“Fallout” returns to Prime Video this week for its much-anticipated second season, and according to the reviews, it’s picking up where the excellent debut run left off. But as much as I enjoy watching “Fallout” on Amazon's streaming service, my preference will always be stepping into my wasteland via one of the acclaimed Fallout video games.

On PC, you can enjoy every single Fallout video game ever made, from the 1998 original to the latest mainline entry, 2015’s Fallout 4 (recently updated, in the new Anniversary Edition). However, on modern consoles like PS5, Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X, your options are a little more limited. Fortunately, if you have an urge to enjoy some of the best post-apocalyptic RPGs ever made, you have options on every platform.

Better still, to mark the launch of “Fallout” season 2 on Prime Video, Amazon has made the online-focused Fallout 76 free on its Prime Gaming platform for a limited time. You only need an Amazon Prime account to grab it, and once you claim it, the game is yours to keep.

So, if you’re looking to adventure in the wasteland alongside streaming the new season of the “Fallout” TV show, then here’s every Fallout game you can play across PC and consoles right now.

Every Fallout game available on Xbox

• Fallout 3
• Fallout: New Vegas
• Fallout Shelter
• Fallout 4
• Fallout 76

Microsoft acquired ZeniMax Media (parent company of Fallout stewards Bethesda) back in 2021. So naturally, Xbox offers the most robust selection of Fallout games on any home console. At present, every single “modern” Fallout game is playable and available for purchase on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and even on the older Xbox One.

Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas launched on Xbox 360, but are playable on current Xbox hardware thanks to the platform’s backwards compatibility. They’ve also been given a frame rate boost, so they run better than ever on the latest Xbox consoles. Meanwhile, Fallout 4 and Fallout 76 launched in the Xbox One generation, and are also playable across Xbox machines.

If you’re an Xbox Game Pass subscriber, every Fallout game is included as part of the service’s library. Alternatively, if you’d like to own digital copies, you can purchase them on the Xbox Store starting at $9.

When “Fallout” season 1 dropped, the games went on sale to mark the occasion, so fingers crossed similar discounts appear over the next few days.

Every Fallout game available on PlayStation

• Fallout Shelter
• Fallout 4
• Fallout 76

PlayStation gamers eager to step into the wasteland face slightly more limited options. The only mainline game natively playable on PS5 (or PS4) is Fallout 4. But it was recently upgraded with the Anniversary Edition, and the base edition is included in the PlayStation Plus Extra/Premium Game Library.

Another option is Fallout 76, which launched in a less-than-ideal state but has since been updated over the year and is now worth your time.

Disappointingly, there is no way to play Fallout 3 or Fallout: New Vegas on PS5 or PS4. While the two titles were previously available to play via cloud streaming with a PlayStation Plus Premium subscription, even that is no longer available. Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas were both removed from the Classics Catalog several months back.

Perhaps, the long-rumored Fallout 3 Remake will give PS5 gamers a chance to return to the ruins of Washington on their preferred console, but until that heavily-rumored release is confirmed, PS5 and PS4 owners will just have to get their Fallout fix via Fallout 4 or Fallout 76, or you could opt for the mobile-style spin-off release, Fallout Shelter.

Fallout games available on PC

• Fallout
• Fallout 2
• Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel
• Fallout 3
• Fallout: New Vegas
• Fallout Shelter
• Fallout 4
• Fallout 76

If you want to play pretty much every Fallout game ever made, then PC is the platform for you. Not only can PC players enjoy all the “modern” Fallout games developed under the watch of Bethesda, but the first two games, and the Tactics spin-off, created by developer Interplay Entertainment, are playable on PC.

Playing Fallout games on PC is super simple as well; every single Fallout game (except for Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel) is currently playable on Xbox Game Pass for PC.

Or if you’d rather buy them individually, the entire franchise can be found on Steam, GOG, or the Xbox Store. On PC, you can even access the impressive Fallout: London fan-made mod for Fallout 4, which lets you explore a distinctly British interpretation of the apocalypse.

Right now, the Fallout Franchise Bundle, which includes Fallout 1 through Fallout 4, is on sale with a 20% discount. However, it’s been reduced as much as 75% in the past, so you might want to wait for the upcoming Steam Winter Sale, as its price tag could drop even lower.

Every Fallout game available on Nintendo Switch 2

• Fallout Shelter
• Fallout 4 (TBD 2026)

If you thought the selection of Fallout games on PS5 was bad, then look away now. As of writing, there is exactly one Fallout playable on Nintendo Switch 2, and it’s not even a full-fledged RPG experience. It’s instead the time-waster spin-off Fallout Shelter, which originally hit mobile devices in 2015, and arrived on the first-generation Switch three years later.

It’s a fun little management game, which casts you as a vault overseer, and tasks you with keeping your dwellers happy while also expanding your shelter and fending off various outside threats. It’s well-suited to the Switch 2 because it definitely feels like an experience designed for portable play sessions. Perfect for a flight, train, or doctor’s office wait.

However, it won’t be much longer until a proper Fallout game makes its debut on a Nintendo platform. Bethesda has confirmed that Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition will launch on Switch 2 sometime in 2026. Here’s hoping it’s ready to go not long after “Fallout” season 2 concludes.

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“Fallout” is one of the most successful video game adaptations on TV, and its 65 million viewers worldwide within the first 16 days only reinforce that. Even those who aren’t fans of the games or the show have likely heard of it thanks to the rave reviews. With a surprise early drop of season 2’s first episode today, I can confidently say it lives up to the quality of the first season, just a little darker and bloodier this time around.

Taking on a story rooted in one of gaming’s most revered RPGs comes with obvious challenges. While showrunners Graham Wagner and Geneva Robertson-Dworet don’t get everything perfect (after all, the game itself is so vast), season 2 quickly finds its rhythm in the opening episodes, delivering an adaptation of New Vegas that already feels surprisingly faithful and compelling.

If you’ve been looking forward to streaming “Fallout” season 2 on Prime Video, here are my spoiler-free thoughts on the opening episodes, including where we left off in season 1.

‘Fallout’ season 2 plays on the show’s greatest strengths

At its heart, “Fallout” season 2 follows the journeys of three central characters we first met in season 1. Lucy MacLean (Ella Purnell) and the Ghoul (Walton Goggins) join forces, traveling through the wasteland and eventually into New Vegas as they search for their families. The early episodes take some time to build momentum, with the pair initially navigating territory that feels all too familiar. But it’s the conversations they have along the way that make the show genuinely compelling to watch.

What I immediately loved about this season is the dynamic between Lucy and The Ghoul, as their vastly different approaches to this new world create a fascinating contrast. Their personalities not only bring out Lucy’s memorable quips but also set the stage for several intriguing plot developments.

Even in the opening episodes, we’re introduced to several storylines unfolding simultaneously. Initially, I worried the narrative might become convoluted, but each thread manages to stay engaging. Hank (Kyle MacLachlan) and Norm’s (Moisés Arias) arcs are particularly interesting in the wider narrative thread, while Maximus (Aaron Moten) could still use a bit more development to fully land.

The music and visuals of this wasteland also feel like they’ve been lifted straight from the games. It’s exciting to see such a popular and expansive series receive the attention and visual treatment it deserves on the small screen, capturing the essence of the world fans know and love.

Longtime fans will have plenty to enjoy, with numerous nods and familiar details scattered throughout. While a TV series can’t fully replicate the freedom of New Vegas as a game, the show strikes an impressive balance between honoring the original material and reshaping it to work on screen.

The opening episodes of “Fallout” season 2 deliver a confident return to its strange, post-apocalyptic world while capturing the essence of what made New Vegas stand out in the game series. The tale of unnatural threats and the complicated characters entangled in their struggles feels larger in scope than last year’s adventure, yet it remains just as rich in detail.

"Fallout" season 2 episode 1 will begin streaming on Prime Video on Dec. 16 at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.

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The countdown is on! “Fallout” season 2 is fast approaching, taking us straight to the neon‑lit chaos of New Vegas. One of the biggest Prime Video shows to date makes its much-anticipated return on December. 17.

As long‑time fans of the video game series will know, New Vegas isn’t just another ruined city but the edgy heart of the wasteland’s politics and power. With "Fallout" season 1 focusing heavily on world‑building, it’s easy to forget some of the major plot points going into the next season. I’d actually recommend rewatching the full debut season before "Fallout's" return, but for those short on time, I’ve got you covered.

Before you settle in for the premiere episode next week, here are five essential things to remember before season 2 — a quick guide to make sure you’re primed for the fallout ahead. Fair warning: I’ll be mentioning major spoilers from season 1.

1. Vault-Tec’s grand plan / Shady Sands reveal

The season 1 finale upends everything we learned over the episodes with some pretty dark twists. Vault‑Tec — the pre‑War corporation that built the Vaults as “safe shelters” — turns out to have been running horrific experiments beneath the surface all along. Rather than just guarding people against nuclear fallout, most Vaults were designed as secret laboratories for social, genetic and psychological experiments on unsuspecting residents.

At the heart of it, Overseer Hank MacLean (Kyle MacLachlan) is revealed as a Vault‑Tec “Bud’s Buds” executive, thawed from stasis in Vault 31 (itself a cryo‑pod chamber for high‑level execs). He oversaw Vaults 32 and 33 as part of a breeding experiment designed to produce “ideal” vault dwellers.

Vault‑Tec’s real plan was to trigger the bombs themselves, wiping out surface populations, then emerge as the only survivors with vault‑born citizens under their control. Because of that, the season reveals that the destruction of pre‑war society (including the annihilation of rebuilt cities like Shady Sands) wasn’t a tragic accident, but part of Vault‑Tec’s plan for dominance.

When we learn that Lucy MacLean’s (Ella Purnell) mother escaped with her children to Shady Sands, only for Hank to betray them, it forces Lucy to reject everything she’s been taught and seek the truth.

2. We’re going to New Vegas

In the world of “Fallout,” New Vegas is a glittering, war-scarred city built atop the ruins of Las Vegas. Unlike most of the wasteland, it survived the nuclear bombs thanks to the intervention of the mysterious businessman Robert House.

As a result, New Vegas is a rare mix of neon glamor, competing factions, and dangerous freedom. It’s home to the casino-lined Strip, the robot-controlled Lucky 38 tower, and power players like Mr. House, Caesar’s Legion, the NCR, and wild local gangs.

Crucially, season 1 ends with Hank charging across the desert in his power armor, heading straight toward the Lucky 38 casino skyline of New Vegas. Prime Video has already confirmed that season 2 will dive deep into Fallout: New Vegas game territory, including Justin Theroux stepping in as Robert House, the RobCo founder who rules from the Lucky 38.

Even the new posters and trailers show Caesar’s Legion soldiers and members of “The Kings” (the Elvis-impersonator ghoul gang) roaming the streets of Vegas. It's shaping up to be a wild ride.

3. There will be new factions and monsters

The wasteland is about to get crowded with competing powers and ruthless beasts in season 2. As we head into New Vegas, several major factions each with their own ambitions are set to clash for control. Among them: Caesar's Legion, a brutal, Roman‑inspired slaver army; New California Republic (NCR), striving to bring civilized order back to the wasteland; and Brotherhood of Steel, a militant technocratic group determined to hoard and protect old‑world technology at any cost.

Of course, we’ve already been introduced to the Brotherhood of Steel in season 1. But this time, with Maximus (Aaron Moten) rising through their ranks, things are about to get even more intense.

While humans are notoriously more dangerous in post-apocalyptic stories like this, you can’t forget about the other threats roaming the Wasteland — the ones that made the games so popular (and scary). Expect iconic “Fallout” monsters to surface again, including the terrifying Deathclaw: a genetically engineered reptilian apex predator and one of the most feared beasts in the franchise.

Even the latest trailer for “Fallout” season 2 shows glimpses of classic wasteland monsters, including evidence of Radscorpions and what looks like a Stingwing appearing, too. Add to that the rumblings of mutated pests like Radroach swarms, and the wasteland is shaping up to be as unpredictable (and deadly) as ever.

4. Be prepared for some added game lore

If you haven’t played the games, you might be worried about keeping up with all the factions, locations and backstory. Luckily, the show does an excellent job of filling in the gaps through flashbacks, character conversations, and carefully placed exposition. You don’t need prior knowledge of the games to follow along, and in many ways, experiencing the lore for the first time on screen makes the journey even richer, as you uncover the world alongside the characters.

But for those who have played the games, season 2 naturally includes even more lore. According to the showrunners, Fallout: New Vegas will be a central influence this year. That means familiar factions, iconic locations and classic “Fallout” tech are coming into play. One of the bigger curveballs, though, is the return of the Kings, an Elvis impersonator gang. In the games, the Kings were a group of humans inspired by the glitz and swagger of old‑world pop culture.

But the TV show appears to take things in a darker direction. Promotional material for season 2 shows what look like “ghoul‑ified” Kings — rotting skin, sunken eyes, and classic leather jackets — hinting at a twisted new version of the faction.

What’s especially interesting: Though the show is canon, it won’t lock the story into any single ending of New Vegas. The creators opted for a “fog‑of‑war” approach, leaving the game’s multiple possible outcomes open, meaning your version of the game still “counts.”

5. Where everyone is at the start of season 2

At the end of season 1, Lucy has rejected everything she believed about her father and her Vault upbringing after learning the truth behind Vault‑Tec. She leaves everything she knows behind and teams up with the Ghoul, determined to track down Hank and uncover more of Vault‑Tec’s secrets. The Ghoul has his own quest to find his lost family, sharing her desire for justice.

Meanwhile, after the chaos of the finale, Maximus has returned to the Brotherhood of Steel. He’s officially knighted following the assault that capped season 1, though his loyalties and future remain uncertain. While he helped rescue Hank — albeit unwittingly — he is now separated from Lucy, setting the stage for inner conflict within the Brotherhood.

Speaking of Hank, the show’s villainous twist sees him slip away from the final showdown in stolen power armor. The season closes with him heading toward New  Vegas, determined to finish something that Vault‑Tec started.

While it’s easy to focus on the main trio, another storyline is just as important: Norm MacLean’s fate. By the end of season  1, he uncovers the truth behind Vault‑Tec’s cruel experiments and is trapped in a room filled with cryogenic chambers in Vault  31, holding other frozen executives.

"Fallout" season 2 premieres with one episode on Prime Video on December 17, 2025. After that, new episodes arrive weekly on Wednesdays.

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The wait is over: Prime Video has dropped the first episode of "Fallout" season 2 and whisked us back to the Wasteland for more adventures from the hit video game adaptation (and if you've read our "Fallout" season 2 review, you'll know the show's absolutely worth checking out)!

This time around, Amazon has opted for a weekly release, meaning you'll have to wait to see what's next for Lucy (Ella Purnell) and the rest of our Wasteland wanderers. That's particularly painful given this new season picks up in the aftermath of the season finale, which teased a truly iconic Fallout location: the glittering sight of New Vegas.

If you're looking for the full "Fallout" season 2 release schedule — especially after the streaming service brought the season 2 premiere forward a day last minute — you can find it below.

When can I watch ‘Fallout’ season 2?

Just like the previous season, "Fallout" season 2 is comprised of eight episodes, which will drop exclusively on Prime Video.

"Fallout" season 2 premiered on Tuesday, December 16 (although it was originally slated for December 17). New episodes will continue to air on Wednesdays, through to the "Fallout" season 2 finale on February 4, 2026.

