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The '''''Fallout'' canon''' is the body of works considered to be an official part of the [[Fallout world|''Fallout'' universe]] by its current rights holder ([[Bethesda Softworks]] since 2007).<ref>[[Asset Purchase Agreement]]</ref> 

This page defines the ''Fallout'' canon in the context of the ''Fallout'' Wiki, to establish a framework for authoring articles and resolving conflicts that may arise when covering topics spanning multiple games. The situation is further complicated by the fact that much of the [[Fallout series|''Fallout'' series]] was created by completely different teams with limited overlap and developers of one game might disagree on certain topics. For example, [[Tim Cain]] and [[Chris Taylor]] had different views on the origins of [[ghoul]]s, with the issue eventually resolved by a completely different development team.

The upcoming [[Fallout television series|''Fallout'' television series]] by [[Kilter Films]] was made in conjunction with Bethesda Softworks (Bethesda executives [[Todd Howard]] and [[James Altman]] serve as executive producers on the series). However, its relation with the rest of the franchise and especially the games - the core canon - is yet to be established and has not been placed in any of the categories below.

==Canon==
{|class="va-table" style="width: 300px; float:right; font-size:small;"
! [[Fallout canon|''Fallout'' canon]] in a nutshell
|-
|
# Only '''released games''' constitute '''canon'''
# All non-game sources are commentary or additional information that is '''not canon''' until included in a released game.
|}
{{quote|For us, canon always starts with what is in the games.|[[Emil Pagliarulo]]}}
Canon sources encompass released video games. 

These are the point of reference for every other source and take absolute precedence over other sources, if they have not been otherwise deemed non-canon. Core games are the only binding source of canon for the current IP holder. Unless facts are included in them, they can be changed, revised, or retconned at any time.<ref name="Emil" />

The core canon includes:<ref name="Emil">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biqqobPm-h8 Fallout 76: Would the Fallout bible be considered canon or not?]:<br />[[Emil Pagliarulo]]: ''"So, there's actually different versions of the Bible, too. A lot of the stuff from the Bible is on- public on the Fallout Wiki, online, and you can look at that stuff. For us, it's always... for us, canon always starts with what is in the games. And so... it's what is in Fallout 1, Fallout 2... even some of like, Fallout Tactics is- there's some stuff from canon from Fallout Tactics as well. And our Fallout games. So, we always look at what's in the games first, and then we go to the Fallout Bible and look at the stuff. So, some of the stuff that is in Fallout 3 that is now canon came from the Fallout Bible, some of that fiction. And so... it '''depends'''. We look at the Fallout Bible and some of the lore that really... was written, y'know, back in the day. It makes sense and we use that and put it in our games. We don't just assume that everything in the Bible is canon. We have to take it step-by-step inside. It's a judgement call."''<br />{{Small|'''Note''': This video is an excerpt from a longer interview at Gamescom 2020.}}</ref> 

* ''[[Fallout]]'' (1997)
* ''[[Fallout 2]]'' (1998)
* ''[[Fallout 3]]'' and its [[Fallout 3 add-ons|add-ons]] (2008) 
* ''[[Fallout: New Vegas]]'' and its [[Fallout: New Vegas add-ons|add-ons]] (2011)
* ''[[Fallout 4]]'' and its [[Fallout 4 add-ons|add-ons]] (2015)
* ''[[Fallout 76]]'' and subsequent [[Fallout 76 updates|updates]] (2018)

For the purpose of resolving conflicts, later releases take precedence over earlier games.<ref name="Emil"/>

: ''For example, [[Mariposa super mutant]]s are stated to have a limited lifespan in Fallout. Fallout 2 and Fallout: New Vegas establishes that their lifespan is functionally indefinite. Fallout 2 and New Vegas take precedence, as they are later releases.''

