Eager for Fallout 5? The Fallout TV Series Is Your First Quest
Bethesda says the Fallout TV juggernaut is now canon for the games, with Todd Howard revealing Fallout 5 will unfold in a world shaped by the series’ events—just as the Season 2 premiere readies on Prime Video.
Prime Video kicked off Fallout season 2, and the TV side of the franchise isn't just extra content anymore—it's steering the actual games. Bethesda isn't treating the show like a side quest. It's canon, it counts, and it's going to matter when we eventually get Fallout 5.
Yes, the show is canon (for real)
In a new chat with BBC Newsbeat, Bethesda's Todd Howard said the quiet part out loud: the show's story is part of the official Fallout timeline. He pushed for that from the start because he didn't want a greatest-hits remix of an old game; he wanted the series to expand the world in ways the games will recognize.
"Fallout 5 will be existing in a world where the stories and events of the show happened or are happening."
- Todd Howard, speaking to BBC Newsbeat
Howard says everyone making the series is on the same page about authenticity, including executive producer Jonathan Nolan. Bethesda's design director Emil Pagliarulo backed that up, explaining that what happens on the show either already happened in the games or will factor into them later. He also described a surprisingly hands-on process: the TV team would ping Bethesda with late-night questions to make sure small details lined up with canon. It was a constant back-and-forth to keep the tone and the lore locked in.
Where the show is right now
Season 2, episode 1 of the live-action Fallout series is out today on Prime Video, with new episodes rolling out weekly. If you fell behind, this is the moment to catch up, because Bethesda is treating the show's events as core lore. Future seasons of the series and future games will live with those consequences.
What this means for Fallout 5
Short version: Fallout 5 won't pretend the show didn't happen. Don't expect it to retell the series beat-for-beat, but it will assume the show's major events occurred. So if you want to catch the references and understand why the world looks the way it does when the next game finally arrives, the homework is the show.
About that timeline (temper expectations)
Don't hold your breath for Fallout 5 anytime soon. Bethesda is deep into The Elder Scrolls 6, and they're not exactly known for juggling two giant RPGs at once—especially with their reputation for messy launches. Realistically, Fallout's next mainline entry is years out. In the meantime, rumor mill says a New Vegas remaster might be in the works to bridge the gap. If that pans out, it's an easy way to revisit one of the series' best entries with a modern coat of paint.
The takeaway
- Fallout's TV series is officially canon to the games, by design.
- Season 2 just premiered on Prime Video; new episodes drop weekly.
- Bethesda and the show's creators collaborated closely to keep lore consistent.
- Fallout 5 will acknowledge the show's events rather than ignore them.
- Don't expect Fallout 5 soon; Bethesda's focus is The Elder Scrolls 6.
- There are rumors of a New Vegas remaster to keep fans fed in the meantime.
Bottom line: if you care about where Fallout is heading, the show isn't optional viewing anymore.