• Episode 1, "The Innovator": December 16, 2025, 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT / December 17, 2 a.m. GMT
• Episode 2: December 24, 2025, 3 a.m. ET / 12 a.m. PT /
• Episode 3: December 31, 2025, 3 a.m. ET / 12 a.m. PT /
• Episode 4: January 7, 2026, 3 a.m. ET / 12 a.m. PT /
• Episode 5: January 14, 2026, 3 a.m. ET / 12 a.m. PT /
• Episode 6: January 21, 2026, 3 a.m. ET / 12 a.m. PT
• Episode 7: January 28, 2026, 3 a.m. ET / 12 a.m. PT
• Episode 8: February 4, 2026, 3 a.m. ET / 12 a.m. PT

If you'd prefer to binge the entire season in one go, you'll be dodging spoilers until early February, so you might want to decide whether you have that kind of patience or rethink your "Fallout" season 2 viewing strategy.

Watch “Fallout” season 2 on Prime Video now

Are we getting 'Fallout' season 3?

Fret not, "Fallout" fans: the Prime Video show isn't going anywhere fast.

If you weren't aware, Prime Video confirmed the hit video game show had scored a season 3 renewal back in May, months before the second season had aired.

“The holidays came a little early this year - we are thrilled to be ending the world all over again for a third season of Fallout,” said executive producers Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy in the statement linked above.

“On behalf of our brilliant cast and crew, our showrunners Geneva and Graham, and our partners at Bethesda, we’re grateful to our incredible collaborators at Amazon MGM Studios and to the amazing fans as we continue our adventures in the wasteland together."

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Well, it's finally here. We officially have the first full-length official trailer for the upcoming "Fallout" season 2, and it looks awesome. There are deathclaws, Dogmeat and plenty of destruction to go around as a war begins to brew in the wasteland of the Mojave Desert.

We have already gotten some hints about what's to come from season 2. Back in August, Prime Video released a first look at "Fallout" season 2, followed by a teaser trailer just days later. That teaser trailer gave us our first look at iconic elements from the Fallout games, including Caesar's Legion, Radroaches and more. It also revealed that season 2 would premiere on Prime Video on Dec. 17.

But this new official trailer dives into what story elements to expect over the eight episodes of season 2. It also gives us a first look at some new cast members, including Kumail Nanjiani and Macaulay Culkin. So let's break down the full two-minute and 38-second trailer.

'Fallout' season 2 trailer breakdown: Vegas, baby!

First, we start with some Elvis-looking members of The Kings, those these Kings appear to be ghouls, rather than the human Kings of Fallout: New Vegas. Regardless, later in the trailer, we'll watch Lucy destroy one of them with a shotgun to the face. We also get a look at some iconic Fallout creatures, including a possible radscorpion sighting at around 0:09 and then a stingwing sighting a few seconds later.

Then we hear the voice of Thaddeus (Johnny Pemberton) cut in, as he is talking to Maximus (Aaron Moten). The two were our two Brotherhood of Steel point-of-view characters from season 1, and Thaddeus is pointing out (pretty accurately) that there are no good people in the Wasteland. When Maximus brings up “That girl I met,” meaning Lucy (Ella Purnell), Thaddeus says, “I would be a good person too if I grew up in some cozy little impenetrable home.”

Speaking of Lucy, she and the Ghoul (Walton Goggins) are hunting down her dad, Hank (Kyle MacLachlan). “I’m going to bring him to justice,” she confidently states, leaving you with the sinking feeling that that's definitely not going to happen.

But Lucy and the Ghouls' hunt for Hank isn't the only throughline of this trailer. It's clear that a war is brewing in the wasteland, as an ominous voice so kindly points out at around the 1:09 mark, as the screen cuts to black. But a few moments before that, we see the Ghoul run into what seems to be a New California Republic soldier, asking him to join their fight.

So we know now to expect the Brotherhood of Steel, Caesar's Legion (they appear later in the trailer) and the NCR. But it's unclear who is fighting whom. In fact, they may be fighting within their own ranks. Kumail Nanjiani arrives in the trailer to inquire about a potential civil war within the Brotherhood's ranks, a storyline I'm now eagerly anticipating. We also see Macaulay Culkin at the 1:54 mark fighting against one of Caesar's Legion while dressed in similar garb. Is he part of the faction? Or merely in disguise? We'll have to watch to find out.

Beyond the war in the wastes, we know we'll be spending some time in the vaults. Or at least with the vaultdwellers. While we see people still inside Vault 33, there appears to be a mass exodus along the coast from the people of Vault 31.

That could be a flashback, though, as we know currently nobody is running around Vault 31 other than Norm (Moisés Arias) and Brain-on-a-Roomba aka Bud Askins (Michael Esper). Plus, we get flashbacks of the Ghoul’s past as Cooper Howard and his wife/Vauit-Tec executive Barb (Frances Turner), so we know to expect that the past will matter as much as the present.

But, of course, the headline of season 2 is that we're headed to New Vegas, and at 1:44, we see Justin Theroux as the city's leader, Mr. House, on a television screen behind the Ghoul. At 2:10, we then see Thaddeus, Maximus (in power armor), the Ghoul and Dogmeat all together in New Vegas, meaning the gang gets back together at some point. Lucy is also with the Ghoul and Dogmeat in this trailer, possibly at the same time as Thaddeus and Maximus, but I think it’s earlier in the season. Regardless, at some point, Maximus is going to have to kill a deathclaw with his power armor, and that's going to be a moment to watch this season.

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Just days after we got our first look at "Fallout" season 2, Prime Video dropped a teaser trailer for "Fallout" season 2 and a release date for the hit video game adaptation's second season during the Gamescom Opening Night Live livestream — and I can't wait to get back to the Wasteland.

It was clear from "Fallout's" first season that the cast and crew just got the franchise's vibe, and this season 2 teaser trailer makes for an intense (but exciting!) watch.

While we've known for some time that "Fallout" season 2 would be taking us to Mr. House's Mojave playground, New Vegas, seeing the city's bright lights and sights brought to life here is a real treat — as is the Deathclaw run-in teased at the end of the clip. Check out the new footage below:

The new "Fallout" season 2 teaser isn't just an exercise in Fallout: New Vegas location-spotting, though: it's also teeing up plenty more conflict to come.

We glimpse The Ghoul/Cooper Howard's past as we're told he'd do "anything" to save his family, get a quick look at Lucy and The Ghoul crossing paths with what looks to be Caesar's Legion, watch as Radroaches infest a Vault, and see explosions, firefights, and more. All in all, this is a killer teaser trailer, and it's certainly got me excited to stream "Fallout" season 2.

If you can't wait to see New Vegas in a whole new light, you'll be pleased to know that "Fallout" season 2 premieres on Prime Video on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. New episodes will air weekly, through to the season finale on February 4, 2026.

What else do we know about 'Fallout' season 2 right now?

Prime Video's "Fallout" season 2 summary gives little away about the upcoming season, beyond what we've seen above. It reads: "The new season will pick up in the aftermath of Season One's epic finale and take audiences along for a journey through the wasteland of the Mojave to the post-apocalyptic city of New Vegas."

Cast-wise, we know that most of our major players are back for "Fallout" season 2. We'll be seeing Walton Goggins, Ella Purnell, and Aaron Moten, plus Kyle MacLachlan, Moisés Arias, Frances Turner, and Rafi Silver as Lucky 38 Casino proprietor, Mr. House.

Macaulay Culkin is also due to appear as a "crazy genius-type character," though his precise role remains undisclosed.

Whatever happens in season 2, we also know this won't be the end of our tale, as Prime Video handed the series a season 3 renewal way back in May 2025.

Need something to stream in the meantime? You can either stream the first season of “Fallout” on Prime Video to refresh your memory of the story so far, or check out our round-up of the best shows like “Fallout” to tide you over until the show's return.

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After months of anticipation since confirming its December premiere, Prime Video’s blockbuster adaptation “Fallout” is finally giving fans a first glimpse of season 2, with the official teaser potentially dropping during Gamescom Opening Night Live on August 19.

Early images from the show hint at a fan-favorite location coming to life: the neon-lit, post-apocalyptic streets of New Vegas.

Alongside the setting, familiar faces are back, including Lucy (Ella Purnell), the Ghoul (Walton Goggins), Maximus (Aaron Moten), Hank MacLean (Kyle McLachlan), and Norm (Moisés Arias), each seemingly gearing up for new conflicts and adventures in the wasteland.

These new images tease just enough to give fans an idea of what’s coming before the teaser arrives. And they aren’t too surprising, given that the Ghoul and Lucy are en route to New Vegas, Maximus remains firmly entrenched with the Brotherhood of Steel, and Norm is still holed up in the vaults.

Hank also makes an appearance, and it looks like trouble could be brewing now that he’s cleaned himself up, distanced from his daughter, and is wielding the golden Pip-Boy.

Most notably, we get to see the Ghoul in his human form, Cooper Howard, among vibrant settings in New Vegas. In one image, he’s riding in a shiny car with the towering Lucky 38 casino reflecting in the window. Another shows him standing alongside his wife, Barb (Frances Turner), in what appears to be a lively bar scene.

These images may capture a moment early in the post-apocalyptic timeline, showing Cooper and Barb together before New Vegas fully descends into chaos.

What will ‘Fallout’ season 2 be about?

Prime Video’s synopsis reads: “The new season will pick up in the aftermath of season one’s epic finale and take audiences along for a journey through the wasteland of the Mojave to the post-apocalyptic city of New Vegas.”

This shift introduces viewers to a city teeming with political chaos, dangerous factions, and a rich history rooted in the “Fallout” universe. Plus, we can’t forget about the iconic Deathclaws, which are powerful, reptilian creatures that roam the wasteland.

I’m especially eager to see how the various factions influence the story in the upcoming season. While the New California Republic and the Brotherhood of Steel return from season 1, it’s possible we’ll also get a glimpse of Caesar’s Legion, the Great Khans, and the White Glove Society (or at the very least hints of their presence in the Mojave).

By the close of season 1, Lucy’s father, Hank, had disappeared, leaving in Maximus’ power armor and apparently making his way toward New Vegas.

From the first glimpses of season 2, it looks like Lucy and the Ghoul are setting out to track him down. Hank’s past was revealed at the end of the previous season: he was once a Vault-Tec employee, which connects him directly to the Ghoul’s wife, who he is still desperately trying to locate.

With the series heading to New Vegas, it seems almost certain that Mr. House will make an appearance given his casino Lucky 38 was seen in the poster and teaser images.

In “Fallout: New Vegas,” Robert House rules over the city’s post-apocalyptic remnants. Fans have already seen him once before: portrayed by Rafi Silver, Mr. House was introduced in a scene late in season 1, when Barb and Bud revealed their scheme to exploit the apocalypse for profit.

Macaulay Culkin will also appear in “Fallout” season 2 in a recurring role, playing a “crazy genius-type character,” though the show is keeping the specifics of his part under wraps. Clearly, there’s plenty to look forward to, and as Goggins told Complex, “real magic” is about to happen.

“Fallout” season 2 is set to premiere in December 2025 on Prime Video, and fans will want to stay tuned for a potential teaser during Gamescom Opening Night Live. With the series already renewed for a third season, there’s plenty to be excited about as the adventures in New Vegas begin.

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Prime Video has just plunged fans headlong into the irradiated streets of the Mojave, dropping the official first poster for “Fallout” season 2 via the show’s official X account, and it's nothing short of a visual treat.

The post hints that we might get a trailer or small teaser during Opening Night Live at Gamescom 2025, an event set for Tuesday, August 19, 2025.

Against the dusky glow of a desolate horizon looms the iconic “Welcome to New Vegas” sign, signaling a shift in setting for season 2. In silhouette, Lucy MacLean (Ella Purnell), the Ghoul (Walton Goggins), Maximus (Aaron Moten), and the loyal Dogmeat trek toward the neon refuge.

The poster also reveals that season 2 will premiere in December 2025, a date first announced in May alongside the show’s season 3 renewal.

At first glance, some of the references in the wasteland might be easy to miss, but there are a few iconic nods worth getting excited about.

“Fallout” season 2 is set to expand the show’s world in a big way, following the lead characters into the Mojave Desert and the neon-lit ruins of New Vegas.

Fans of the “Fallout: New Vegas” game will recognize iconic landmarks like the Lucky 38, Mr. House’s towering casino, which appears in the background of the season’s poster.

I can also spot The Tops and maybe even the top of Gomorrah (you know, that distinctive curved structure). The Tops is a flashy, retro-style casino with a classic Las Vegas vibe, while Gomorrah is a seedier, more dangerous casino controlled by a mafia-like gang. Both fit perfectly with the chaotic, neon-lit atmosphere of the New Vegas Strip.

To the left, you can see high-voltage power line towers (also called electrical transmission towers), a nice detail that highlights the remnants of pre-war infrastructure still standing in the wasteland.

The rest of the New Vegas Strip is shrouded in fog, making it harder to make out details. But you can still expect to see other iconic landmarks like the Ultra-Luxe and Vault 21 Hotel. In fact, if you really zoom in on the background, you might even spot a few rough edges of the hotel’s cog-like sign.

Of course, more obvious references include the huge New Vegas sign, and the characters themselves joining forces when entering this dangerous environment. It's a simple but effective poster, to say the least.

Get ready to delve deeper into the wasteland

The new season is expected to explore how Vault-Tec’s dark secrets continue to ripple through the wasteland, as Lucy hunts down her father, Hank (Kyle MacLachlan), while facing new threats, including deadly creatures like Deathclaws and dangerous raider factions.

Macaulay Culkin has also joined “Fallout” season 2 in a recurring role as a “crazy genius-type character,” though specific details about his character remain under wraps. Clearly, there's a lot to be excited about, and as Goggins told Complex, “real magic” is about to happen.

“Fallout” season 2 will land on Prime Video sometime in December 2025. In the meantime, stream the best shows like “Fallout” while you wait.

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The Wasteland is returning sooner than expected. At a recent industry presentation, Amazon previewed the first “Fallout” season 2 teaser, and while it hasn’t been officially released online yet, the footage is already out in the wild.

Along with the leaked teaser, Amazon confirmed a December 2025 release window, which is earlier than expected considering season 2 just wrapped filming. And in even bigger news: “Fallout” has already been renewed for season 3.

So yes, we have some juicy news to fill the void until season 2 hits the small screen, and there's actually a lot to be excited about.

Following the breakout success of its debut season, “Fallout” quickly became one of Prime Video’s flagship shows. It reportedly reached over 65 million viewers in its first 16 days.

According to series star Aaron Moten (who plays Maximus), “Fallout” is expected to run through season 5 or 6, giving the story plenty of room to grow and explore the scorched Earth in even greater detail.

“Fallout” season 2 picks up after the observatory showdown, focusing on Lucy (Ella Purnell) and The Ghoul (Walton Goggins) as they pursue Hank (Kyle MacLachlan), who fled in power armor toward New Vegas. Now, the duo are hot on his trail, determined to uncover buried secrets as they face potential new threats like factions and Deathclaws.

What else do we know about ‘Fallout’ seasons 2 and 3?

Along with the season 2 release window and season 3 renewal news, Vernon Sanders, head of television at Amazon MGM Studios, said in a statement: “We are absolutely thrilled that our global Prime Video customers will be able to delve deeper into the wonderfully surreal and captivating world of Fallout.