Released games in this category may sometimes reference elements featured in ''Fallout Tactics'', ''Van Buren'', and other non-canon either to pay homage or to reference. These specific elements become part of the core canon, although their extent is limited specifically to elements being referenced:

{|class="va-table" style="width: 300px; float:right; font-size:small;"
! ''Fallout Tactics'' canonic elements
|-
|

* The presence of a small, rogue detachment of the Brotherhood in [[Chicago]]...<ref>The [[Lone Wanderer]]: ''"Then where's the rest of the Brotherhood?"''<br />[[Reginald Rothchild]]: ''"The West Coast, unless something has changed. There's been no contact with them for the last several years. There's also a small detachment in Chicago, but they're off the radar. Gone rogue. Long story."''<br />([[ScribeRothchild.txt|Reginald Rothchild's dialogue]])</ref>
* ...battling super mutants in the city (a retcon of ''Tactics'', where super mutants were fought in Missouri, starting with St. Louis)...<ref>The [[Lone Wanderer]]: ''"Care to share anything about the Super Mutants?"''<br />[[Elizabeth Jameson]]: ''"The Brotherhood has been battling Super Mutants for decades. First out West, then in Chicago. Now here. But this group of Super Mutants is different, somehow. Physically, yes, but mentally as well. If we knew where they came from, we'd know why."''<br />([[ScribeJameson.txt|Elizabeth Jameson's dialogue]])</ref>
* ...which arrived there by airship.<ref>The [[Sole Survivor]]: ''"Did the Brotherhood ever build other airships?"''<br />[[Kells]]: ''"{{Tooltip|There were less advanced versions of this ship built on the West Coast a long time ago. Historical records about their current status are in dispute, but we're fairly certain that they were destroyed. In any event, I hope your tour of the Prydwen helped acclimate you to our way of life up here. I think you'll find that the more familiar you become with both her capabilities and her crew, the longer you'll survive as a member of the Brotherhood. You're dismissed, {{Tooltip|Knight|If holding the rank at the time.}}/{{Tooltip|Paladin|If holding the rank at the time.}}/{{Tooltip|Sentinel|If holding the rank at the time.}}.|Confident}}"''<br />([[BoSLancerCaptainKells.txt|Kells' dialogue]])</ref><ref>[[Brotherhood soldier (Fallout 4)|Brotherhood soldier]] (1):"''I still can't believe I was posted to the Prydwen. I mean, look at her... she's one of a kind.''"<br />Brotherhood soldier (2): "''Actually, the Brotherhood of Steel had a whole fleet of these things at one time. They weren't as advanced as the Prydwen, mind you... but seeing them fill the sky must have been an impressive sight.''"<br />Brotherhood soldier (1): "''Are you kidding me? What happened to them?''"<br />Brotherhood soldier (2): "''Not sure, really. Most of them were destroyed fighting Super Mutants or scuttled for parts. I think one of them crash landed somewhere in the Midwest. I heard that the wreckage is still there.''"<br />Brotherhood soldier (1): "''Wow... I had no idea.''"<br />(ConvBoSAirportPrydwen07Scene){{Verify|type=cite}}<!-- Which "Brotherhood soldier(s)?" Needs dialogue file --></ref>
|}
* ''Fallout Tactics'' was originally stated by [[Emil Pagliarulo]] to be "broad strokes" canon in correspondence with our founder.<ref>Information acquired from [[Emil Pagliarulo]] by [[User:Ausir-fduser|Paweł "Ausir" Dembowski]]. The wiki currently does not have a transcript of this information, and all content from ''Fallout Tactics'' should still be tagged.</ref> The game has been referenced at three points in core canon games (twice in ''Fallout 3'' and once in ''Fallout 4''), simultaneously rewriting all events in the game. 

* Minor elements from ''Van Buren'' have been referenced or recycled, including the Chinese infiltration of Hoover Dam in ''Fallout: New Vegas'',<ref>[[Chinese stealth armor (Fallout: New Vegas)|Chinese stealth suits]] in [[Hoover Dam]] in ''Fallout: Vegas''</ref> [[New Canaan]] in ''[[Honest Hearts]]'',<ref>[[New Canaan]] from ''[[Van Buren]]'' served as basis for the Canaanites in ''[[Honest Hearts]]'' and several characters from it are mentioned by name.</ref> [[Big Empty]] in ''[[Old World Blues (add-on)|Old World Blues]]''<ref>The [[Tibbets Prison]] [[Big MT#Behind the scenes|was altered into]] [[Big MT]].</ref> the [[Ciphers]] in ''[[Dead Money]]'',<ref>The [[Courier]]: ''"What happened next?"''<br />[[Elijah]]: ''"After that... I wandered, alone. Saw the storms of the Divide, walked among the Ciphers of the West. {{Tooltip|Traveled|{Beat} }} to the Big Empty. {{Tooltip|I heard the signal. The woman's voice, the Sierra Madre, promising a chance to begin again, reverse my fortunes.|{Eyes stare off in the distance, remembering a powerful moment} }} {{Tooltip|All... nonsense.|{Tries to blow off the slogan, fails because he believes} }} {{Tooltip|I tracked the signal. Came here, scouted the city... using other hands. Kept dying on me, killing each other. You - you got the farthest of all.|{Quiet, since the fact he followed it means he didn't believe it was nonsense at all} }}"''<br />([[NVDLC01Elijah.txt|Elijah's dialogue]])</ref> and [[Vault 29]] in ''Fallout 76''.<ref>[[Last day of school]]</ref>

