Fallout 1 and 2 Source Code Reportedly Still Exists

Summary

Source code for original Fallout games still exists, contrary to previous belief.
Interplay co-founder Rebecca Heineman saved copies of source code for Fallout 1 and 2.
Permission from Bethesda needed for potential release of the source code for preservation and mod creation.

A new interview has revealed that the source code for the original Fallout and its 1998 sequel reportedly still exists. The source code for both Fallout games has long been considered lost, although it seems this is not quite the case.

On Fallout creator Tim Cain's YouTube channel, he revealed back in April that upon leaving Interplay, he was ordered to destroy everything he had about the early games in the series, including source code. It was seemingly company policy to do so at the time, meaning that anyone else would have been instructed to do the same. However, it seemed that Interplay itself lost these assets further down the line, too. As some of the best CRPGs ever, it would be a massive shame if these assets were lost for good.

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By Daniel Morris

Speaking to VideoGamer after Cain's video, Interplay co-founder and game designer Rebecca Heineman revealed that she has backup copies of early titles Fallout 1 and 2, including the source code that was thought lost. "I have the source to all my projects... I made it a quest to snapshot everything and archive it on CD-Roms. When I left Interplay in 1995, I had copies of every game we did. No exceptions... Interplay had issues with people leaving the firm, and if you quit, they got… testy. I was a founder, so when I left, I kept EVERYTHING. Now, on Fallout, I did the Mac port for my company, MacPlay. So I have everything, including the source code to Fallout 1 and 2."

Fallout 1 and 2 Source Code Was Saved by Interplay Co-Founder Rebecca Heineman

Speaking on whether she'd ever release Fallout 1 and 2's source code, Heineman expanded, stating, "Fallout would require permission from Bethesda. I hadn’t gotten around to asking them. They are on my list. I need expressed permission to release, despite the source code being pretty much obsolete." It remains to be seen whether she will get that permission for Bethesda, but it would be good to have it in the name of preservation. It could even be useful in creating mods for the original Fallout.

There is plenty of speculation about the future of the Fallout franchise at the moment. Fallout 5 is seemingly many years away, given the fact that Bethesda is preoccupied with the development of The Elder Scrolls 6. Meanwhile, speculation about a possible Fallout 3 remaster continues to heat up, only amplified by the successor of the recent Oblivion Remastered. Nothing is confirmed in this regard, and it could be a while before players have a new Fallout game to play.