Why the Original Fallout Creator Walked Away: Inside Scoop!

Tim Cain, co-creator of Fallout, recently shed light on his departure from the series after the first game's release. Cain, who has contributed to some of the most renowned RPGs in history, including Obsidian's The Outer Worlds franchise, explained his reasons for leaving the beloved post-apocalyptic series. Fallout's initial success in 1997 revitalized a struggling RPG genre with its impressive mechanics and captivating atompunk aesthetic. The franchise's acquisition by Bethesda propelled it to new heights, making it one of the most recognized names in the gaming industry. Despite its overwhelming success, the original Fallout games from Interplay maintain a devoted following, even though they may not have aged as well as some would like. Fans continue to clamor for remakes of Fallout 1 and 2, but Bethesda's current priorities make the possibility of a remake unlikely.

Tim Cain left the development of Fallout 2 early on and shared his reasons in a personal YouTube video. He cited various issues as the cause, including the potential for more crunch development and responsibility that he did not want. Additionally, Cain felt undermined on the project when the decision to outsource the box art was made without his consent. However, the final straw came when Cain's bonus was significantly reduced despite his importance to the studio. Head of Interplay Brian Fargo told him it would "encourage him to do better next time," prompting Cain to resign and resulting in an exodus of talent at Interplay. Despite the development drama, many gamers still enjoy the end product and some are even turning Fallout 2 into an FPS. It is a shame that the community never got to see what a Tim Cain-led Fallout 2 would have looked like.

The video game industry has long been plagued with reports of harsh working conditions, which is disheartening to hear. Despite some improvements in certain companies, the problem persists, as evidenced by the brutal crunch experienced during the development of Fallout 76. This shows that even popular franchises like Fallout are not immune. Unfortunately, this seems to be the accepted standard, but with more focus and effort, hopefully, there will be a shift towards change. As a reminder, the original Fallout game was first released on PC in 1997.