In these cases, the content referenced should be placed in a separate article to help distinguish between core canon and non-canon incarnations, eg. [[Brotherhood of Steel (Chicago detachment)|the Chicago detachment]] and the [[Brotherhood of Steel (Midwest)|Eastern Brotherhood]].

==Supplementary sources==
{{quote|The primal source of lore is what you see in the games [...] if it's not in the games, we may use it, we may not.|[[Ferret Baudoin]], CHAD}}
Supplementary content is any material that expands on what is included in the games and provides additional information. These sources encompass content outside video game sources, such as development documentation, developer commentary, presentations, online responses, and so on and so forth. These may be used as reference materials or inspiration by developers.

However, released games, as the only canon, take absolute precedence in all cases, and can contradict supplementary content at any time. In some instances, the lore on a subject may have been much more developed than the lore in a released game. Even in such instances that the specific, authoritative developer expands on in-game lore, existing or subsequent game releases take absolute precedence.<ref>[[Ferret Baudoin]] - 12/16/2020 Fallout for Hope - CHAD: A Fallout 76 Story Podcast Twitch stream: ''"The primal source of lore is what you see in the games. Everything after that is varying degrees--I would say, if it's not in the games, we may use it, we may not. There's things we may fully like, 'no, this is what happened!' No, that's just headcanon for a writer. That doesn't actually exist until you see it... the funny thing is, there are things I intend that have already been re-written, but that's OK. That was never in the game. Sure, alright. You wanna change that? That's a great story; go for it! We will get inspiration from all sorts of sources, right? Who's to say what we'll take and what we won't?"''</ref>

If supplementary sources conflict with each other, these should be resolved on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the age, context, and degree of conflict with core sources, if any. 

The following is a non-exhaustive list of supplementary  sources.
;Complimentary materials
This refers to materials provided as part of a game's release:

* [[Vault Dweller's Survival Guide]] (''Fallout'' manual)
* [[Fallout 2 Official Strategies & Secrets|''Fallout 2'' manual]] and ''[[Vault Dweller's memoirs]]''
* [[Fallout 3 Manual|''Fallout 3'' manual]]
* ''[[All Roads]]''
* [[Fallout 4 manual|''Fallout 4'' manual]] and ''[[Pip-Boy Operational Instructions]]''
* [[Fallout 76 manual|''Fallout 76'' manual]]

;Strategy guides
Strategy guides frequently contain additional information not released in the game, such as character biographies, behind the scenes information, or other miscellaneous lore. However, they are usually authored based on early game builds and information is static at the time of their publishing, which may lead to discrepancies between the guide and the game they cover. These discrepancies should be listed where possible.

* ''[[Fallout Official Survival Guide]]''
* ''[[Fallout 2 Official Strategies & Secrets]]'' and ''[[Book of the Elders]]''
* ''[[Fallout 3 Official Game Guide]]''
* ''[[Fallout: New Vegas Official Game Guide]]'' 
* ''[[Fallout 4 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide]]''
* ''[[Fallout 76 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide]]''

;Developer commentary and documentation
Some ''Fallout'' developers have decided to share various pieces of information with the public, through blogs, forums, editorials, and other means. This can provide useful information regarding various topics and expand on the information already included in the game.

