Who Dropped the Nukes First in Fallout? Unraveling the Mystery of the Great War

The question of who launched the first nukes in the Fallout universe is one of the most enduring and debated mysteries within the franchise. The short answer, based on available in-game information and prevailing lore, is: It’s complicated, but the evidence points strongly towards China. While no definitive cutscene or character explicitly declares, “China fired first,” the circumstantial evidence, narrative context, and general consensus within the Fallout community lean heavily in that direction.

The Evidence Against America

While America and China were locked in a desperate resource war, with both nations pushing the limits of technology and morality, there isn’t concrete evidence within the games themselves pointing to a preemptive American strike. America was developing advanced weaponry, including bio-weapons, which fueled Chinese paranoia. The creation of the T-51b power armor, hinting at an imminent invasion of China, would have put China on high alert, and may have hastened the Chinese decision to launch their nukes. The fact the bombs fell in the late morning/early afternoon in America also hints that it was a second strike scenario as it would be night time in China when the bombs fell.

The Case for China

Several factors contribute to the widespread belief that China initiated the Great War:

• Resource Wars and Geopolitical Tensions: The world of Fallout was spiraling into chaos due to extreme resource scarcity. China and the U.S. were engaged in a bitter conflict, primarily over dwindling oil reserves. This backdrop of intense geopolitical tension made a first strike seem more plausible from a nation fearing imminent collapse or invasion.

• American Bio-Weapon Development: The article mentions the Chinese believed America was creating bio-weapons. While this information is not directly verifiable in the games, it adds to the motivation for a Chinese first strike. China could have viewed the bio-weapons as a threat warranting a preemptive nuclear response.

• The Desperate Situation: China was losing the resource war. American troops, equipped with superior technology like the T-51b power armor, were poised to invade. Faced with imminent defeat, China may have launched a desperate first strike as a last-ditch attempt to level the playing field.

• Community Consensus and Narrative Suggestion: While Bethesda has never definitively stated who fired first, the prevailing sentiment within the Fallout community, fostered by years of speculation and analysis of in-game clues, leans towards China.

The Vault-Tec Conspiracy Theories

While China is the prime suspect, there are more conspiratorial, albeit less substantiated, theories surrounding Vault-Tec. One theory, stemming from a leaked film treatment of a canceled Fallout movie, suggests Vault-Tec intentionally triggered the Great War. The logic: Vault-Tec’s execs wanted to fulfill their own crazy plan to destroy the world. While compelling from a narrative perspective, this remains largely unsubstantiated within the main game canon.

Vault-Tec clearly had prior knowledge of the impending nuclear exchange, demonstrated by the construction of the vaults. Vault-Tec’s goal was to conduct macabre social experiments. Whether they merely profited from the inevitable or actively orchestrated it remains a point of intense debate. Vault-Tec were definitely aware that the bombs were coming and were in a financial position to benefit from that knowledge.

The Importance of Ambiguity

Ultimately, the ambiguity surrounding who fired first is arguably a deliberate choice by the game developers. It adds to the mystique and moral complexity of the Fallout universe. It emphasizes that in a world driven to the brink, assigning blame is less important than understanding the circumstances that led to its downfall. The question becomes not just “who,” but “why,” and “could it have been prevented?” It is a mystery that helps drive player engagement and fosters ongoing discussion.

Games Learning Society can attest to the ways these types of narratives can be used to engage learners. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more.

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions About the Great War and its Origins

1. Does Fallout 4 reveal who launched the first nukes?

No, Fallout 4 does not explicitly state who launched the first nukes. It provides clues and context, but the question remains open to interpretation.

2. Is it true Vault-Tec caused the war in Fallout?

The Vault-Tec conspiracy is popular, but largely based on speculation and a leaked film treatment. In the established game canon, there’s no solid evidence that Vault-Tec directly triggered the war, although their knowledge of the impending nuclear exchange is undeniable.

3. Why didn’t Japan surrender after Hiroshima in the Fallout universe?

The Fallout universe diverges significantly from our reality well before World War II. The question of Japan’s surrender after Hiroshima is not relevant within the Fallout timeline as the events of WWII were different.

4. Did any countries survive in Fallout?

Essentially all countries were destroyed as functioning entities during the Great War. Some isolated communities may have endured, but no nation remained unscathed.

5. What happened to the USSR in the Fallout universe?

The fate of the USSR in Fallout is ambiguous. It’s implied the Soviet Union continued to exist at least until the Great War. Its condition by 2077 isn’t fully explored.

6. Did the whole world get nuked in Fallout?

Yes, the global scale of the nuclear exchange is a central premise of the Fallout universe. Every corner of the Earth was affected, although some areas suffered less direct impact.

7. Were any countries unaffected by Fallout?

While the games primarily focus on North America, the lore suggests global devastation. There’s no established canon that states any specific country was entirely untouched by the war.

8. Why is Fallout stuck in the 60s?

Fallout is not “stuck” in the 60s. It’s an alternate reality where the technological advancements envisioned in the 1950s and 60s, like nuclear power and robotics, progressed, while other aspects of society, like fashion and culture, remained stylistically retro.

9. What is the saddest vault in Fallout?

The “saddest” vault is subjective, but Vault 11, where inhabitants were forced to sacrifice one of their own each year, is often cited due to its deeply disturbing premise.

10. Who built the vaults in Fallout?

The Vault-Tec Corporation was responsible for the design, construction, and operation of the vaults throughout the Fallout universe.

11. What happens if you say no to Vault-Tec?

In Fallout 4, refusing the Vault-Tec representative won’t prevent your character from entering Vault 111 at the beginning of the game. Your spouse will convince you to change your mind for convenience’s sake.

12. Is Hiroshima still radioactive?

In the real world, the radiation levels in Hiroshima and Nagasaki are now within normal background levels. This real world fact has no bearing on the Fallout universe.

13. Was anywhere not nuked in Fallout?

Some locations in the Fallout universe, like Point Lookout, avoided direct nuclear strikes. The game series makes it clear the world in general was not hit with complete and total nuclear destruction.

14. What is the US called in Fallout?

In the Fallout universe, the United States is described as a general affiliation of 13 Commonwealths since 1969. This is not consistent across the different Fallout games, however.

15. Why was Vault-Tec so evil?

Vault-Tec’s actions were driven by a combination of factors: corporate greed, scientific curiosity unburdened by ethics, and a desire to control the future of humanity. The vaults were not intended as simple shelters but as elaborate social experiments, often with cruel and unusual conditions.