“Jonah, Lisa, Geneva, and Graham have done an exceptional job bringing this beloved video game franchise to vivid life on Prime Video.”

There isn’t an official synopsis for season 2 yet, but we can speculate based on how season 1 ended. Lucy and The Ghoul are currently hunting down her father, who escaped in a suit of power armor after shocking revelations about his true past and Vault-Tec’s involvement in the nuclear apocalypse. Hank appears to be heading toward New Vegas (a major location from the games).

Meanwhile, Maximus, now a fully armored member of the Brotherhood of Steel, is likely to face conflicts between loyalty, power, and morality as the Brotherhood’s agenda expands.

Although many details of the story are still being kept secret, showrunners Graham Wagner and Geneva Robertson-Dworet confirmed that Robert House, also known as Mr. House, will have some kind of role in the series.

In the game, Mr. House controls New Vegas, with his brain connected to a supercomputer that has allowed him to survive from the pre-war era into the post-apocalyptic world.

The cast of “Fallout” includes Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten, and Walton Goggins, who took the stage at New York's Beacon Theater during the Prime Video upfront event to announce the premiere window for Season 2. The lineup also features Kyle MacLachlan, Moisés Arias, Frances Turner, and Macaulay Culkin, who is said to be playing a “crazy genius-type character.”

“Fallout” is a collaboration between Amazon MGM Studios and Kilter Films, developed in partnership with Bethesda Game Studios and Bethesda Softworks. The show is led by showrunners and co-creators Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Graham Wagner.

Executive producers include Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy of Kilter Films, along with Todd Howard representing Bethesda Game Studios and James Altman for Bethesda Softworks.

Of course, we don’t know anything about season 3 considering season 2 isn’t even out yet, but it’s possible we’ll remain in New Vegas for a while considering there is a lot to explore in this new setting. For now, we know a third season is definitely on the way, and that new episodes will drop sometime in December 2025.

In the meantime, stream the first season of “Fallout” on Prime Video for a refresher, or stream the best shows like “Fallout” while you wait for season 2.

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With "Fallout" season 2 officially wrapped, fans have their eyes set on the irradiated horizon of what's to come for Prime Video's hit post-apocalyptic series. Now, one "Fallout" star claims this upcoming trip to New Vegas is just the beginning, which has our spurs jingle, jangle, jangling.

Speaking at a recent Comic-Con panel in Liverpool, England, actor Aaron Moten said when he accepted the role of Maximus, he was told the plan was for "Fallout" to run for five to six seasons in total.

"When I signed on to do the series, we would have a starting point, and they gave me the end point," he explained. "That endpoint hasn't changed, but it is season five, season six, type of endpoint. We've always known that we're going to take our time with the development of the characters."

That's assuming Prime Video sticks to its initial plan, of course. For reference, the first "Fallout" season debuted in April 2024 after filming wrapped in March 2023. If season 2 follows a similar post-production schedule, we could see Maximus, Ella Purnell's Lucy, and Walton Goggins' Ghoul return to our screens just over a year from now, possibly in late spring 2026. That's just a guess, though, as an official release date has yet to be revealed.

Where future 'Fallout' seasons could go

There's certainly no reason why the show couldn't run for several more seasons. The "Fallout" games have been around for decades, and the first season barely scratched the surface of all the lore the franchise has to offer.

For all the terrifying mutants we got to see in season 1, there's still plenty that audiences have yet to be introduced to, like Super Mutants or the series' iconic Deathclaws. Though the latter are confirmed to show up in season 2 in what's sure to be an explosive reveal that I can't wait to see.

As teased by the final scene of season 1, season 2 will venture to the high-rolling city of New Vegas, the setting of one of the most beloved games in the series (and my personal favorite). For the uninitiated, Fallout New Vegas drops you, a lowly courier, in the middle of a full-blown turf war between the major players of the Mojave Desert. Powerful factions like the NCR, a pseudo-government looking to tame the wasteland that's been around since the original Fallout, and Caesar's Legion, a brutal empire cosplaying as the Roman legion, vie for control of the Hoover Dam.

We got a glimpse of one of the major players, the mysterious overseer of the Las Vegas strip, Mr. House (Rafi Silver), in a flashback in season 1. But season 2 stands to open the floodgates for all the shifting alliances, political intrigue, and beloved wackiness New Vegas has to offer.

New Vegas also has some of the best DLC campaigns in the series. Depending on how much ground the showrunners cover in season 2, future "Fallout" seasons could venture to the Sierra Madre, the decrepit casino from Dead Money that forced players into a demented twist on an "Ocean's Eleven" style heist.

That's not just wishful thinking on my part either. The casino's owner, Fredrick Sinclair, briefly appeared in the same flashback as Mr. House in season 1, where he represented the Big MT research facility from the Old World Blues DLC.

That's another prime setting for the "Fallout" show to visit, full of confidently clueless scientists turned into floating brains in jars to continue their horrific experiments after the bombs fell. I was immediately reminded of them when I saw the Brain-on-a-Roomba that Norm (Moises Arias) ran into in season 1 after discovering the secret of Vault 31.

Looking beyond New Vegas, though, there's still plenty for the "Fallout" show to explore, like the sprawling Commonwealth in Fallout 4, the West Coast cities of Fallout 1 and 2, and the hills of mutant-ridden Appalachia from Fallout 76. Any one of which is packed with enough memorable characters, factions, and locales to easily fill a season.

It'll likely be a while before “Fallout” season 2 returns to our screens. While you wait, be sure to check out the best shows like “Fallout” to fill that nuke-shaped void in the meantime.

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We’re inching closer to our next trip through the irradiated ruins of the Wasteland, and yes, all signs point to New Vegas. Ella Purnell just dropped a nuke of an update on Instagram: “Fallout” season 2 has officially wrapped filming.

She shared a behind-the-scenes photo alongside her on-screen dad, Kyle MacLachlan, confirming that production has powered down after months of shooting that kicked off back in November 2024. With cameras now off and post-production firing up, the countdown to season 2 on Prime Video debut has officially begun.

You're probably eager to know when new episodes might drop. Of course, we don’t have a date right now, but we can make an educated guess based on the timeline.

If season 2 follows a post-production timeline similar to the first (filming finished in March 2023 and the show released in April 2024), we might see these characters return to our screens in just over a year — potentially setting up a premiere sometime in late spring 2026. Keep in mind this is just speculation.

With season 2 expected to dive into the expansive and iconic setting of New Vegas, the scale of production could be even more ambitious this time around. A larger world, more elaborate sets, and heightened visual effects might all be on the table, which means post-production could take longer than it did for season 1. So we could get a later release window.

In the meantime, if you’re itching for a little behind-the-scenes fix, check out this Instagram video of Walton Goggins ripping off his ghoul prosthetics in celebration of season 2 wrapping filming. It’s oddly satisfying?

What we know about ‘Fallout’ season 2 so far

“Fallout” season 2 is set to focus heavily on both Lucy (Ella Purnell) and Hank (Kyle MacLachlan), following the intense showdown at the Griffith Observatory that closed out season 1.

The finale finally united the show’s three main characters — Lucy, Maximus of the Brotherhood of Steel (Aaron Moten), and the mysterious Ghoul (Walton Goggins) — as they tracked down Moldaver (Sarita Choudhury) and the critical cold fusion tech. But just as Lucy thought she was saving her father, she’s hit with a series of devastating revelations about who Hank truly is and the atrocities he’s committed.

When he's confronted, Hank escapes in a suit of power armor, seemingly heading for New Vegas. Now, Lucy and The Ghoul are on his trail, determined to uncover long-buried truths and confront whoever is truly pulling the strings.

Purnell and Goggins shared updates about what to expect in season 2. When speaking at the MegaCon Orlando panel (h/t Screen Rant), Purnell said: “It's going to be really good, I think. It's a wild ride. No one's going to be able to predict what happens. There's some big twists this time around.”

Meanwhile, Goggins told Deadline: “[Season 2] blows it out of the water, what these writers have done and the artisans that have come together to tell this story. It’s really gonna be something. I can’t wait for people to see it. We’re working really hard to make that happen.”

On Kinda Funny Gamescast, game director Todd Howard assured fans that “Fallout” season 2 will respect the open-ended nature of New Vegas. While it's tricky to canonize a game with multiple endings, the showrunners aim to avoid contradicting player experiences. Howard emphasized preserving the game's legacy without declaring a single outcome, keeping the spirit of player choice intact.

And of course, season 2 will feature the iconic Deathclaws, considering we saw the skeleton of one at the end of season 1, and the set photos offer some pretty solid evidence.

As much as I’m excited to see more terrifying creatures in action, what I’m really eager for is the arrival of the weirder, wilder factions. Season 1 did an impressive job laying the groundwork like establishing the main characters and setting the tone, but it only scratched the surface when it came to the Wasteland’s various groups. With season 2 heading into New Vegas territory, we’re likely in for a much deeper dive into the region’s big players.

We already got glimpses of the New California Republic and the Brotherhood of Steel, but now there’s a real chance we’ll encounter factions like Caesar’s Legion, the Great Khans, and maybe even the eerie White Glove Society — or at the very least, hints that they’re lurking nearby.

We have a while to wait until “Fallout” season 2 graces our screens. And it’ll be a few months until we even get a teaser trailer. But for now, watch the best shows like “Fallout” to fill the void or stream season 1 again on Prime Video.

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It’s pretty much confirmed — Deathclaws are coming to “Fallout” season 2. Not only did we see one of their skulls at the end of season 1, but showrunner Graham Wagner has outright said they’ll appear.

Leaked set photos have also been making the rounds online. One recent shot from Fallout Films seemingly confirms the New Vegas setting, while another (posted by JustBottleDiggin on Reddit) hints at “Pre-War scenes, Post-War scenes, and now some of the Deathclaw-damaged Post-War scenes.” At this point, the photos are just reinforcing what we already know.

And while I can’t wait to see these iconic creatures in action, there’s actually something else I’m looking forward to even more — the introduction of more wild factions.

Season 1 did a lot of heavy lifting to build the world and establish its characters, so we didn’t see much of the different communities. But now that season 2 is heading to New Vegas, we’re bound to meet some major power players. Here’s why I’m so pumped.

Factions will be the backbone of ‘Fallout’ season 2

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Wagner mentioned that they did make some changes to the game series history, calling it “fun to play with.”

While we shouldn’t expect major shifts, complete accuracy isn’t guaranteed either. What we can expect, however, is “more monsters, more environments, more factions.”

So yes, we are getting factions, and if “Fallout” season 2 is really heading to New Vegas, then factions are about to become a huge deal.

Don’t get me wrong, I can’t wait to see Deathclaws tear through the wasteland, but the New Vegas game was never just about the monsters. It was about power and the way different factions shaped the world around them.

For those who haven’t played the games, "Fallout: New Vegas" is set in a post-apocalyptic world where you navigate the Mojave Desert, a region torn apart by competing factions.

The game drops you right into the middle of a battle for control over the area, with powerful groups like the NCR (a government-like organization trying to restore order), Caesar’s Legion (a brutal, slave-driving empire), Mr. House (a wealthy, mysterious figure who controls New Vegas), and others all fighting for dominance. You have to make decisions that affect the fate of these factions and their people.

We didn’t see too many different communities in “Fallout” season 1 beyond the Brotherhood of Steel, Vault Dwellers, and some wandering survivors. Season 2 has the chance to change that. If the showrunners lean into what made New Vegas so special, we’re in for shifting alliances and potentially serious betrayals.

I’m excited to see the Legion’s ruthless tactics, the bureaucratic challenges of the NCR, and the absolute chaos of groups like the Great Khans. What I’m really hoping for though is an exploration of how power works in this broken world and how people like Lucy (Ella Purnell) will survive under these factions.

And then there’s the White Glove Society, an elite group of aristocrats living in New Vegas, obsessed with maintaining their high-class image. Though they present themselves as sophisticated, their dark secret of cannibalism makes them incredibly disturbing.

“Fallout” season 2 may focus mainly on the larger factions to avoid becoming overwhelming, but I’m at least hoping for a reference to these smaller groups, who are arguably even worse.

With Lucy and the Ghoul (Walton Goggins) on the hunt for Lucy’s father, Hank (Kyle MacLachlan), who was revealed to be a former Vault-Tec employee at the end of season 1, the inclusion of these powerful groups will make their journey very interesting. And I can't wait.

If you’re impatient like me, stream these shows while you wait for “Fallout” season 2. You’ll also be glad to know that “Fallout” season 3 plans are reportedly being made (while season 2 is still filming).

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The wasteland adventures are far from over. While "Fallout" season 2 is still in the early stages of production, plans are already being made for the Prime Video hit show.

According to industry insider Jeff Sneider, the team behind the adaptation of Bethesda's post-apocalyptic RPG video game series is already looking beyond season 2. Sneider revealed on his "The Hot Mic" podcast that showrunners Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan are "planning out season 3" — even though season 2 only recently began production.

"I was told that he and Lisa Joy are a little bit busy doing season 3 of 'Fallout.' Busy filming season 2 [right now], but I think they're already planning out season 3," Sneider said.

Amazon hasn't officially greenlit a third season, but this early development isn't surprising given the show's massive success. "Fallout" quickly became Prime Video's second most-watched original series following its April 2024 debut, snapping up critical acclaim and leaving impressed fans of the original game series in its wake. A whopping 65 million viewer record in its first 16 days is nothing to sneeze at.

What's next for 'Fallout'?

"Fallout" season 2 is already generating significant excitement with the recent news that the story will move to New Vegas, one of the most popular locations from the video games. The upcoming season has also attracted notable new cast members, reportedly including Kumail Nanjiani and Macaulay Culkin.

Stars Ella Purnell and Walton Goggins have already revealed big updates about the second season, with Purnell discussing its status during her panel at MegaCon Orlando in February.

"It's going to be really good, I think. It's a wild ride," she said. "I'm really exhausted. We're working really well to get it out on time."

Purnell also opined that “no one's going to be able to predict what happens. There's some big twists this time around."

Goggins told Deadline he was "in the middle of filming" the season at the time.

"I can tell you that I thought season 1 was extraordinary, personally, I was very pleased with it," he said. "

This blows it out of the water, what these writers have done and the artisans that have come together to tell this story. It’s really gonna be something. I can’t wait for people to see it. We’re working really hard to make that happen."

While specific details about where season 3 might take viewers remain unknown, Bethesda's expansive game world offers plenty of potential locations and communities to explore. The vast "Fallout" universe could sustain plenty of additional seasons of storytelling based on the spin-offs alone.

No release window has been announced for "Fallout" season 2 yet, meaning fans will need to be patient for both the upcoming season and any potential third installment.

"Fallout" season 1 is currently streaming on Prime Video.

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It’s safe to say that “Fallout” was one of the biggest shows on Prime Video in 2024. Amazon reports that “Fallout” amassed 65 million viewers within its first 16 days, making it the platform’s second most-watched show ever, trailing only “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” from 2022. By October 2024, the show had soared past 100 million viewers.

Ever since this popular video game adaptation premiered in April 2024, I’ve been eagerly awaiting any updates on “Fallout” season 2. Thankfully, stars Ella Purnell and Walton Goggins have shared some insights about what’s in store when the show returns (likely in early 2026).

