The Fallout TV series exists within the same universe as the beloved Bethesda games. But how does it all connect? This timeline covers every major event from the divergence point to the show's present day—including how the series canonically fits with the games.
The Pre-War Era (1945-2077)
1945-1960s: The Divergence Fallout's alternate history splits from ours after World War II. Instead of transistors and the digital revolution, this world developed advanced nuclear technology, robotics, and fusion power while retaining 1950s aesthetics.
2050s-2060s: Resource Wars As petroleum runs out globally, nations fight for remaining resources. The European Commonwealth dissolves. The Middle East collapses. China and America become bitter rivals.
2066-2077: The Sino-American War China invades Alaska for its oil. America responds with force. Power armor is deployed. The war escalates toward inevitable nuclear exchange.
October 23, 2077: The Great War In two hours, nuclear weapons devastate the planet. Billions die instantly. The survivors retreat to Vaults—underground shelters built by Vault-Tec. The world above becomes the Wasteland.
The Vault Era (2077-2161)
The Vaults' True Purpose: Most Vaults weren't meant to save people—they were experiments. Vault-Tec, in partnership with shadowy forces, used Vault dwellers as test subjects for various social and scientific experiments.
- Vault 33: Featured in the show. Lucy's home. Part of a three-vault system.
- Vault 13: Featured in Fallout 1. The player's origin.
- Vault 111: Featured in Fallout 4. Cryogenic preservation.
Surface Recovery: Some Vault dwellers emerge to find the Wasteland survivable. Communities form. New civilizations rise from the ashes.
Game Timeline (2161-2287)
2161: Fallout 1 The Vault Dweller from Vault 13 defeats the Master and his Super Mutant army in California.
2241: Fallout 2 The Chosen One (descendant of the Vault Dweller) destroys the Enclave's oil rig.
2277: Fallout 3 The Lone Wanderer activates Project Purity in the Capital Wasteland (Washington D.C.).
2281: Fallout New Vegas The Courier shapes the fate of New Vegas and the Mojave Wasteland.
2287: Fallout 4 The Sole Survivor emerges from Vault 111 in Boston, 210 years after the bombs fell.
The Show's Timeline (2296)
The Show Takes Place in 2296 This is approximately 9 years after Fallout 4, 219 years after the bombs.
Lucy's Journey: Lucy emerges from Vault 33 in Los Angeles, California. The show takes place in a different region than recent games—returning to the West Coast setting of Fallout 1 and 2.
Key Revelation: The show reveals that Vault-Tec was responsible for the Great War itself. This is significant new canon information that recontextualizes everything.
The Shady Sands Controversy
The Destruction of Shady Sands: The show reveals that Shady Sands (capital of the New California Republic from Fallout 2) was destroyed by a nuclear bomb.
Timeline Confusion: A chalkboard in the show appeared to date this to 2277, before Fallout New Vegas. This caused fan controversy—until it was clarified that the destruction happened later.
Canon Impact: The NCR's fall explains why the West Coast lacks the organized civilization players remember from Fallout 2 and New Vegas.
Factions in the Show Era
The Brotherhood of Steel: Present and powerful. Maximus's storyline involves the Brotherhood's West Coast chapter.
The Enclave: Remnants exist. The show hints at their continued influence through Vault-Tec.
New California Republic: Diminished after Shady Sands but not extinct. Survivors and splinter groups remain.
Vault-Tec: The show reveals Vault-Tec's continued existence in some form. The Ghoul's backstory connects pre-war Vault-Tec to post-war events.