans. For example, in case of inconsistency between games, some fans might consider newer entries in the series to override the older ones, while others might consider the original lore to still be "true" and inconsistencies to be mistakes on the part of the later titles' developers. Even various developers of one game might disagree on what holds true in the games' setting: for example, [[Tim Cain]] and [[Chris Taylor]] have different views on the origins of [[ghoul]]s.

=="Core" canon works==
* ''[[Fallout]]'' and ''[[Fallout 2]]'' are canon according to [[Bethesda Softworks|Bethesda]], and other games incorporate lore and backstory established by ''Fallout'' and ''Fallout 2''.
* ''[[Fallout 3]]'' and its add-ons are produced by Bethesda, therefore are canon, as are all other games and supplementary materials released by Bethesda.
* ''[[Fallout: New Vegas]]'' and its add-ons (with the exception of content changed with the [[Wild Wasteland]] trait), which were published by Bethesda, are canon, as are all officially released supplementary materials, like the ''[[All Roads]]'' comic.
* ''[[Fallout 4]]'' and its add-ons are produced by Bethesda and therefore canon.
* ''[[Fallout 76]]'' and its add-ons are produced by Bethesda and therefore canon.

As these works are established canon, events confirmed to have occurred in a later game can be referenced freely.

;Examples
* [[Dogmeat (Fallout)|Dogmeat]] is referenced in [[Vault Dweller's memoirs]], which mentions that he died in the [[Mariposa Military Base]].  This is canon and can be referenced freely.
* The [[Environmental Protection Agency|EPA]] was cut from Fallout 2, and is not canon. Inclusion of this information should carry a cut content/non-canon warning.
* [[Tycho]] is not referenced in future canon games. Whether or not he was recruited by the Vault Dweller is not established in canon. It is okay to discuss Tycho in relevant contexts (''Fallout'' NPCs, Junktown quests, etc) and it is okay to include facts that are "history" at the start of ''Fallout'' (i.e. that he was a ranger, that he was in Junktown, etc.), but it is not okay to mention any possible fact that may depend on game outcome. For example, on the Vault Dweller page, we cannot claim that the Vault Dweller recruited Tycho in Junktown.

==Semi-canon works==
* ''[[Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel|Fallout Tactics]]'' is considered semi-canon: Major events are canon (and are referenced in ''Fallout 3'' and ''Fallout 4''), but some details are not.<ref>Information acquired from [[Emil Pagliarulo]] by [[User:Ausir|Paweł "Ausir" Dembowski]]</ref> As part of the ''Fallout Tactics'' release, ''[[Fallout: Warfare]]'' has the same level of canonicity.
* [[Fallout guide|Official ''Fallout'' Game Guides]] can be tricky to place. On one hand the developers of the games are involved during their production, so through this the authors do have access to inside information that may not make it into a game. On the other hand, these guides have to be completed well in advance of release date, meaning some information can be changed between when the book went to print and the eventual release. Information in these items can be considered canon (but should be referenced to the book with <nowiki><ref></nowiki> tags) unless directly contradicted in-game. Where the books are contradicted, it is usually notable enough to make an appearance in the "Notes" section.

==Non-canon works==
===Released non-canon works===
* ''[[Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel]]'' has been declared as non-canon by Bethesda Softworks, and by Interplay prior to Bethesda's purchase of the franchise. ''Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel'' content should always contain a non-canon warning.
* ''[[Fallout Shelter]]'', while produced by Bethesda, is not canon as it has no over-arching narrative, contains some contradictions to established canon and focuses solely on gameplay and cameos.
* ''[[Fallout: The Board Game]]'' and its expansion ''[[Fallout: New California]]'' are not canon as they focus solely on gameplay and cameos. ''[[Fallout: Wasteland Warfare]]'', a separate miniatures wargame, is also not canon for similar reasons.

===Canceled and ancillary works===
* While ''[[Van Buren]]'' (the canceled ''Fallout 3'' by [[Black Isle Studios]]) is not officially canon, some elements of it were incorporated into ''Fallout 3'' and its add-ons, as well as into ''[[Fallout: New Vegas]]'', and are now part of the ''Fallout'' canon. However in many cases people, places and concepts that were to appear in this game are very different to the portrayal in-game. Van Buren content should include a non-canon warning unless verified from a canon source.
* The canonicity of the ''[[Fallout Bible]]'' by [[Chris Avellone]] has been disputed, but for all intents and purposes, it is considered non-canon as the series' lore has evolved and changed over time. However, it does serve as a useful commentary on the first two games, and has been used by Bethesda as a source.<ref>[[Welcome Back to Fallout]]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200520191138/http://www.duckandcover.cx/forums/viewtopic.php?t=15867&start=40 Emil Pagliarulo on DAC]: "''Don't worry, guys. I sleep with a copy of the Fallout Bible under my pillow.''"</ref> Some setting elements introduced in the Bible have been further developed in ''Fallout 3'', ''Fallout: New Vegas'', and ''Fallout 76''.<ref>[[Vault 106]] in ''Fallout 3'', [[Vault 34]] in ''Fallout: New Vegas'', [[Vault 29]] in ''Fallout 76''.</ref> The Bible does contain some erroneous elements, many of which were later corrected either in following issues of the Bible, in the games or by the developers themselves. In 2011, Chris Avellone recommended against using the Bible to determine canonicity.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20151104034140/https://twitter.com/ChrisAvellone/status/101700464676044800 Tweet by Chris Avellone]</ref> Any content using the Bible without separate verification from a canon source should include a warning that it might not be confirmed.
* Similarly, cut content from ''Fallout 1'' and ''Fallout 2'' is non-canon, but is a useful commentary on the games. Some cut ''Fallout 2'' concepts have reappeared in different forms (such as the EPA's Hologram 00000 becoming [[0|Dr. 0]] in the ''Fallout: New Vegas'' add-on ''[[Old World Blues (add-on)|Old World Blues]]'').
* Canceled games that were not developed by Black Isle Studios, such as ''[[Fallout Extreme]]'', ''[[Fallout Tactics 2]]'', ''[[Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel 2]]'', and ''[[Project V13]]'' are non-canon and should always contain a non-canon warning.

==Order of precedence==
The order of precedence, when listing ''Fallout'' games, should be canon games first, non-canon released games second, all other non-canon canceled games and ancillary works third, listed in order of first known development dates:

;Canon games
* ''[[Fallout]]'' - 1997
* ''[[Fallout 2]]'' - 1998
* ''[[Fallout 3]]'' - 2008
* ''[[Fallout: New Vegas]]'' - 2010
* ''[[Fallout 4]]'' - 2015
* ''[[Fallout 76]]'' - 2018

;Released semi-canon games
* ''[[Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel|Fallout Tactics]]'' - 2001

;Released non-canon games
* ''[[Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel]]'' - 2004
* ''[[Fallout Shelter]]'' - 2015
* ''[[Fallout: The Board Game]]'' - 2017
* ''[[Fallout: Wasteland Warfare]]'' - 2018

;Canceled games and ancillary works
* ''[[Fallout Extreme]]'' - 2000
* ''[[Fallout Tactics 2]]'' - 2001
* ''[[Fallout Bible]]'' - 2002
* ''[[Van Buren]]'' - 2003
* ''[[Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel 2]]'' - 2004
* ''[[Project V13]]'' - 2008

==References==
{{References}}

[[Category:Fallout games]]
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