During Purnell's MegaCon Orlando panel (h/t Screen Rant), she talked about the show’s current production: “It's going to be really good, I think. It's a wild ride. It's a wild ride. I'm really exhausted. We're working really well to get it out on time.” She also stated that “no one's going to be able to predict what happens. There's some big twists this time around.”

Meanwhile, Goggins spoke to Deadline about this season being crazier than the first: “We’re in the middle of filming it right now, we’ve been at it since November, and I can tell you that I thought season 1 was extraordinary, personally, I was very pleased with it. This blows it out of the water, what these writers have done and the artisans that have come together to tell this story. It’s really gonna be something. I can’t wait for people to see it. We’re working really hard to make that happen.”

Both stars have emphasized that they’re working hard to keep season 2 on track and deliver something that fans will hopefully love. While we don't know much right now, this season seems to be shaping up to be even more ambitious, and after the success of the first, there’s certainly a lot of anticipation.

I have very high hopes for ‘Fallout’ season 2

I’m even more excited for “Fallout” season 2 after hearing this news. Season 1 showed that the series could expand its world and characters while striking a strong balance between humor, action, and the harsh reality of the wasteland, all in a way that felt both fresh and faithful to the games.

Now, with season 2 on the horizon (even if we have to wait a while), it’s hard not to expect something even bigger. The first season set a high bar, but with that foundation in place, there’s plenty of potential to dive deeper into the lore, expand the factions, and explore the fallout (no pun intended) of that big finale.

Of course, season 1 was a major success, so expectations are bound to be high. But if season 2 builds on what made the first episodes so compelling while taking the story in new directions, it could be something really exciting.

Right now, specific plot details on “Fallout” season 2 are still under wraps, but based on how season 1 ended, it looks like Lucy (Purnell) and the Ghoul (Goggins) are heading into the Mojave Wasteland, and eventually, New Vegas. This time around, some of those locations are expected to be filmed in California, which means we could be in for a brutal take on the wasteland.

As for their ultimate goals, we can take some educated guesses, but the real question is how long it’ll take them to get there, if they even do in season 2. I’m just hoping that we get to see the Deathclaws in this season, which are highly dangerous creatures seen in the video games.

Co-creator Graham Wagner’s interview with The Wrap hinted at their potential appearance: “We wanted to get deathclaws, but we didn't want to just throw it away. It's such a monumental piece. We want to save something for season 2 to be able to do it properly, not just add on to the massive world-building we had to do already in season 1. So in season 2, we're very excited to finally tackle one of the most iconic elements of the games.”

In the meantime, you can stream the best shows like “Fallout” while you wait for season 2. For even more streaming recommendations, watch these video game adaptations to get your fix, including “The Last of Us,” “Arcane,” and more.

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We've just had an exciting update for "Fallout" season 2, courtesy of our favorite Ghoul.

On Instagram, "Fallout" star Walton Goggins (aka Cooper Howard/"The Ghoul" shared a behind-the-scenes shot getting his Ghoul make-up reapplied, showing that the hit Prime Video video game adaptation has started shooting its second season.

Alongside the shot, Goggins made it clear that he was happy to be back in action, writing: "Back in the saddle.... #Deux. Gatdamn it feels good to slip on this skin. I do this s**t for the love of the Game".

As you might expect, fans were hyped; have a quick scroll through the comments section and you'll see tons of excited viewers (and fellow celebrities) letting Goggins know just how amped they are.

This comes just a couple days after fellow star Ella Purnell teased on BlueSky that she was returning to the Wasteland, writing "The wasteland is calling see you soon #fallouts2 #falloutnewvegas", so it seems like the whole gang are back in action.

In late November, we also saw some potential set photos circulating on X (via Fallout Films). A fan driving past an abandoned motel on their way to Vegas saw what they thought was the "Fallout" team filming something, judging by what they suspect might be Fallout: New Vegas' Novac roadsign.

What else do we know about 'Fallout' season 2?

Sadly, we're still pretty light on "Fallout" season 2 info right now. Plot info is very light, beyond the fact that, judging by the end of season 1, The Ghoul and Lucy MacLean (Purnell) will be making for New Vegas, continuing to hunt for her father, Hank (Kyle MacLachlan).

We also know that Deathclaws — one of the Wasteland's most dangerous mutated creatures — are due to make an appearance at some point. And, given the first season told a new story set within the Fallout universe, there's every chance the team will have dreamt up some bizarre new creations for the sophomore season.

Not only do we have scant plot info, we also still don't have an official release date for "Fallout" season 2. I wouldn't expect to see one anytime soon, either even though showrunners Geneva Robertson-Dworet and Graham Wagner have told The Hollywood Reporter they're "going as fast as we possibly can" on the new season.

Given how complicated bringing the Wasteland to life is, I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't arrive until sometime in 2026. While we wait for more info, be sure to check out our round-up of the best Prime Video shows and the best shows like "Fallout" to find your next must-watch show.

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When I heard the news that "Mass Effect" would be Prime Video's next big video game TV adaptation I was initially ecstatic. Did it kill my decade-long dream of writing the screenplay myself? Perhaps, but now it can be left to the professionals.

However, I'm now worried that Prime Video has left it to the wrong professionals. And that's potentially a big mistake that it didn't make with "Fallout."

In the Variety article that broke the news, the Hollywood news outlet reported a few key details about the creative team behind the still unofficial video game adaptation. Key among them was that screenwriter Daniel Casey "is set to write and executive produce the adaptation."

Now, first let me state for the record, that I have no qualms with Mr. Casey personally, and I'm sure that he is a talented writer. He's certainly far more accomplished screenwriter than I am. But he also wrote one of my least favorite movies of the past few years and doesn't have a great record with high-profile projects.

Video game adaptations are hard and require the right creatives to get it right

So far, Casey's resume includes "Kin" and "F9" from The Fast Saga. The former was largely disliked by critics and audiences according to Rotten Tomatoes and the latter is the aforementioned movie that I did not care for at all. In fact, I disliked it so much it turned me off from watching "Fast X" entirely.

Now, in fairness, Casey did serve as an uncredited writer on "10 Cloverfield Lane," a genuinely good movie. But that movie also had Damien Chazelle as a writer and J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves as producers.

This brings me to perhaps an even more important point — the entire creative team matters for "Mass Effect" to work.

In the past few years, we've had massively successful video game adaptions in the form of HBO's "The Last of Us" and Prime Video's "Fallout." But when you look at the creative teams behind those projects, you can see they were set up with a successful foundation. "The Last of Us" was created by Craig Mazin, the Emmy Award-winning creator of "Chernobyl," and Neil Druckmann, the creative mind behind the source material that the show adapted.

"Fallout" also had a similar caliber when it came to its creative team. The show had an executive producer roster that included Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy, who were the team behind "Westworld" and individually have impressive resumes besides. It also included Todd Howard, the director of video games "Fallout 3" and "Fallout 4."

Which brings me back to "Mass Effect." In addition to Casey as the screenwriter, the project will bring in Mike Gamble as an executive producer. Gamble did work on "Mass Effect" games for BioWare, but most notably he was a producer on "Mass Effect: Andromeda," the least well-received game in the series. His other major production credit was "Anthem," which was famously a flop.

Again, I could be wrong. These people are talented enough and qualified enough to be screenwriters and video game producers, so it's not impossible that they could then write and produce a good — even great — video game adaptation. But I think it's fair to be concerned that the current "Mass Effect" TV adaptation creative team isn't at the incredibly high standard recent history has shown us that a video game TV adaptation requires.

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Amazon looks set to try and follow the phenomenal success of "Fallout" with another big ticket video game adaptation: "Mass Effect". According to a report in Variety, the streaming service has just begun development on its version of BioWare's space opera RPG.

Details are thin right now, but the site reports Daniel Casey is on board to write (he penned "F9: The Fast Saga") while executive producers include BioWare producer Mike Gamble and Ari Arad. The latter has a track record of video game adaptations that include "Uncharted" and, for better or worse, "Borderlands".

How a "Mass Effect" TV series takes shape is going to be fascinating to watch. The sprawling game series owes more than a little credit to "Star Trek" and hasn't had a recent entry since 2017's "Mass Effect: Andromeda". Whether Amazon MGM Studios decides to stay true to the game(s) or take things in a different direction remains to be seen.

For its part, BioWare has teased a fifth "Mass Effect" game that could see the return of famed protagonist Commander Shepard.

Rolling the dice on a video game adaptation isn't always a sure thing (just look at the aforementioned "Borderlands" movie) but I'd argue Amazon's onto a good thing here. "Mass Effect" is dense, so there's more than enough material on offer to make a very watchable sci-fi show with the right direction. Especially if Amazon dips into "Rings of Power" levels of budget to fund the world-building.

Sadly, we don't have any idea of when "Mass Effect" may touch down on Prime Video. That's a shame because while "Fallout" season 2 is officially in the works, that also doesn't have a release date yet. We could be waiting well into 2025 if not 2026 to continue those adventures.

All's not lost, though. Here's the 7 best video game adaptations to stream right now while we wait for Amazon to deliver the goods.

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"Fallout" season 2 has officially left the Vault. Prime Video greenlit a second season of Jonathan Nolan's Emmy-nominated video game adaptation a little over a week after season 1 dropped in its entirety on the Amazon streaming service. Now, season 2 is done filming, and the entire season is available to stream on Prime Video.

But if you're not ready to start watching, you've come to the right place. We have a few trailers to dissect, first looks at a few new characters and more. So let's dive into everything "Fallout" season 2, including the release date, trailers, casting announcements, plot speculation and more.

"Fallout" season 2 release date

"Fallout" season 2 is officially available to stream on Prime Video. The season premiered on Dec. 17, 2025. Check out our review of "Fallout" season 2 now if you want to know more about what to expect.

Looking beyond season 2, show star Aaron Moten says that the show could go on for "five, six seasons."

"When I signed on to do the series, we would have a starting point, and they gave me the end point," Moten said at Liverpool Comic-Con. "That endpoint hasn't changed, but it is season five, season six, type of endpoint. We've always known that we're going to take our time with the development of the characters."

We already know we'll at least get a season 3, as Amazon announced "Fallout" was renewed for a third season when it unveiled the first season 2 teaser trailer.

"Fallout" season 2 episode schedule

Prime Video has officially confirmed the episode schedule for "Fallout" season 2. This season, the streaming service has opted for a weekly release schedule, rather than dropping the entire eight-episode season at once. Here's the full schedule below:

• Episode 1: Dec. 17, 2025, 3 a.m. ET / 12 a.m. PT
• Episode 2: Dec. 24, 2025, 3 a.m. ET / 12 a.m. PT
• Episode 3: Dec. 31, 2025, 3 a.m. ET / 12 a.m. PT
• Episode 4: Jan. 7, 2026, 3 a.m. ET / 12 a.m. PT
• Episode 5: Jan. 14, 2026, 3 a.m. ET / 12 a.m. PT
• Episode 6: Jan. 21, 2026, 3 a.m. ET / 12 a.m. PT
• Episode 7: Jan. 27, 2026, 3 a.m. ET / 12 a.m. PT
• Episode 8: Feb. 3, 2026, 3 a.m. ET / 12 a.m. PT

'Fallout' season 2 trailers

We officially have a few "Fallout" season 2 trailers. The first trailer doesn't give us much, but it does finally confirm once and for all that we are headed to New Vegas.

The Gamescom trailer gave us a lot more to digest, though. In the two-minute and 43-second-long trailer, we get more details about The Ghoul's (Walton Goggins) past as Hollywood star Howard Cooper, including a meeting with Justin Theroux's Mr. House in his Lucky 38 casino. We also get our first look at Caesar's Legion, a new faction for the show that was made famous in Fallout: New Vegas.

The other event the trailer seems to set up is a radroach attack on Vault 31 and it doesn't seem like it ends well for Bud's junior executives. Is this something that happened in the past? Or is it something that Norm sets in motion, intentionally or otherwise, now that he's aware things aren't all they seem in the trio of Vaults 31, 32 and 33.

There's also the official trailer for season 2, which dropped about a month before the Dec. 17 release date. It builds on the teaser trailer, continuing to give us a look at New Vegas and the deadly creatures of the wasteland. But it also gives us a look at a deadly war brewing within and between the factions of the Mojave, and our first look at some new people, including Kumail Nanjiani and Macaulay Culkin's new characters.

Check out our 'Fallout' season 2 trailer breakdown for the full scoop, or watch the clip below for a more festive wintery version of the trailer, with a few new shots we hadn't seen before.

Finally, there's now a clip of Lucy and the Ghoul in the iconic New Vegas location Novac, featuring Dinky the T-Rex. Check it out below.

• Read more: I dissected the new 'Fallout' season 2 poster and found hidden Easter eggs you might have missed

"Fallout" season 2 cast

The season 2 announcement from Prime Video confirmed the return of Ella Purnell, Aaron Moten and Walton Goggins as Lucy, Maximus and the Ghoul aka Cooper Howard.

Beyond that though, there are some cast members we can expect to return.

Here's everyone to expect in "Fallout" season 2, with confirmed cast members denoted accordingly. In an interview with Variety, Amazon MGM Studios chief Jennifer Salke said "We are committed to our journey with our beloved characters" so expect plenty of returning faces.

At least one new face will be joining the cast of "Fallout" for season 2. Macaulay Culkin has reportedly joined the cast as a "crazy genius-type character" (h/t Deadline). That's one reveal we'll definitely be keeping an eye out for in upcoming episodes.

As we get more rumors and official announcements, we'll update this section.

"Fallout" season 2 cast

• Ella Purnell as Lucy: One of the show's three protagonists, Lucy is an optimist Vault-dweller whose world is turned upside-down by the events of season 1. She is currently with the Ghoul, tracking down her father Hank.
• Aaron Moten as Maximus: Another protagonist, Maximus was a young, zealous member of the Brotherhood of Steel before the events of season 1. He is now a knight in the Brotherhood, but no longer a zealot. He's also a potential romantic interest for Lucy.
• Walton Goggins as the Ghoul: The show's third protagonist, the Ghoul is a ruthless bounty hunter with a mysterious past as a human named Cooper Howard. He is hunting for his wife Barb, who worked for Vault-Tec before the nuclear apocalypse, and aiding Lucy in the hunt for her father Hank.
• Kyle MacLachlan as Hank: Hank was a former Vault-Tec employee before the apocalypse and was installed as the Overseer of Vault 33 before he was abducted by Moldaver in season 1. He is the father of Lucy and Norm.
• Moises Arias as Norm: Hank's son and Lucy's brother, Norm uncovers a dark conspiracy in Vaults 33 and 32 during season 1.
• Sarita Choudhury as Lee Moldaver: Hank's abductor and member of the New California Republic. She is seemingly dead at the end of season 1, but it's not confirmed. She could show up in flashback scenes even if her death is confirmed in season 2.
• Frances Turner as Barb Howard: A Vault-Tec executive and the wife of Cooper Howard, Barb is revealed to not be quite what she seems by the end of season 1. Her husband is now the bounty hunting Ghoul, and he's currently on the hunt for her, assuming she survived the nuclear war before the show.
• Justin Theroux as Mr. House: Proprietor of the Lucky 38 casino in New Vegas.
• Macaulay Culkin in an unknown role: Culkin has reportedly joined the cast as a "crazy genius-type character." He's seen in the official trailer fighting a member of Caesar's Legion.
• Kumail Nanjiani in an unknown role: Nanjiani is confirmed to be a high-ranking member of the Brotherhood of Steel in the official trailer, but his name has yet to be revealed.

