Original Fallout Creator Shares Interesting Vault Theory

Fallout's creator Tim Cain has recently shared a new theory about how many vaults Vault-Tec was actually supposed to build and how it executed the project. The Vaults that were designed by Vault-Tec have always been a subject of both interest and horror. These underground shelters in the Fallout games were initially built to protect Americans from nuclear war, but they soon became sites of cruel experiments on their inhabitants.

Fallout 4 features the highest number of Vaults, and aside from the seven that players can find, there were rumors of an eighth that was cut from the final release. These Vaults range from sites of genetic harvesting, like Vault 75, to thriving communities that defied their original sinister purposes, such as Vault 81. Despite their intended purpose of protection, many Vaults subjected residents to horrific experiments, including psychoactive drugs and forced sacrifices, like Vaults 106 and 11.

In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Tim Cain discussed the initial plan for the Vaults, theorizing that Vault-Tec was supposed to build 1,000 of them. However, Cain thinks that far fewer were actually completed. He suggests that Vault-Tec failed to construct all the Vaults after underbidding for the government contract, which eventually led to the experiments inside those that were built. This underbuilding and subsequent shift to social experiments might have been a strategic decision by Vault-Tec, knowing it couldn’t fulfill the promise of creating safe havens for a significant portion of the population.

Fallout's Vaults Are Famous for Bizarre Experiments

Many disturbing experiments were done in Fallout's Vaults, with some of them being outright crazy. Vault 108, for example, is populated solely by aggressive clones named Gary, a result of a failed cloning experiment. Similarly, Vault 75 separated families and subjected children to harsh conditioning. Vault 87's Forced Evolutionary Virus created Super Mutants, while Vault 112 trapped residents in a VR simulation controlled by a mad scientist. These examples show Vault-Tec's shift from safety to experimentation, perhaps driven by its inability to complete the promised number of Vaults.

Cain's theory aligns with the overall narrative of Vault-Tec’s deceptive and bizarre practices in the Fallout games. Fallout 5 could surely benefit from incorporating these dark histories into its storyline. If it revisits already-introduced Vaults like the inaccessible Vault 63 from Fallout 76, Bethesda could enhance the game’s lore and player engagement. Vault 33, which appeared in the Fallout TV series, also offers an opportunity to bridge the gap between different media and enrich the game's universe.

Fallout’s fan base is diverse, with different kinds of opinions on the franchise’s direction. While some players might welcome the return to familiar and lore-rich Vaults, others may look for new and innovative content. Balancing these interests might be a great starting point for Fallout 5. Integrating well-known Vaults with new, unexplored ones could satisfy both camps, providing a combination of nostalgia and fresh experiences.

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Fallout

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Video Game(s)

Fallout, Fallout 2, Fallout 3, Fallout 4, Fallout 76, Fallout Shelter, Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel, Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel

Creation Year

1997

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Fallout is a franchise built around a series of RPGs set in a post-nuclear world, in which great vaults have been built to shelter parts of humankind. There are six main games, various spin-offs, tabletop games, and a TV series from Amazon Studios.

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Developer(s)

Interplay, Black Isle Studios, Bethesda, Obsidian Entertainment, Micro Forté

Publisher(s)

Interplay, Bethesda Softworks

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