‘Fallout’ Season 2 Creators Adopt ‘Fog of War’ Strategy to Sidestep New Vegas Canon

The creators of the ‘Fallout’ TV series have devised a narrative technique to navigate the multiple endings of ‘Fallout: New Vegas’ without endorsing any single outcome. This method, termed the “fog of war approach,” allows each faction from the 2010 game to perceive itself as victorious 15 years after the events. Executive producer Jonathan Nolan called it “an absolutely brilliant way to make a bit of an end run around that whole question.”

Co-showrunner Geneva Robertson-Dworet emphasized the intent to respect player agency across all possible playthroughs. “We wanted to try, as much as possible in our show, to honor all gamers’ experiences and all the choices they might make as they play the game,” she stated. “So we always wanted to avoid trying to make one canonical ending the ending that led to the events of the show.” This preserves the game’s branching narratives, where players could align with factions like the New California Republic, Caesar’s Legion, Mr. House, or an independent Vegas.

The approach mirrors real-world historical ambiguities, where conflicting accounts shape collective memory. Nolan elaborated on the concept’s appeal: “We had the delicious idea that at the end of a conflict, 15 years down the line, every faction might think they won, which I think has a bit of a poetic quality to it.” Robertson-Dworet added, “It’s like, the story of history depends on who you ask.” This technique extends the series’ commitment to the ‘Fallout’ universe’s moral complexity, first established in the 1997 original game by Interplay Productions.

Season 2 production, overseen by Amazon MGM Studios and Kilter Films, builds directly on the first season’s 2024 release, which drew from ‘Fallout 3’ and ‘Fallout 4’. The New Vegas integration occurs 15 years post-game, aligning with the timeline where the Courier’s decisions reshaped the Mojave Wasteland. Specific elements, such as the Kings faction—originally a street gang inspired by Elvis Presley—now consist of ghouls who endured “a rough 15 years,” reflecting radiation’s long-term effects in the lore.

Mr. House, the pre-war tycoon preserved by life-support technology in the game, appears alive in the series, but his persistence avoids confirming any particular allegiance or coup scenario. The show’s ensemble, including Ella Purnell as Lucy MacLean, Walton Goggins as the Ghoul, and Aaron Moten as Maximus, will encounter these fractured histories during their wasteland traversal. Nolan, known for ‘Westworld’ and ‘The Dark Knight’ trilogy, and Robertson-Dworet, a ‘Captain Marvel’ writer, lead the writing team alongside Graham Wagner.

This strategy also accommodates the franchise’s expansion, including the upcoming ‘Fallout’ multiplayer game from Bethesda Game Studios. By not locking in a canon, the series maintains flexibility for future adaptations, much like how ‘The Mandalorian’ navigated ‘Star Wars’ extended universe variations. The first season garnered 65 million views in 17 days on Prime Video, boosting Bethesda’s player base by 7.4 million on Steam.

Filming for Season 2 commenced in November 2024 across Utah and Namibia, with a projected 2026 release. The creative team’s interviews reveal meticulous lore consultation with Bethesda, ensuring elements like the Platinum Chip and securitron army remain integral without resolution. This fog of war not only resolves continuity challenges but enriches the post-apocalyptic satire on power and perception.