"Fallout" season 2 casting rumors

Aside from the expected cast detailed above, a few other casting rumors are floating about.

In an interview with IGN, Jonathan Nolan confirmed that Aaron Paul has shown a serious interest in appearing in season 2. Time will tell if that desire bears fruit for the former "Breaking Bad" and "Westworld" star.

Additionally, in the "Fallout" season 2 official trailer, there's an ominous voice that has fans excited. "You're going to need friends," it says, as the screen goes dark. "There's a war coming." In the comments, people have speculated that the voice is none other than actor Ron Perlman, who has been in the Fallout video games before. Adding fuel to the fire, Perlman was asked earlier in the year if he'd want to join the cast of season 2, and he refused to confirm or deny the possibility (h/t CGMagazine via YouTube).

"Fallout" season 2 plot speculation

Editor's note: This section is as of Dec. 16, 2025 and has not been updated to reflect anything that happened in "Fallout" season 2.

We're about to get into spoiler territory as we break down what to possibly expect from season 2 and recap season 1. But make sure to check out this explainer on five things to know before season 2 if you want the short version, with a bit less spoilers.

Spoilers for "Fallout" season 1 and 2, as well as the "Fallout" video game series beyond this point.

This season, the show's locations are at least partially shot in California. So expect a realistic, brutal hellscape if these leaked set photos from North Hollywood are any indication.

At the moment, we know Lucy and The Ghoul are headed to New Vegas. Based on the season 2 trailers, we expect the Ghoul and Lucy to be on the Hunt for Hank, who was revealed to be a former Vault-Tec employee at the end of season 1. That means he worked with the Ghoul's wife, Barb Howard, whom the Ghoul is very much still trying to find.

In a first-look interview with Empire, star Ella Purnell, who plays Lucy, described it as a road trip comedy. "At times, it’s like [they] are on this buddy road trip," Purnell told the outlet. "And then other times, they’re so much at arms. They’re trying to influence each other and see who’s going to rub off on whom. Is the Ghoul going to become good? Is Lucy going to become bad? Or are they going to be somewhere in the middle?”

As for how Lucy's personality shifts following the events of season 1 and during the course of season 2, that's not yet set in stone. At a press junket for the show "Sweetpea," Purnell said, "Because we leave Lucy in such a vulnerable, unprecedented place, she could go any which way and I wouldn’t be surprised." But in other interviews, she's said that it wouldn't surprise her if Lucy remained relatively optimistic or became a cold-blooded killer like her irradiated partner (h/t Collider).

Meanwhile, Walton Goggins is looking inward for his portrayal of the Ghoul this season. “He has no control over the information that is coming to him," Goggins told Deadline Hollywood, "and he’s understanding in real time the world that he thought he knew no longer exists, and there is a chaotic kind of bent, if you will, to the world that he’s living in. And he’s just like any reasonable person trying to make sense out of something that can’t make sense."

In an interview with The Wrap, Jonathan Nolan said that we'll be exploring a Fallout location that holds a special place for him, and the expectation is that New Vegas, of Fallout: New Vegas fame, is that location. Nolan seemingly threw gasoline on that notion after telling fans at the 2024 Game Awards, "I want to thank Fallout: New Vegas fans for not burning down my house, you’ll be thankful you didn’t."

Since we're getting New Vegas, we are also getting the return of Mr. House, played by Justin Theroux. In the game Fallout: New Vegas, Robert House is the ruler of the post-apocalyptic city. We've theoretically already met him before, though — Mr. House was the founder of Rob-Co Industries and is portrayed by Rafi Silver in the scene where Barb and Bud are presenting their plan to destroy the world for profit towards the end of season 1. It's unclear if Theroux is simply a recasting of the character or if they will retcon Silver's portrayal as a different character.

Given that, in an interview with Variety, the showrunners promised that characters are Vegas-bound and that there will be more of Mr. House, this plot point seems inevitable.

Factions are also almost certainly going to play a role in season 2. One of our writers, Alix, is particularly excited to see the role factions play in the new season. There's the New California Republic and Brotherhood of Steel from season 1, but most likely we'll see Caesar's Legion, Great Khans and the White Glove Society as well. Or at least evidence of their existence.

Just know that, no matter what happens, this show isn't establishing a canon ending for New Vegas. At least, that's what Aaron Moten told The Spill in a cast interview.

There has been a deluge of set photo leaks of the New Vegas setting. Leaked photos have flown freely on X (Twitter) and Reddit, showing off the world of Fallout season 2 in action (h/t The Gamer).

This includes some rumored set photos of Novac, which is a location from the "Fallout: New Vegas" game (h/t Fallout Films on X), and these additional set photo leaks of Novac featuring Dinky the T-Rex, which were ultimately pulled from Instagram.

Fallout Films on X (Twitter) posted a look at some potential pre-war versions of Las Vegas in the daylight and at night during a shoot.

JustBottleDiggin on Reddit also showed off photos of what is allegedly New Vegas. Their photos also seem to reveal "Pre-War scenes, Post-War scenes, and now some of the Deathclaw-damaged Post-War scenes." So this seemed to confirm not only New Vegas but Deathclaws for season 2, and a Deathclaw does appear in the official trailer.

[Major Spoiler] New Vegas Set Photos: [Legendary] Edition…. from r/Fallout

We knew that Deathclaws were likely to appear. Showrunner Graham Wagner told Variety that Deathclaws will appear in season 2 and that they are "very excited to finally tackle one of the most iconic elements of the game." The photos from New Vegas are just a confirmation of what we have already been told.

Just bear in mind that while the show is generally considered canonical to the "Fallout" universe, that doesn't mean the show won't veer from canon.

When speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Wagner said that they did alter the course of the game series history and that it's "fun to play with." Don't necessarily expect major changes, but don't expect 100% accuracy either. Do expect these things though: "more monsters, more environments, more factions."

Wagner isn't the only one teasing some possible deviation from the games, as season 2 recently got big updates from two major stars. While at Mega Con Orlando, Purnell revealed "I think no one’s going to be able to predict what happens. Truly. There’s some big twists and turns in there. It’s so fun."

Meanwhile, Goggins spoke to Deadline about this season being crazier than the first: “We’re in the middle of filming it right now, we’ve been at it since November, and I can tell you that I thought season 1 was extraordinary, personally, I was very pleased with it. This blows it out of the water, what these writers have done and the artisans that have come together to tell this story. It’s really gonna be something. I can’t wait for people to see it. We’re working really hard to make that happen.”

Season 2 isn't all that Jonathan and Lisa Nolan have been hard at work on though. In an episode of The Hot Mic podcast, industry insider Jeff Sneider indicated that the creative team is "already planning out season 3" (h/t The Direct).

"Fallout" season 1 recap

I won't go into everything here — after all, the show is available for all to watch — but here's a brief recap of "Fallout" season 1.

In an alternate version of 2077, a Great War turns nuclear, causing a global apocalypse. Some who survived tried to build a life in the nuclear wastelands, while others formed (often violent) factions to restore some semblance of order in this new world. But some were able to survive in fallout shelters known as vaults, waiting for the time when it would be safe to rebuild society.

One such vault was Vault 33 in Los Angeles, and in it dwelt Lucy (Ella Purnell). As a vault dweller, she had a generally optimistic, naive, even patriotic view of life ... which is abruptly shattered when Moldaver (Sarita Choudhury) breaks into Vaults 32 and 33, ultimately kidnapping Lucy's father Hank (Kyle McLachlan).

Lucy immediately embarks on a quest to save her father, which takes her through the devastated lands outside of Los Angeles. In the town of Filly, she crosses paths with Wilzig (Michael Emerson), a wanderer Lucy had encountered in the wasteland. It turns out he's also the most wanted man in the wasteland, and both Maximus (Aaron Moten), a member of the Brotherhood of Steel, and the Ghoul (Walton Goggins), a notorious irradiated bounty hunter, have come to collect Wilzig dead or alive.

Ultimately, Wilzig and Lucy escape Filly, but not before he's mortally wounded. He tells Lucy to take his head to Moldaver, who will likely exchange it for the life of Lucy's father. She does this, but then promptly loses it to a creature called a gulper who swallows the head whole. The Ghoul, having eliminated Maximus for now, arrives and tries to recover the head, but fails. He takes Lucy captive, hoping to exchange her for the medicine that keeps him from turning into a feral ghoul.

Meanwhile, Maximus now arrives at the gulper and secures Wilzig's head. However, his squire Thaddeus (Johnny Pemberton) takes the head from Maximus once it is revealed that Maximus has been impersonating the Brotherhood of Steel knight Titus. Lucy, having escaped the Ghoul and an organ-harvesting robot, teams up to recover Wilzig's head. However, they're both relatively bad at surviving the wilderness and find themselves captured by Vault 4.

Luckily for them, the vault dwellers of Vault 4 aren't as murderous as initially believed, and Lucy and Maximus leave with their lives. They eventually find Thaddeus and Wilzig's head, which Lucy then takes by herself to Moldaver.

It is with Moldaver that season 1 comes to a climax. Lucy arrives, to find out that her father is actually a former Vault-Tec executive assistant tasked with ensuring a society where Vault-Tec is secretly in control. The revelation comes at the same time that we learn that the Ghoul aka Cooper Howard knew his wife Barb and the Vault-Tec executives started the apocalyptic nuclear war to eliminate the competition. Lucy's brother Norm comes to a similar revelation about Vault-Tec's nefarious behavior after his investigation of Vault 31 uncovered that it contains cryogenically frozen Vault-Tec junior executives like his father Hank.

Sadly for Lucy, that's not the only revelation about her family that she discovers. Her mother Rose (Elle Vertes) is also with Moldaver, but as a feral ghoul — and it's Hank's fault. Meanwhile, the Ghoul has arrived as has the Brotherhood of Steel.

The whole thing ends in a showdown where Moldaver and the remnants of the New California Republic are slain by Maximus and the Brotherhood of Steel. Hank uses the opportunity to escape with power armor he stole from a Brotherhood of Steel knight and heads for what appears to be New Vegas. Lucy kills her mother, ending Rose's misery, and joins the Ghoul to hunt down his wife Barb and her father Hank.

Again, despite the length of that recap, it's super condensed, missing much of the nuance that makes this show so good. So head to Prime Video and watch "Fallout" season 1 now while we wait for season 2.

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Amazon’s “Fallout” came swinging right out of the gate. Unafraid to be wholly itself, leaning into the well-beloved franchise’s zany atmosphere, “Fallout” in live-action show form not only stole the hearts of its fanbase but wrought renewed interest in the long-dormant franchise with those unacquainted with its post-apocalyptic mold. 

But another long-dormant franchise found its own bit of limelight in the midst of “Fallout’s” ever-growing fame. Released all the way back in 2016 and headed up by “Fallout’s” own showrunners in Lisa Joy and Jonathon Nolan, “Westworld” likewise took the world by storm in its portrayal of a band of androids in the throes of sentience. 

Subsequent seasons, however, watched “Westworld” no sooner flounder with most viewers and critics. HBO would inevitably cancel the show following its fourth season, which left a host (pun fully intended) of narrative beats on the table ripe for closure. 

Amid the press tour in the lead-up to “Fallout’s” release, Nolan was asked about the potential for returning to this robot-ruled future in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter. While more than most of the fanbase has moved on, I’m still hurting for that fifth and final outing — as are its creators, who would “like to finish the story we started.” 

I might be one of the few still thinking about it, but “Westworld” deserves a return to form and an ending worth the true potential its first season merited. 

Returning to its Western roots  

“Westworld” finds its origins in the 1973 movie of the same name. It’s the brainchild of “Jurassic Park” writer Michael Crichton, who both directed and wrote the screenplay for the Yul Brynner-starring film. By no means was “Westworld” an academy award-winning epic, but it did still land well with critics at the time and spawned not one but two subsequent sequels in the 1976 film “Futureworld” and 1980 CBS TV show “Beyond Westworld.” 

At the heart of what made the original film so special was its western iconography, made all the better thanks to Brynner’s spell-binding villainous performance. Similar elements are utilized throughout the HBO show’s run, which focused primarily on the western theme park as opposed to its other wings, which included a Japanese-inspired Shogun world and India-inspired Raj world. 

Season 3 of “Westworld” aimed to be its most far-flung yet. Main characters Dolores and Bernard had finally escaped from the clutches of the theme park, now capable of traversing the outer future world of 2053. It set a whole new tone, wrangling new talent led by Aaron Paul and Vincent Cassel, but it didn’t help to reinvigorate the fandom.

Despite the lackluster appeal of “Westworld” season 3, I was still on the edge of my seat. Experiencing the world of the future in such fascinating new ways always grips my imagination, and I was extremely excited to see what Nolan and Joy would bring to the table. That they certainly delivered with extravagant fashion statements, self-driving vehicles, and a sniper-drone combo that any Cyberpunk 2077 player would crave.

Season 4 did little to bring back the fanfare, either. It dropped viewers into the distant future, as hosts of Westworld theme park fame no sooner became the writers of their own destiny and humans their mere playthings. Interesting as it is on paper, it still did little in drawing viewers back into its guise — but season 4 did, however, end on a note of promise for long-time “Westworld” fans: a return to its Western roots.

Closing the five season loop 

Series creator Jonathon Nolan always intended to wrap up “Westworld” within a five season span. HBO, however, not only pulled the plug on the series following its fourth season but also took every episode off Max. “Westworld” now doesn’t even have a real home to call to, with fans relegated to rental services and occasionally,  free offshoots like Tubi.

The way “Westworld” was handled in its closing moments still puts a sour taste in my mouth. There’s clear promise in its heady sci-fi world, one that basks in similar questions that currently pervade the public consciousness, main among them being the prowess and dangers of artificial intelligence. 

Off the back of real-world concepts in OpenAI’s GPT-4o and Google’s Gemini Flash 1.5, “Westworld” creators could find fascinating new ways of blending the future into the Western landscape. With season 4 ending with the potential of returning to the Westworld theme park in a whole new way, season 5 could shape up to be one of its most exciting entries yet made all the better thanks to the ways AI is directly impacting our daily lives. 

Nolan isn’t calling it quits either. In the aforementioned interview with THR, he claims that he and his team are “completionists.” He adds that 2014’s “Interstellar” was an eight-year process to conceive, which could mean that hope for a “Westworld” revival is anything but dashed.

Even if a season 5 is not possible, a culminating movie could be in the cards. Look no further than other HBO franchises in “Deadwood” and “The Sopranos” to see how such additional storytelling beats fared in bringing those narratives to old and newer audiences. If anything, the revival of “Westworld” in movie form could shine a whole new light on its previous seasons and may well make viewers question (and maybe even re-question) the nature of their own reality. 

It's clear, though, that "Westworld" is long behind us and I'll just have to find a way to live with the story as told. But a part of me wishes to live within its sci-fi future one last time if only to experience the could-have-been of its final chapter. Maybe these violent delights don't have an end, after all.

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Amazon Prime Video’s “Fallout” TV show is one of the biggest streaming hits of the year pulling in impressive viewing figures, and high critical praise to match, and the online retailer is celebrating this success by offering Amazon Prime subscribers a free Fallout video game. 

