ABSTRACT
This chapter analyzes Bethesda’s revival of the Fallout franchise with Fallout 3 and Fallout 4 and the changes brought to the series by those games. This chapter begins with a discussion of one of Bethesda’s most significant changes to the series: shifting the franchise from 2D to 3D with Fallout 3, a complete change to the world of Fallout in terms of visual perspective and world design. This chapter then looks at the changes Bethesda made with Fallout 4 by introducing crafting and base building systems to the series. Finally, this chapter examines the shift in setting from the western to eastern United States, looking at the changes to the franchise’s political commentary brought on by change in location. Overall, this chapter argues that Bethesda’s changes to the franchise moved it away from its tabletop roots, but that their games also served as an effective expansion of the Fallout world due to the games continuing to address the same kinds of political themes that were established in the first two games.
