Summary

  • The Great War in Fallout lasted around two hours, triggering a nuclear exchange that devastated the world.
  • The Resource Wars and the nuclear arms race between the US and China led to the catastrophic Great War.
  • Fallout's post-apocalyptic world was shaped by the failure of humanity to peacefully manage resources.

The entirety of Bethesda's Fallout series relies on one event: the Great War. Without it, the Wasteland wouldn't be the empty, lifeless world that it is and Fallout wouldn't even have its name. It is the catalyst for the whole of the Fallout franchise, giving context to its iconic post-apocalyptic world and fueling the conflict between its inhabitants as they fight for survival in the shadow of the ruins of the civilization that once was. While each Fallout story is different, they all remain within the confines of this one overarching event that ties them all together.

The story of the Great War is told in bits and pieces throughout each Fallout game, with many of the world's characters and logs filling in the gaps. It is a tragic tale, to say the least, but one that is necessary to create the world of Fallout that so many have come to love.

The Story of Fallout's Great War

The Great War occurred on October 23, 2077 at approximately 9:47 Eastern time, only lasting for around two hours but leaving the entire world in a state of nuclear devastation and forcing what was left of the human race to adapt to the new conditions. Of course, being that it only lasted a couple of hours, the Great War itself was actually the result of a series of regional wars called the Resource Wars, which began in 2052. The Resource Wars were, as their name suggests, a war over valuable natural resources such as petroleum. As fossil fuels became increasingly scarce, the United States, China, and the European Commonwealth fought for total control of these resources.

In 2066, the communist government of the People's Republic of China invaded Alaska in an attempt to seize control of what was left of its oil resources, triggering the Sino-American War in the process. The United States responded to the invasion by sending its own troops to defend Alaska, and the conflict then persisted for over a decade. During this time, both the United States and China doubled down on their nuclear weapons and technology, which is why the world of Fallout is filled to the brim with nuclear-powered tech. This conflict drew in enemies and allies from around the world, and the Great War began.

The Great War occurred on October 23, 2077 at approximately 9:47 Eastern time, only lasting for around two hours but leaving the entire world in a state of nuclear devastation and forcing what was left of the human race to adapt to the new conditions.

On the day of the Great War, there was a massive nuclear exchange of thousands of missiles between the United States and China, with the likelihood of other nations being involved very high. It's unclear what finally triggered the Great War, but it's assumed that there was one final, insurmountable roadblock put between diplomatic relations. The damage caused by the nuclear exchange was catastrophic, wiping out entire cities and larger regions, and almost immediately creating the Wasteland that Fallout fans have come to know so well.

The environment left in the wake of the Great War was heavily contaminated, leading to continued death and severe health problems for some who managed to survive. Many of those who were fortunate enough to outlast the effects of the war, either by luck or by hiding in one of Fallout's iconic vaults, fight for control of the Wasteland to this day, all while doing their best to stave off the lasting effects of the conflict that changed the world forever. The failure of humanity to better manage the resources it has been blessed with, and the inability to resolve conflicts peacefully are what ultimately led to such a tragedy as the senseless Great War. This is the world of Fallout — where survival is always just beyond reach, and the past remains a nightmarish bedtime story to caution those who step into the future.

Rating block community and brand ratings Image
Fallout 4 Tag Page Cover Art
9 /10

Fallout 4
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RPG
Action
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Systems
PC-1 PlayStation-1 Xbox-1
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Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 89%
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Released
November 10, 2015
ESRB
M FOR MATURE: BLOOD AND GORE, INTENSE VIOLENCE, STRONG LANGUAGE, USE OF DRUGS
Developer(s)
Bethesda
Publisher(s)
Bethesda
Engine
Creation
Cross-Platform Play
no
Cross Save
no
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
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Franchise
Fallout
Steam Deck Compatibility
yes
Genre(s)
RPG, Action
How Long To Beat
27 Hours
PS Plus Availability
Extra & Premium
File Size Xbox Series
51 GB (December 2023)