Until June 12, Amazon Prime members can claim a free copy of Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition on PC (redeemed via GOG). This freebie is being offered via Prime Gaming, and to grab yours just head to the Prime Gaming hub, visit the “Games” section, select Fallout 3 and follow the instructions to download your free game. 

Even better, Fallout 3 is not the only free game you can get on Prime Gaming right now. The gaming service is offering free copies of Lego Star Wars 3: The Clone Wars, Tomb Raider: Game of the Year Edition, Chivalry 2 and Electrician Simulator. Plus, if you’ve got a real craving for Fallout, the latest entry in the franchise, the online-focused Fallout 76 is also available to all Prime accounts.  

Prime Gaming is one of the best Amazon Prime membership benefits giving subscribers access to a rotating selection of free games each month, as well as in-game items and DLC for some of the most popular titles around including Apex Legends, Call of Duty: Warzone and Madden NFL 24. 

If you have Amazon Prime, you already have access to Prime Gaming. So, make sure you’re claiming your free games each month. And don’t worry if you don’t have time to play right now because once you’ve claimed a game, it’s yours to keep. So grab the latest freebies now, and you can play later. 

Fallout 3 is a legendary role-playing game

Released in 2008, Fallout 3 set the template that the franchise continues to follow to this day and is arguably the most influential and celebrated game in the entire series. Developed by Bethesda Game Studios the team behind The Elder Scrolls, Fallout 3 is a sprawling RPG with a large emphasis on player choice. 

You start as a young resident of Vault 101 living in the (relative) safety of the sealed underground bunker. However, when your father goes missing in mysterious circumstances, you must venture out into the irradiated ruins of Washington D.C. to locate him. Once you step out of Vault 101, you’re free to set off in any direction. 

Throughout your wandering in the wasteland, you’ll meet all manner of memorable characters, face various mutated threats and take on dozens of quests. Many missions can play out in different ways based on your actions, and a few will test your morals. After all, in the world of Fallout distinguishing the good from the bad is a lot easier said than done. 

While the Fallout series started with an isometric perspective and turn-based battles, Fallout 3 took inspiration from popular first-person shooters of the day and switched things up in dramatic ways. Even by 2008 standards, its shooting gameplay is a little imprecise, but if you’re struggling to aim, you can always rely on the V.A.T.S. auto-targeting system to pull off satisfying headshots with ease. 

Prime Gaming is giving away the Game of the Year Edition of Fallout 3 which is a big deal as it includes all five DLC expansions. These are Operation: Anchorage, The Pitt, Broken Steel, Point Lookout, and Mothership Zeta. Each is worth playing, and Point Lookout and The Pitt in particular rank as some of the best DLC ever made. 

Fallout 3 is a hugely revered RPG and won numerous awards in the months after its release. It’s somewhat dated compared to modern role-playing games, but it’s still extremely playable and packs some of the best world-building and quest-writing in the entire genre. If the Fallout TV show has you eager to explore the wasteland, don’t miss this epic Prime Gaming freebie. 

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Like my colleague Ryan Epps, the release of the Fallout TV series on Amazon Prime Video spurred me into revisiting one of the Fallout games. But rather than heading into Fallout 3’s Capital Wasteland, I’m getting myself ready for the newly-confirmed second season by heading into the mean streets of New Vegas.

I’ve been meaning to go back for a while, because out of all the Bethesda-era Fallout games, it’s the one I neglected the most. I played through the main story back in 2010,  when I was regularly skipping class in college and had free time to waste. I headed back five years later, though that time I only managed to get to Primm before I shut off my Xbox and put the game away for good.

Thankfully backwards compatibility meant that I could still dust off the original disc and play on the Xbox Series X without buying a brand new copy. Though I did need to buy all the DLC, but the Xbox Spring Sale meant this wasn’t exactly a bank-breaking purchase.

Of all the “modern” Fallout games, New Vegas is the one that’s held in the highest regard by fans, and there are a lot of things to love. The setting is closer to the original Fallout games than anything Bethesda made itself, there are a ridiculous number of quests to play through, unique weapon modification and crafting systems. Plus, some of the most unique and well-written followers in the series so far.

Alongside this, it's not exactly one for holding your hand while you play. If you trek off in the wrong direction you’ll find yourself woefully underprepared for some of the horrors the Mojave Wasteland can throw at you. Cazador venom is no joke, especially if you come across a swarm of the blasted things in an enclosed space.

There's no right side to the New Vegas conflicts

Of course, New Vegas is very murky — both in terms of the landscape and its morals. While Fallout 3 had a definite sense of which side was right, and forced you along a linear quest path, New Vegas gives you a lot more freedom. On top of that, none of the factions can be described as good or bad. It’s all about shades of gray in this game, and there’s no “right answer” on which way you should go.

Though Caesar’s Legion is definitely more clear cut than the NCR or Mr House, there’s about as much goodness in that pack of crucification-loving slavers as a rotten durian fruit.

Even the quests themselves have different layers on them. I’ve only just hit level 11 on my new play through, but I have already started coming across quests that directly contradict one another — and no, I’m not talking about the main quest line either. Completing one task for one person means another person either starts disliking me or just straight-up dies.

It makes the completionist in me die a little inside, but that’s the nature of the game. It’s also one of the main ways New Vegas stands apart from Fallout 3, which featured very few quests with actual, lasting consequences. Destroying Megaton does have an impact on the game, but it’s not the kind of thing that makes you want to go back and replay the game to see what happens when you make a different decision.

New Vegas is showing its age

Coming back to New Vegas after 9 years isn’t the most seamless of experiences, though. The game was released 14 years ago, in an engine that debuted two years earlier, and it definitely feels like it. The graphics are not great, they can mostly be forgiven. The animation, on the other hand, is absolutely dire — to the point where I can’t ever remember the game looking quite this bad.

I've spotted multiple characters more or less floating over the ground as they move, arms don’t actually seem to touch when characters cross them, and I’ve seen more accurate speech animation in episodes of South Park. I know I have to give New Vegas some slack, on account of its age and the fact it was an Xbox 360/PS3 era title, but it does get distracting at times.

It's enough to make me wish that Bethesda and/or Obsidian would remaster the game for current generation systems.

It’s particularly bad with Rex, the cyborg dog companion you end up adopting from a group of Elvis impersonators in the New Vegas outskirts. It’s almost as though he never actually touches the ground when running. Then again the circumstances of how you meet Rex are one of those things that makes Fallout New Vegas so great.

New Vegas is wild and unique in the best way

Over 300 years, and a whole nuclear war after he died, Elvis still has such a massive impact on Vegas culture that there’s a gang who look and talk exactly like him. And those guys have a cyborg dog that can join you on your adventures.

Then there’s the super mutant that talks and acts as though the player is her grandson, a giant hollow dinosaur that's used as a sniper's nest, and a gang of violent grandmas straight out of a Monty Python sketch.

Absolute madness, but in the best way possible. I know damn well that I’m only just scratching the surface of the absolutely bonkers stuff hiding in this game. And that’s without picking up the Wild Wasteland perk.

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It hasn’t been long since the hit series “Fallout” was released but, in just over a week, it has already been renewed for a second season. Prime Video went ahead and gave it the green light — which is very exciting for anyone who binge-watched this series in just a matter of days, or hours.

Of course, it comes as no surprise the popular show will continue. Rotten Tomatoes gave the video game adaptation a high score of 94%, with audiences praising the immersive and captivating universe.

In fact, Amazon was also shocked at how fast this show obtained success. The company said: “The bar was high for lovers of this iconic video game and so far we seem to have exceeded their expectations while bringing in millions of new fans to the franchise.” Instead of directly following the games, “Fallout” introduces new characters and stories in the universe to make it even more exciting.

The “Fallout” universe has so much more to offer, and future seasons could delve more into character development and focus on introducing familiar threats lovers of the game have seen before. Since everyone is demanding deathclaws, you could expect to see this creepy reptile species on your screen in the next season.

What will 'Fallout' season 2 be about?

It’s not clear what season 2 will be about exactly, but we do know that Lucy Maclean (Ella Purnell), Cooper Howard (Walton Goggins), and Maximus (Aaron Clifton Moten) will return. The ending left many questions unanswered, but we won’t go into spoiler territory here if you haven’t finished the show yet. 

The first season of “Fallout” sets up the post-apocalyptic world brought about by a nuclear war. Now that people are familiar with the world and the characters, the show can dive into more complex storylines that take place in New Vegas. If you’ve played the games, you probably know what to expect when it comes to the ghastly new creatures...including the deathclaws. These are genetically created enemies that appear in the “Fallout” games, and they don’t look friendly. 

Co-creator Graham Wagner’s interview with The Wrap hinted at what’s to come next: “We wanted to get deathclaws, but we didn't want to just throw it away. It's such a monumental piece. We want to save something for Season 2 to be able to do it properly, not just add on to the massive world-building we had to do already in Season 1. So in Season 2, we're very excited to finally tackle one of the most iconic elements of the games.” 

Right now it’s too early to discuss the potential storyline for season 2 without a trailer or production update, but what we do know is that it’s going to be epic regardless. 

War never changes…  

The exciting news about “Fallout” season 2 being renewed is all we have right now. Over the coming weeks and months, you can expect to see updates about additional cast members, filming locations, potential narrative ideas, and release dates regarding those trailers and teasers we so desperately want. 

If anything, season 2 should arrive near the end of 2025, assuming everything goes to plan with production. Rumors say that filming could begin in Toronto in September this year, but the development team has yet to confirm that. 

For now, revel in the success of “Fallout” season 1, and give it another watch to celebrate the next season.  

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Video game adaptations have always been challenging to get right, and very few have earned high success. If you’re someone who spends most of their free time playing games, then you’ll understand how frustrating it can be to watch an adaptation that doesn’t match the game at all. 

After seeing the trailer for “Fallout”, I didn’t have high expectations due to the bumpy reputation of adaptations over the years. But much to my surprise, I thoroughly enjoyed it — and so did the rest of the world. With a fantastic score of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, it was safe to say that “Fallout” had done its job right. 

In the past, shows like “The Last of Us” and “Halo” received quite a bit of praise from their fanbases, similar to movies such as “Five Nights at Freddy’s” and “Uncharted”. However, adaptations have the tendency to leave important details out that make the unique game world… well, unique. “Fallout” doesn’t have this issue at all, and in fact, it’s made me even more excited for future video game adaptations. 

So, if you’ve just finished “Fallout” and need some good news to fill that emptiness, then check out the video game adaptations I’m most hyped for. 

'Bioshock'

“Bioshock” is one of my favorite games ever, so you can imagine my excitement after hearing about a movie adaptation. The game follows Jack, the playable character who discovers a hidden underwater city after escaping a plane crash in the Atlantic Ocean. This isolated utopia looks beautiful on the outside, but once he ventures in, he discovers just how disturbing the place really is. 

Netflix confirmed this beloved game will hit the small screen, giving the underwater city Rapture a chance to reach new people. Being one of the best streaming services, Netflix will also partner with 2K and Take-Two to bring the story to life. The movie will likely focus on the first game to help set up the world, characters, and mysterious forces that reside deep within Rapture. 

'Gears of War'

Another one of my favorite games to ever exist is “Gears of War”, and it’s finally getting a movie. This game focuses on the battle between humanity and reptilian creatures known as the Locust. Players control Marcus Fenix, a soldier who must join forces with his fellow fighters to destroy the savage creatures and restore humanity so that everyone can live peacefully.

Netflix has also claimed this game, with the movie officially in development. There haven’t been many details released about this adaptation yet, but it will most likely follow the first game to introduce the Locust and show how the humans migrated to another planet called Sera. 

'Borderlands'

“Borderlands” is one movie that I can’t wait to watch in 2024. The first game of the same name focuses on the Vault Hunters, a group of highly skilled characters who search for a vault that apparently contains alien technology. They must travel through the savage nature of the planet Pandora while fighting local bandits and stopping a private military organization from reaching the vault first. 

In terms of the movie adaptation, it doesn’t directly follow this plot, but it does involve similar characters who are just as comedic and fun. Cate Blanchett’s Lilith is an outlaw who must find the missing daughter of the military organization known as Atlas. She puts together a team to increase her chances of finding the girl and beating the bandits and alien monsters that roam the planet. The movie releases on August 9, so don’t miss it. 

'Until Dawn'

“Until Dawn” is an interactive horror game that adapts to the choices you make. Making the wrong choice or saying the wrong thing could kill a character, and you can’t take it back. The player will control eight teenagers who have to survive on a snowy mountain while being stalked by something evil. I don’t think I’ve ever sweat so much playing a game, all because I was determined to keep every character alive. 

Now, just imagine this on the big screen. Gary Dauberman, who wrote horror movies such as “Annabelle”, “The Nun”, and “It” will be producing a script for “Until Dawn”. Not much has been revealed about the plot or cast yet, but the game’s premise alone is enough to stand out as a terrifying narrative. I’m curious to know which direction they will take the movie since the game’s primary focus is on player choices. 

‘Horizon 2047’ 

“Horizon 2047” is one of the most highly-anticipated video game adaptations, and it’s based on the “Horizon Zero Dawn” franchise. These games follow Aloy, a young hunter who fights huge dinosaur-like machines that have taken over the world. Humans now survive in tribes, and Aloy will do whatever it takes to learn the truth about her past and where she truly belongs. 

Netflix’s show adaptation could focus on other stories about Aloy or create new characters completely. Since “Horizon” is such an extensive world with complex gameplay, it might be challenging to follow the first game directly, making a more dulled-down version of the world likely. Regardless, this show could hold stunning visuals and deep-rooted lore that will keep everyone hooked. 

'Alan Wake'

“Alan Wake” could be a brilliant show, and the concept alone holds potential. The game focuses on a crime-fiction novelist Alan Wake, who travels to a small town with his wife to forget about his writer’s block. However, the vacation is soon disrupted when shadowy figures try to kill him and end up kidnapping his wife. The only way to fight them off is by shining light.

The show itself could have Ilkka Villi as Alan Wake, who physically portrayed him in the games. “Alan Wake 2” actually included real-life scenes of the actors throughout the player’s gameplay. While this sounds promising, there have been no current updates since AMC acquired the franchise back in 2020. Even though it’s been quiet news for this adaptation, there’s a chance it could pick up again like both “Gears of War” and “Bioshock”.  

'God of War'

Amazon Prime Video has officially claimed “God of War” for a show adaptation. The game itself focuses on Kratos and his young son, Atreus. After the death of Kratos' wife, the father and son go on a journey to scatter her ashes in the nine realms. Throughout their adventure, they face dangerous monsters and Gods of the Norse world who threaten their survival. 

Although it might be a while until we see more about the show, it does share a similar synopsis to the game. The series will focus on Kratos' relationship with his estranged son and the hardships they will endure to reach the nine realms. Let’s hope we see more news about potential casting and filming development soon. 

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Prime Video’s “Fallout” TV show has ignited a sizeable wave of interest in the Fallout video games. Of course, these post-apocalyptic RPGs were best-sellers long before Amazon adapted the franchise for it's streaming service, but there are plenty of new players, as well as returning wasteland veterans, looking to dive into a Fallout game after binging the show. 

Currently playable on modern hardware are the four mainline entries in the Fallout franchise, alongside a further four spin-off titles. However, not every Fallout game is playable on every platform, so if you’re wondering which ones are available on PS5, Xbox Series X, PC and Nintendo Switch, we’re on hand with a full guide to playing Fallout in 2024, showing you which games in the franchise are available and where. 

