TheFalloutcommunity has always been known for its incredible modding scene. Talented modders create all sorts of add-ons to the Bethesda titles — from quality-of-life improvements to whole new areas and storylines. These keep the game and its community alive years after the initial release.
This phenomenon is seen inFallout 4, which has recently garnered interest following the release of a new gameplay trailer from theFallout Londonteam.Fallout Londonis a DLC-sized mod that takes place all the way in Great Britain. If anything, its positive reception proves thatFalloutgames can — and should — be set in areas outside of the United States.
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A Brief History of Fallout London
Fallout Londonwas firstintroduced in 2019. The original team released a couple of screenshots and progress videos then called on a wide variety of video game artists to join Team FOLON. By this time, the project was already gaining popularity, particularly from other modders. Soon, the Team FOLON began to release unique items, all designed to fit the new setting — bladed umbrellas, cricketball grenades, and straight razors. The team even released original music forFallout London’sOST.
In 2021, theFallout Londonofficial reveal trailerdropped, boosting the mod’s popularity even further. The video showcased plenty of interesting scenes inFallout London— from the dark and grimy London railways to the ramshackle yet still populated pubs lining the streets. It even dropped the series’ tagline: “War. War never changes.”
Then finally, just this month, the team released aFallout Londonofficial gameplay trailerthat had over 18 minutes of gameplay. It gave fans an in-depth look into the setting as well as its story, with the main character being referred to as “the Wayfarer.” The trailer also showcased an underground laboratory, located beneath one of the region’s railway stations. Suffice to say, fans were intrigued and eager to see more. The new areas, novel assets, and superb voice acting makeFallout Londontruly stand out from the base game.
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What it Takes to Create a Fallout Game Outside the United States
Creating DLC-sizeFalloutmodsis already a difficult undertaking. To make one in a completely different area from the original game, along with unique assets and voice acting is something else entirely. Yet this is somethingFallout Londonhopes to achieve. So far, the mod is doing an excellent job at it, drawing fans of the series in with a familiar but novelFalloutexperience.
That said, Team FOLON had its work cut out for it. By setting the mod outside of the US, the writers had to imagine a completely new world and build it from the ground up. For instance, Team FOLON notes that the Forced Evolutionary Virus of theFalloutseries never reached London. Thus, there won’t be any super mutants, centaurs, or deathclaws. Vault-Tec, an American company, also doesn’t have a presence in London, so the team has to think ofnew things to add toFallout Londonto make the overall setting more interesting.
For a relatively small team of volunteers,an undertaking as ambitious asFallout Londonis bound to take time. This is especially considering that the mod’s map will be around the size ofFallout 4’sCommonwealth and contain none of the pre-existing factions of previousFalloutgames. In fact, the mod’s current timeline showcases just how much time and passion it takes to complete such a huge project. This would be the case even if the add-on was being handled by a fully-staffed game development team. All the brainstorming, research, and conceptualization required to grasp a new country and its culture would still take a significant amount of time.
Breaking Away from Fallout Tradition
All that said,Fallout Londonproves thatbreaking away fromFallout’soriginal settingis worth it. SinceFallout London’sgameplay trailer came out, longtime followers and new fans alike have celebrated the mod as well as its departure from the US setting. As it turns out, plenty of players are curious to see what the post-apocalyptic world is like outside of America — and for good reason.
AFalloutgame set in a different country would provide a new yet still distinctlyFalloutexperience. LikeFallout London, it could introduce a wholly new setting that differs structurally and conceptually from previous titles. On the surface level, it could provide players with new weapons and armor to fit the location. On the deeper, more story-driven level, it could alsointroduce newFalloutfactions, organizations, and their respective figureheads.
Granted, this is somethingtheFalloutseries could do in another state of the US. However, it’s important to consider that groups and organizations formed in a specific country often take on that nation’s cultural values. TheCommonwealth Minutemen ofFallout 4, for example, are based on the Minutemen from the American Revolutionary War. Meanwhile, the Enclave found in multipleFallouttitles is based on the pre-war federal government of the United States. That said, basing aFalloutgame in a wholly different country allows for culturally distinct groups — ones unlike what players have already experienced in previous titles.
As an example,Fallout Londonplans to introduce seven distinct factions to the mod. One of them is known as Camelot, an organization heavily inspired by tales of King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table. Players might catch the members of Camelot running around in suits of armor with swords strapped to their waists. This is something distinct to the United Kingdom, which adds to the novelty ofFallout London.
All in all,releasing aFalloutgame set outside of the USis a viable option for Bethesda. Given the number of titles that are set in the post-apocalyptic wasteland of America, deviating from the pattern is a good idea. It might take more time to build a world for the new location, but it’s worth it, as plenty in the community are hankering to see what the rest of the world is like post-war. Until then, players can eagerly await the release ofFallout London.
Fallout 4is available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