Examples of developer commentary include:

* [[Chris Taylor interview for Vault13.net]] (2001)
* [[Fallout Bible]] (2002): A collection of "background material and hijinks" released on Black Isle Studios' front page, compiled by [[Chris Avellone]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20031011054527/http://fallout.blackisle.com/bible.html ''The Fallout Bible'' on blackisle.com (archived)]</ref> Commonly mistaken for a definitive guide to ''Fallout'' canon, it serves as one of several sources of inspiration<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> for Bethesda developers, after accounting for its age. However, they do not assume that everything in the ''Bible'' is canon and make judgement calls on what to include.<ref name="Emil" /> Numerous setting elements introduced in the ''Bible'' have been further developed in ''Fallout 3'', ''Fallout: New Vegas'', ''Fallout 4'', and ''Fallout 76''.<ref>For example, [[Vault 106]] in ''Fallout 3'', [[Vault 34]] in ''Fallout: New Vegas'', the [[T-51 power armor]] development timeline in ''Fallout 4'', and [[Vault 29]] was mentioned in ''Fallout 76''.</ref> 
* [[Joshua Sawyer]]'s Formspring responses (archived [https://rpgcodex.net/forums/threads/an-archive-of-josh-sawyers-formspring-from-april-2010-through-march-2013-over-1-mb-of-text.128571/ here]), Tumblr posts, and SomethingAwful.com forum replies (2011+): J.E. Sawyer was always an active poster and his replies provide a significant amount of behind the scenes information, expanding on the setting of ''Fallout: New Vegas''.

==Dependent sources==
This category encompasses content that does not fall strictly into the non-canon category, but due to various reasons may not be compatible with the  canon.

Unless referenced in canon, works in this category should be considered as existing within their own continuities. For distinguishing these works, the term ''dependent'' is used, as they depend on their inclusion in the canon (i.e. games).

;Released video games and additional content
* ''[[Fallout Shelter]]'', developed by Bethesda<ref>[[File:Bethesda_Softworks_LLC_v._Behaviour_Interactive,_Inc._et_al.pdf|Bethesda Softworks v Behaviour Interactive]]<br />
Page 1: ''“'''Bethesda conceived of and designed the environment and gameplay features for FALLOUT SHELTER''' to fit within the aesthetic and storyline of the FALLOUT universe. To realize its design, Bethesda contracted with Behaviour under a work-for-hire agreement to develop FALLOUT SHELTER to '''Bethesda’s specifications'''”''<br />
Page 6: ''“On January 22, 2014, Bethesda engaged Behaviour to assist developing the FALLOUT SHELTER game under the code name ‘Underground’… '''Bethesda provided the conception, design, and overall direction of the game’s mechanics and resulting look and feel''', and '''Behaviour provided the implementation'''”''<br />
Page 8: ''“'''Bethesda retained and exercised complete ‘creative, technical and promotion control''' over all phases of development and distribution’ including '''‘all text, graphics, artwork, voices, designs, gameplay, music, screens and characters.'''’”''
</ref> with mobile platform assistance from [[Behaviour Interactive]] is considered a dependent source by this wiki.
* ''[[Fallout Shelter Online]]'', while produced by Bethesda, was developed by an outside company and freely draws on various elements of the franchise to enhance its gameplay, essentially forming its own universe.{{Verify|type=cite}}
* The [[Atomic Shop]] for ''Fallout 76'' generally emphasizes fun over absolute conformity with canon, leading to looser standards for inclusion.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Wk3N4sO3RY&feature=youtu.be Fallout 76: Is the Atomic Shop or Creation Club considered canon?]:<br />[[Emil Pagliarulo]]: ''"Atomic Shop is a lot...we found that Atomic Shop tends to not be canon so much, it's a lot looser. Just because it's, y'know, stuff that you purchase or use Atoms get into your game that is, like... there's a big fun factor there. There's a lot of stuff in Atomic Shop that we could take out because it's not strictly Fallout canon, and then players would be bummed. Because it's in a live multiplayer game, you... it's always a judgement call, it's tough. There's a lot of stuff that's... the canon rules are a lot lighter with the Atomic Shop stuff. Because we want people to have what they want and just have fun."''<br />{{Small|'''Note''': This video is an excerpt from a longer interview at Gamescom 2020.}}</ref><ref>[[Ferret Baudoin]] - 12/16/2020 Fallout for Hope - CHAD: A Fallout 76 Story Podcast Twitch stream: ''"I think if you're buying it in the store, you're choosing to go outside of the game in order to customize your experience. The same way that you would getting a mod that you particularly enjoy. So I tend not to sweat that stuff. If people can rationalize it, fantastic."''</ref>
* [[Creation Club]] for ''Fallout 4'' is distinct from the Atomic Shop and blurs the lines between canon and non-canon. Although Bethesda reviews all Creation Club content to ensure content works within the game and is consistent with the general setting of the game, they tend to prioritize the attractiveness of content and gameplay over absolute compliance with core canon. The situation has been described as "parallel to canon."<ref name="AtomicEmil">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Wk3N4sO3RY Fallout 76: Is the Atomic Shop or Creation Club considered canon?]:<br />[[Emil Pagliarulo]]: ''"Okay, lemme answer this. So... um, Creation Club and Atomic Shop are two very different things, first of all. Creation Club is, let's start there, Creation Club is sort of as close to canon as we can get but also sort of the lines get blurred. So, for example, the team that does the Creation Club stuff always runs fiction by me and says 'would this work? Is this canon? How close is this?' And any time there's any writing or anything that goes into Creation Club, we wanna make sure that it's, y'know, everything fits. So for example, y'know, there was a cyberpunk apartment that went in that you access in Fallout 4 that you access via Goodneighbor. And there was some notes in it, it was like a synth's apartment. So all the fiction there had to be right. It could be canon, it could be... So it's sort of like parallel to canon, almost. It's... we don't wanna limit ourselves. We don't wanna not do something completely. It's tough. Because you don't wanna not do something that would be awesome, because it might get a little close to not being canon. So, it's always a judgement call. We weigh everything."''<br />{{Small|'''Note''': This video is an excerpt from a longer interview at Gamescom 2020.}}</ref>