Plus, to celebrate the show’s launch on Prime Video, various Fallout games have been discounted or added to services like Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus. Even better, a couple are even being given away for free to Amazon Prime subscribers via Prime Gaming. 

So, if the excellent “Fallout” TV show has you eager to roam the wasteland yourself, here’s every Fallout game that you can play on current generation hardware right now…

Fallout games available on Xbox

• Fallout 3
• Fallout: New Vegas
• Fallout Shelter
• Fallout 4
• Fallout 76

After Microsoft acquired ZeniMax Media (parent company of Fallout stewards Bethesda) in 2021, Xbox became the console home of Fallout, and as it stands every single “modern” Fallout game is available on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, as well as Xbox One. 

Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas originally launched on Xbox 360, but both are playable with a frame rate boost on current Xbox hardware via the console’s awesome backwards compatibility features. Plus, every single Fallout game listed above is included on Xbox Game Pass. If you’re a Fallout fan that plays exclusively on console, Xbox is the best place to be.   

If you’re the type that would rather own your games than play them via a subscription service (a sentiment I agree with), the Xbox Store is currently running a massive Fallout sale that includes Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas for $2 apiece and Fallout 4 for just $4. And if you have an Amazon Prime account, you can get Fallout 76 for free thanks to Prime Gaming.  

Fallout games available on PlayStation

• Fallout Shelter
• Fallout 4
• Fallout 76

Fallout players on PS5 (or PS4) face slightly more limited options. The latest entries in the franchise 2015’s Fallout 4 and 2018’s Fallout 76 are both playable on PS5, and the former is set to receive a much-requested next-gen update later this month that will boost performance and pack a smattering of fresh content. Both games are currently included in the PlayStation Plus library at the Extra or Premium subscription tiers. 

Unfortunately, you cannot natively play Fallout 3 or Fallout: New Vegas on PS5 or PS4, but if you’re determined to explore the ruins of Washington or the neon-light New Vegas strip on a PlayStation console, these two classic RPGs are included in the PlayStation Plus Premium streaming library. However, as they can only be streamed, expect uneven performance and potential input delay (depending on your internet speed). This is a last-resort way of playing. 

Bargain hunters playing on PS5 will be pleased to hear that both Fallout 4 (and its various DLC expansions) and Fallout 76 are included in the PlayStation Store Spring Sale. Right now Fallout 4 is $4 and Fallout 76 is $7 until April 26. Currency for the free-to-play Fallout Shelter is also reduced in this annual sales event .   

Fallout games available on PC

• Fallout
• Fallout 2
• Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel
• Fallout 3
• Fallout: New Vegas
• Fallout Shelter
• Fallout 4
• Fallout 76

If you want to play pretty much every Fallout game ever made, then PC is the platform for you. Not only can PC players enjoy all the “modern” Fallout games developed under the watch of Bethesda, but the first two games, and the Tactics spin-off, created by developer Interplay Entertainment are playable on PC. And they’ve held up well. 

Accessing Fallout games on PC is super simple as well, every single Fallout game (Bar Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel) is currently playable on PC Game Pass. Or if you’d rather buy them a la carte, the entire franchise is purchasable on Steam, GOG or the Xbox Store. 

Right now, the Fallout Franchise Bundle which includes Fallout 1 through Fallout 4 is on sale for $55 on Steam, that’s a 77% discount off the regular list price of $244. 

PC gamers with an Amazon Prime account can also score free copies of Fallout 76 and Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel via Prime Gaming for a limited time. Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas are also available to stream via Amazon Luna. 

Fallout games available on Nintendo Switch

• Fallout Shelter

Bethesda ported its 2011 RPG The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim to the Nintendo Switch shortly after the hybrid console launched in 2017, but despite many requests over the year, it’s yet to bring any mainline Fallout games to the platform. This means that options for Nintendo Switch owners looking to dive into the Fallout universe are extremely limited with just a single choice. 

Fallout Shelter, a 2015 time-waster that originally launched on mobile, is available on Nintendo Switch. This management game casts you as a vault overseer and tasks you with keeping your dweller's needs fulfilled while also expanding your shelter and fending off various outside threats. It’s a surprisingly engrossing experience, and while it’s no substitute for a proper Fallout game, it does feel more at home on the portable Switch than PS5 or Xbox. 

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"Fallout" on Amazon Prime Video has no sooner stolen the hearts and minds of gamers writ large, wrangling a 93 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes and proving once more that video games can find fame on the silver screen. The nuclear-wasteland-set franchise, which first launched in 1997, has been bedridden following the release of 2018's Fallout 76. 

Reemerging in the form of a TV series (like a vault dweller opening the gates unto the wasteland for the first time), "Fallout's" exciting debut made me long for a trip back to its most enticing iteration yet — an experience now a decade removed from its last entry and nearly 15 years old at the time of writing.

As my first foray with the franchise, "Fallout 3" opened my eyes to a world that clung to its own weird identity. The game marked its first-ever 3D structure, replacing the age-old 2D graphics and turn-based combat with real-time action that was punctuated with a so-called VAAT system, making everything from shooting an AK to throwing a grenade that much simpler.

But beyond its reinvented gameplay and looks, "Fallout 3" stuck out due in large part to an endearing story that saw players traversing the apocalyptic wasteland of Washington DC in search of their father, aptly voiced by Liam Neeson. Along the way, you're welcomed into this hell hole with a laundry list of characters and places that still hold up to this day, giving "Fallout" its original nature. 

Despite its age, there's no better time to relive the magic of this incredible "Fallout" entry, one that today is far too often forgotten in the face of modern experiences across the franchise. It's high time for a return trip back to the Capital Wasteland. 

A lonely road...

"Fallout 3" brings to life a world torn apart and ripped asunder that was the literal capital of America. A place that once stood for freedom and democracy over 200 years prior to the story told in "Fallout 3" now stands in refuse, with structures of political and historical importance sliding into mangled ruins. 

Though steeped in its grey and dark hue, "Fallout 3" still looks incredible 15 years strong following its release. Maybe that's just the nostalgia talking, but it's hard not to fall in love once more with its eerie backdrop, one that sees such an interesting blend of character in its myriad towns and landscapes. 

Case in point being the dilapidated aircraft carrier-turned post-apocalyptic settlement of Rivet City, which literally hums in its own rocking movement as the ship's metal screams with centuries of rust and decay. There's also the delightful first stop for all wary "Fallout 3" travelers in Megaton, a small shanty town that feels as if it's held together by glue (and precariously lives with a nuclear bomb at its center). 

Bringing to life these unforgettable places is a score led by long-time Fallout composer Inon Zur, who gifted this world a pseudo-peaceful ambiance with mystic undertones mixed with light horrific notes. The music itself has character all its own, uplifting your time within this world with a tinge of hope as you barrel down the lonely road in search of your next adventure. 

"Fallout 3" is such a prized jewel in this regard. It's OST doesn't necessarily stick out as an immediate winner, but years later I've come to find a strange sensation in how it leaves me wanting more. The music makes me want to continue — not merely out of playing's sake but to see the world right again, despite its lost nature. 

It's these moments where it's just you and the music floating through the experience wherein "Fallout 3" really comes to life. You're left enraptured not just by its tantalizing and unforgettable places, but how the music evokes this incredible feeling within them that's almost a blend of loss and a bit of hope. 

...Fueled by the zany

But it wouldn't be a "Fallout" game without its wacky and violent nature. The aforementioned Megaton is of major note here, proving to be a stepping stone for the player in their moral quest through the game. The town stands there as a beacon, a question of right and wrong: do you prime the nuclear bomb at its center and kill hundreds (if not thousands) of people? Or, do you fix it so that it never goes off and keep the evil at bay?

For a 15-year-old kid, this premise was quite alarming, to say the least. Of course, everyone has to try blowing up Megaton at least once in a playthrough — if only to see the magnificence of a nuclear detonation set on the backdrop of an already desolate plane. But this very type of quest and moral ponderance is exactly what "Fallout" is all about, and it's one of the few missions across gaming that has stuck with me time immemorial. 

And it's not alone. Look no further than the Paradise Falls location, which houses a group of seedy slave traders. Wanna join up and enslave the Capital Wasteland? If that's your prerogative, "Fallout 3" lets you do that. The game isn't afraid to make you truly feel something, and more often than not you will be left in quite the emotional rut. 

"Fallout 3" also isn't without its incredible combat encounters. I doubt few will ever forget their first nail-biting run-in with a Deathclaw, a towering draconic-looking creature that moves in swift fashion. An armory of guns at your disposal thanks to the Pip-Boy on your wrist more often than not proves of little help against these terrifying beasts. 

A mini nuke to the face, though, will do. 

A modernized wasteland experience 

"Fallout 3" is definitely in need of a return to form. You can always dive into "Fallout 4" and now "Fallout 76" is free via Amazon Prime, so I wouldn't miss out on that deal. But both experiences are just not the same. "Fallout 3" has such a rich and hilariously different world, one ripe for exploration. It's hard not to fall in love with the Capital Wasteland and all its forgotten, delipidated splendor. 

It's sad to me that "Fallout 3" never got a retouching in the same style as "Skyrim" over the past several years. Sure, the experience can now be played alongside the rest of the "Fallout" franchise on Game Pass, with Xbox Series X/S players capable of hitting 4K/60fps. But, it's just not the same — especially since my first experience of "Fallout 3" was on the PS3. 

Playing of late on Sony's 2006-based hardware has most definitely been a chore, but worth its highs and lows in returning to my youth, wherein I spent hours upon hours scouring this wasteland. And now, it merely feels like I'm back home again circa 2008 feeling the wonders of a land crushed by its own violent nature.

Well...war never changes after all.

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Prime Video’s new “Fallout” TV show is an absolute blast. Based on the best-selling role-playing series of the same name, it’s right up there with “The Last of Us” and “Cyberpunk: Edgerunners” among the best adaptations of a video game ever. 

Considering its high quality, I’m not surprised that the show has pulled an impressive 93% on Rotten Tomatoes with critics praising everything from the strong writing to the stellar production design. After debuting earlier this week (Wednesday, April 10), the initial reception from fans of the gaming franchise has been just as glowing. 

As a long-time fan of Fallout, I’m equally thrilled with the careful attention to detail and clear respect this Amazon show pays to the source material. But, if I’m being honest, after watching the first four episodes, there is one key element missing. 

Prime Video’s “Fallout” show is excellent, but I wish it took a few more cues from the very best game in the franchise, Fallout: New Vegas. 

A morally gray wasteland 

Released in 2010, and developed by Obsidian Entertainment, Fallout New Vegas was pitched as a spin-off to tide fans over between mainline the Fallout games created by Bethesda Game Studios, but instead of creating an interstitial sequel to fill the void between Fallout 3 and 4, Obsidian made the crown jewel of the franchise.  

Set in the Mojave Wasteland, with the eponymous neon-lit New Vegas strip at its center, Fallout New Vegas offered all the RPG trappings of its predecessor, alongside largely functional shooter gameplay. What sets New Vegas apart is its phenomenal writing. Even 14 years later, it remains one of the best-written video games ever. 

You play a courier delivering a package to an unnamed recipient in New Vegas but are prevented from completing job through when you are accosted by a mobster named Benny (voiced by the late Matthew Perry) and left for dead out in the desert. You survive this ordeal and venture out into the wasteland to find out what is so special about this package and end up in the middle of a three-way faction war. 

New Vegas’ story, both in its main quests and side missions, is so compelling because many of its characters and the situation you are presented with are rarely black-and-white. Yes, the game features a gamified karma system, so actions are technically judged to be “good” or “evil” and move you up or down a morality scale, but it’s not always easy to know which decision is which. And that’s super engaging. 

The “Fallout” TV show instead plays things a little more obvious. In this small-screen take on Fallout’s harsh and unforgiving wasteland, the characters we meet fall into standard archetypes. After four episodes, I’d feel pretty comfortable, classifying each member of the cast as either a “hero” or a “villain”, at least when speaking broadly. 

Heck, even the main character presented as a little more morally ambitious , The Ghoul (Walton Goggins), appear to be set for a predictable redemption arch by the end of the first season. The other two leads, Ella Purnell’s Lucy and Aaron Moten’s Maximus are already on the good side of the scale, with viewers supposed to like and root for them right off the bat (if you can excuse Maximus' razer blade stunt). 

What's even more frustrating is "Fallout" has moments in its first four episodes where it could explore the thin line between "good" and "evil" but it doesn't fully commit. 

For example, in episode 3, the Vault 33 survivors try to decide what to do with a group of raiders that they’ve captured as keeping them perpetually as prisoners is costing them resources they cannot afford to spare. I was pleased to see this plot point develop, thinking it could lead to some tricky moral questions, but that doesn't happen, probably because the raiders are presented as downright comically evil.

Another example comes in the very first episode, when Vault 33 Overseer Hank MacLean (Kyle MacLachlan) is forced to pick between saving his daughter or a group of vault-citizens. He chooses to save his daughter calling her this "world", and then the other vault-dwellers in danger just sort of turn out fine in the end. It's a cop-out moment and prevents a proper exploration of the morality of Hank's decision. 

Fallout is still utterly fantastic 

Even though I’d love to see “Fallout” embrace moral ambiguity a little more in the back half of its first season, or in a potential “Fallout” season 2, I should stress this is really just a minor quibble, and is massively outweighed by all the things that I love. 

“Fallout” on Prime Video expertly translates the iconic retro-futurism of the franchise (the production design is truly remarkable) , and nails the darkly comedic tone. I was excited to see the world of “Fallout” brought to the small screen, but I never imagined it would translate this well. And it helps that the very sharp writing has hit the perfect tone perfectly blending the ultra-violence with deadpan comedic gags. 

“Fallout” is a very special series, and the current frontrunner for my favorite show of the year. On balance, it’s easy to forgive a pretty small criticism like it not being quite morally gray enough to my taste when it gets almost everything else so very right.   

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We’re living in a golden age for video game adaptations. Recent hits like HBO’s “The Last of Us” series and “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” were refreshing palette cleansers after decades of terrible movies and shows based on popular games. And it looks like Prime Video's new “Fallout” series is the latest success to add to the list. 

Based on the best-selling gaming franchise currently stewarded by Bethesda Game Studios (but started in 1997 by a company called Interplay Entertainment), "Fallout" is a post-apocalyptic drama series set in a 1950s-inspired future. 

That probably sounds like an oxymoron to those unfamiliar with the RPG games, but basically, it means that you can shoot enemies with an explosive laser rifle while listening to some classic jazz music at the same time.   

“Fallout's" eight-episode first season debuts on Prime Video in just a matter of hours (Wednesday, April 10 at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT to be precise), and will chronicle the (mis)adventures of three characters in the nuclear-ruined wasteland of Los Angeles. 

The show will focus on Lucy (Ella Purnell), a sheltered survivor raised in an underground vault, Maximus (Aaron Moten), a new recruit in the Brotherhood of Steel paramilitary group and Cooper Howard (Walton Goggins), a mutated gunslinger who survived the initial nuclear blast. 

Ahead of the Prime Video original's debut today, select critics were given early access to the show, and their reviews are now dropping. Right off the bat, “Fallout” has early a strong reception and currently holds an impressive 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes from 35 reviews. 