;Other games
This category encompasses board and tabletop games that are created by third parties and may freely interpret the setting for the sake of gameplay. These include:
* ''[[Fallout: The Board Game]]'' (2017) - Although they received assistance from Bethesda during development, the game's setting can take place across the country in the [[Capital Wasteland]], [[the Commonwealth]], [[The Pitt (city)|the Pitt]], [[Far Harbor (location)|Far Harbor]] and [[New California]] at the player's discretion.
* ''[[Fallout: New California]]'' (2018) - Expansion of ''[[Fallout: The Board Game]]''.
* ''[[Fallout: Wasteland Warfare]]'' (2018) - A ''Fallout''-themed miniatures wargame from [[Modiphius|Modiphius Entertainment]]. 
* ''[[Fallout: Wasteland Warfare Roleplaying Game]]'' (2019) - Expansion of ''[[Fallout: Wasteland Warfare]]''.
* ''[[Fallout Shelter: The Board Game]]'' (2020) - A tabletop version of ''Fallout Shelter''.
* ''[[Fallout 2d20]]'' (2021) - A tabletop role-playing game developed by Modiphius using a modified [[SPECIAL]] system and their 2d20 system.

;Official merchandise
At the present it is not know how merchandise offered through licensed third parties is vetted, if any such process exists. All content based on merchandise should be marked as dependent canon and grouped separately.

==Non-canon==
This category includes games that are explicitly not part of the main continuity. Released games may freely reference individual elements of these games as part of an homage or continuity nod, creating exceptions to the rule.

;Released games
* ''[[Fallout Tactics]]'', its manual, strategy guide, and tabletop component, ''[[Fallout: Warfare]]'', were disregarded by [[Bethesda Softworks]] during the development of ''[[Fallout 3]]''.<ref name="ToddCanon">[http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/fallout-3/800771p1.html Todd Howard]: "''For our purposes, neither Fallout Tactics nor Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel happened.''"</ref>
* ''[[Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel]]'' has been likewise disregarded as non-canon by Bethesda Softworks.<ref name="ToddCanon" />

;Cancelled games
* ''[[Van Buren]]''
* ''[[Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel 2]]''
* ''[[Fallout Extreme]]''
* ''[[Fallout Tactics 2]]''
* ''[[Project V13]]''

==Reference sections==
Anything that is not part of core canon should be referenced with the following, replacing <kbd><nowiki><ref></nowiki></kbd> at the beginning of the reference:

:<kbd><nowiki><ref group="Non-game" /></nowiki></kbd>

To display them under the references section of an article, add the following under the section:

:<kbd><nowiki><references group="Non-game" /></nowiki></kbd>

So it appears like:

<pre>
==References==
{{References}}
;Non-game
<references group="Non-game" />
</pre>

==References==
{{References}}

[[Category:Fallout games]]
[[Category:Terms]]

[[es:Canon Fallout]]
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