For comparison, at the time of writing, “Fallout” ranks ahead of Paramount Plus' “Halo” series which managed a 70% score for its first season (its recent second season improved with a 90% rating), and slightly behind HBO’s “The Last of Us” which scored 96% and won various awards earlier this year.

'Fallout' reviews — here’s what the critics say   

BBC’s Neil Armstrong was particularly impressed by the show describing it as “both totally rad and an absolute blast” in a cheeky wink to the source material (rad is a status effect in the "Fallout" video games). 

Vulture’s Nicholas Quah was also a fan of the Prime Video show: “There’s a lot to recommend with ‘Fallout,'" they said in a generally positive review. 

“Finding a tonal balance between the drama and the comedy is a razor’s edge, but 'Fallout' makes it look effortless. As a result, spending time in this hardened world is as fun, engaging, and engrossing as the games,” said William Goodman of TheWrap. 

Nick Schager of The Daily Beast labeled the show, “A monumental achievement of sci-fi world-building, presenting an alternately horrifying and exhilarating vision of a United States held together by little more than duct tape and Wonder Glue, unflagging optimism and ultra-violent mercilessness.” 

Fans of the "Fallout" video game franchise will be pleased to know that the show appears to be respectful of its source material. “For those already invested in this atomic dust bowl, ['Fallout'] should prove a satisfying, if not sensational, extension of the franchise – just about more bang than whimper,” said the Independent’s Nick Hilton. 

But among the majority of positive write-ups, there have been a few critics less impressed with Amazon’s big-budget small-screen adaptation. Brain Lowry of CNN has been one of the show’s toughest critics so far. 

“As Season 1 concludes, there’s less a sense of anticipation for what comes next than general relief that this somewhat messy introduction, and the contortions to incorporate its eclectic roster of players, is over,” said Lowry. 

Nevertheless, it does seem most critics think this is a show worth watching, and Amazon will surely be pleased with this initial reception. Of course, the next test will be the show’s biggest as it’ll have to win the approval of the most demanding group around: gamers. 

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Amazon’s Fallout TV show is set to arrive on Prime Video in April, and the online retailer has been celebrating its impending premiere by giving away various Fallout games via Prime Gaming. And after offering subscribers the first two games in the series, it’s no surprise to see that next up it’s the third installment in the franchise. 

However, don’t be confused, despite its name suggesting otherwise, 2008’s Fallout 3 is not the third Fallout game going by release date. Instead, that would be Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel which launched all the way back in 2001. 

For a limited time, Prime subscribers can score a free copy of Fallout Tactics on PC until April 24 as part of the monthly Prime Gaming lineup. Plus, there’s still time to claim a free copy of Fallout 2, which is available to Prime members until April 10. 

These freebies are part of Prime Gaming, which is one of the best Amazon Prime membership benefits. It offers a rotating selection of free games, alongside DLC items for popular titles EA Sports FC 24, Call of Duty: Warzone, Pokémon Go and Apex Legends. 

If you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber, you already have access to Prime Gaming and can claim your free Fallout games now. Just head over to the “Games” tab in the Prime Gaming hub and download the games from there. 

Remember, once you’ve claimed these freebies, they’re yours to keep forever. So, be sure to grab them even if you don’t have time to play right now, so can always return to them in the future. 

Fallout Tactics is a classic worth playing

Released roughly three years after the seminal Fallout 2, Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel aimed to shake up the RPG series, and it did this by stripping away many of the role-playing elements that had defined the franchise up till this point and placed the focus squarely on its strategic combat. 

Set in the post-apocalyptic ruins of Chicago, you play a new initiate to the Brotherhood of Steel, an organization set up in the aftermath of a nuclear war to restore civilization. You'll face all manner of mutated foes on a quest to grow your clan and also find the mysterious Vault Zero, a place that is said to house the most advanced technology of the old world. 

Unlike its two direct predecessors, Fallout Tactics is less about making choices and interacting with NPCs and more about shooting everything in sight and then making off with the spoils. To facilitate this more combat-heavy approach, battles are reworked and made more tactical than the previous mainline Fallout games, but Tactics is still turn-based rather than a shooter akin to the more recent Bethesda-developed entries in the franchise. 

Both in terms of visuals and gameplay, Fallout Tactics is significantly more primitive than the likes of Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas or Fallout 4, but it does still have its charms even in 2024. So long as you’re willing to embrace its old-school quirks, and don’t mind dated visuals, there are plenty of worthwhile reasons to circle back and give Fallout Tactics a shot. 

Plus, now that Fallout Tactics is included in the Prime Gaming lineup, you can download it for free with your Amazon Prime membership, so there’s really no excuse not to give it at least a chance. You might be surprised just how well the classic Fallout games have held up.  

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Amazon just dropped a brand new trailer for its upcoming Fallout TV series, which now arrives on Prime Video on April 11. If you thought December’s teaser trailer was good, then this new one might just blow you away. After being burned so many times by long-gestating video game adaptations, I am stunned at just how good this show looks.

It’s still a little early to make a final judgment on "Fallout," but if the writing is as good as the footage in this trailer then we’re in for a treat. I just hope that the final thing is more like "The Last of Us" and less like "Halo" — because I will never get over just how badly the showrunners botched that series.

The first thing I have to get off my chest? How excited I am to hear Matt Berry’s voice come out of a Mister Handy. Matt Berry is fantastic and should be in everything, and there’s no one better to voice those often-defective floating robots than him. Assuming you’re not bringing back Stephen Russel anyway.

But to be totally honest, the rest of the show looks fantastic. We’ve got mutants galore, the Brotherhood of Steel, power armor and plenty of footage of Dogmeat in action. Plus there’s the stark contrast between the happy-go-lucky retro-futuristic atmosphere in Vault 33 and the brutal reality of the world outside where everyone and everything is trying to kill you.

I’m still not completely sold on Walter Goggins’ ghoul makeup. It seems a little too smooth compared to the Ghoul models in recent "Fallout" games, but I think I can live with that. Especially since it looks like they built some actual sets to recreate the world of the games, rather than building them in obvious-looking TV budget CGI.

Prestige TV has a source material problem

Really it feels as though the people behind this show, including "Westworld’s" Jonathan Nolan, actually care about making this series faithful to the source material. Something that a lot of prestige TV seems to have trouble with at times. 

It’s almost as though the creatives behind some of the less faithful shows, like "The Witcher" and "Halo," have been going out of their way to ignore the established source material. Whether it’s killing off fan-favorite characters, deviating from established plots, or straight-up being disrespectful of established tradition. 

Yes, I’m talking about Master Chief taking off his helmet and flashing his face around on Paramount Plus for everyone to see. The show even took a step further in "Halo" season 2 by separating Chief and the rest of the Spartans from their armor for multiple episodes. 

And don’t even get me started about glossing over the fall of Reach in a single episode. I don't have the mental energy to discuss that in great detail, considering how much I loved the book.

I’ve been a huge fan of the "Halo" franchise for almost two decades at this point, having played the games, read the books and spent an exorbitant amount of money on "Halo"-themed Xbox consoles. I was so excited when they announced that the perpetually struggling movie adaptation would be a TV show, and the fact that the show is so incredibly bad is absolutely heartbreaking.

If there was a recording of me watching "Halo" the show you wouldn’t see my great visible break, like Ralph Wiggum’s, but you would see me loudly cursing and gesticulating at the screen like my dad watching Everton lose again.

It’s a good thing I have very low blood pressure because the ridiculous choices this darn TV show has made would be sending it through the roof. I honestly feel like the only reason I still watch it is so that I know exactly what to criticize. Maybe I should stop doing that, but there’s so much atrocious stuff going on that I can’t really discuss because it would be diving very deep into spoiler territory.

"Halo" has done a pretty good job of replicating armor and weapons from the game, I’ll give it that much. But it’s just about the only nice thing I have to say about the show.

'Fallout' doesn’t need to adapt an existing story 

It might help that Prime Video’s "Fallout" is creating its own story in the "Fallout" universe, rather than adapting an existing game. You just need to get the broad strokes of the universe correct and stick to the established lore you can get a pretty good original story out of it. 

Just look at the Bill & Frank episode of "The Last of Us." The story was completely different from the one in the game, but it was able to tell a fantastic mini-story in the middle of a larger story. Plus it helped that it didn’t really contradict anything and mess with Joel and Ellie's story compared to the game.

Will long-time fans be happy about everything in Fallout? Probably not. It’s hard to please everyone, and fans of classic "Fallout" games have been very vocal about things they don’t like since the franchise was bought out by Bethesda. But even they seem to be able to admit when something is good, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find someone with a bad thing to say about "Fallout New Vegas."

Of course, we haven’t seen "Fallout" the show yet, and we could end up with eight episodes of hot garbage. That garbage may look incredible and feature some fantastic casting, but that wouldn’t change the fact that it is still garbage — like David Lynch’s "Dune." I hope it doesn’t end up that way, if only so Kyle MacLachlan doesn’t end up with two of those stains on his resume. But we do have to remember that a trailer isn’t the final product.

Even if "Fallout" isn’t as good as "The Last of Us," it just needs to be better than "Halo." The latter has set a pretty low bar for these types of shows to beat. Not only is it wilfully ignorant of its source material, but it’s also just not a good show. You don’t have to be a "Halo" fan to see that. 

All eight episodes of "Fallout’s" first season will arrive on Amazon's Prime Video on April 11 — a day earlier than we were originally told. So we don’t have too long to wait and see just how good, or disappointing, this show actually is.

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Prime Gaming is one of the best Amazon Prime membership benefits offering a rotating selection of freebies and exclusive DLC items for some of the biggest multiplayer games around. This month, Amazon is celebrating the impending launch of its Fallout TV show on Prime Video with a very well-timed perk. 

Until March 6, Amazon Prime subscribers can claim a free copy of Fallout on PC. And this post-apocalyptic RPG isn’t the only free game you can grab on Prime Gaming right now either. Prime members also have access to a selection of smaller indie titles including Atari Mania, Breakout: Recharged and Behind The Frame: The Finest Scenery VR. 

If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you already have access to these freebies, just head over to the Prime Gaming hub and download them from the “Games” tab. 

Be sure to claim February’s free games before the selection refreshes next month. And remember that once claimed these games are yours to keep. So you should still pick them up even if you don’t have time to play right now. 

Fallout is a true RPG classic 

Released in 1997, Fallout, or to use its official title Fallout: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game, is a legendary release. It would go on to spawn a blockbuster franchise that is still running to this day and is widely considered one of the most influential and important RPGs ever made.  

If you’re approaching this nearly 30-year-old title having only played the more modern Fallout games developed by Bethesda Game Studios such as Fallout 4 or Fallout: New Vegas, be prepared for quite a few differences. 

For starters, the original Fallout was made by a developer called Interplay Productions and is played from an isometric perspective, rather than the first/third-person viewpoint you’ll find in the latest Fallout games. Battles are also turn-based. 

Of course, the apocalyptic setting will be familiar to anybody who’s encountered the series before, and the writing is just as strong as any of the modern Fallout releases. However, the game shines brightest in its RPG system. 

Players are given significant freedom to mold their character, making critical decisions that dramatically impact the narrative, and the game’s karma system lets you play as a wasteland hero, a sinister villain or you can exist between the two extremes as a morally-grey figure.  

Quests can also be tackled in a multitude of ways, further adding to the sense of player freedom. For example, if you need to bypass a locked door, perhaps your computer skills are high enough to hack it, or you might have to locate an NPC with the key and then either charm them into giving it to you or take it by force. And that’s just the most basic example. 

As you’d expect from a game of its age, Fallout cannot compete with brand-new releases in terms of visuals, but it’s got a striking art style that has held up surprisingly well. Although, the 3D character models do have a very uncanny quality about them. But at least the more rudimentary graphics mean Fallout can run on pretty much any modern PC or laptop. You certainly don’t need a cutting-edge GPU.  

Fallout is considered a classic for a reason. And while it’s not been immune to the passage of time, its fingerprint can be felt across the RPG genre even all these years later. Its inclusion in the Prime Gaming lineup is the perfect opportunity to try out this piece of video game history. And it’ll no doubt get you in the mood for Amazon’s Fallout show, which is scheduled to arrive on Prime Video on April 12.  

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We’ve been following the Fallout TV series buzz for a while but there hasn’t been much to go off of aside from a few leaks. But now, Amazon is giving everyone a first look at the upcoming Prime Video TV show.

In a blog post, Amazon revealed a ton of new photos from the set of Fallout and gave us quite a bit of information about some of the new characters we will meet in the show. 

Admittedly, there’s still a ton of information we still don’t know — Amazon says “Stay tuned for more” — but this still is much more than we had known previously. It also clears up a few questions we had after seeing a leaked trailer from Gamescom 2023. 

Fallout TV series characters revealed

Let’s get into which characters Amazon revealed in this first look at the new Prime Video TV show.

First up is Lucy, played by Ella Purnell. While we knew Purnell was cast in the show, we didn’t know the name of the character she’d be playing in Fallout. Now we know that she is Lucy, an “optimistic Vault Dweller with an all-American can-do spirit.” It seems likely that she’s the show’s main protagonist given her “peaceful and idealistic nature” and her top billing in this first look. Her father is Hank (Kyle MacLachlan), who is the Overseer of Vault 33, which is located in Los Angeles.

Aside from the Vault-dwellers, we also meet Maximus (Aaron Moten), a soldier who serves in the Brotherhood of Steel. This reveal answers a major question from the leaked Gamescom trailer — would the Brotherhood of Steel be involved? It’s clear that the answer is now a resounding yes, though it’s unclear if Maximus will be Fallout’s villain or an initial antagonist who Lucy eventually turns to her cause.

Finally, there’s The Ghoul played by Walton Goggins. He’s described as a pragmatic and ruthless bounty hunter with a mysterious past. There’s still a lot we don’t know about The Ghoul, but it’s possible that Goggins’ Ghoul is a subset of ghouls called Marked Men. These ghouls existed in an area known as The Divide and were notable for their red skin tone. If the Fallout TV series makes its way from Los Angeles and Vault 33 to the Nevada border, this theory would suddenly have serious potential. 

Analysis: Some questions answered, but more remain

While the new photos and character descriptions certainly paint a picture of what to expect, we still clearly have some questions. Is Maximus a villain or a foe to be turned into a friend? Is Goggins a Marked man or does his skin just look a bit red in these photos? Those answers may not be answered until we see episode 1.

And those are just the questions we have from these new photos. Aside from that, there’s still a number of cast members we know nothing about and it’s unclear how tightly these characters are all connected. Given the source material, there’s no guarantee that Purnell, Moten and Goggins’s characters will all appear on screen together, though given this is a TV show and not a sprawling RPG I have a feeling they will. 

But again, Amazon says that there are more sneak peeks to come, so stay tuned to our Fallout TV series coverage for the latest news and updates! 

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Prime Video is upping its game when it comes to new movies and shows, and one huge success in 2024 that has remained near the top of the charts is “Fallout”. After its release on April 10, it has stayed in the top 10 ever since, proving its glorious triumph in the entertainment industry. If you’ve seen this epic series floating around on the internet or just simply missed out, we have a guide on where you can stream it. 

You can stream all eight episodes of “Fallout”, meaning you can binge-watch them all one weekend if you wanted to. Each episode is roughly one hour, so you have plenty of content to consume when immersing yourself in the post-apocalyptic world. 

The "Fallout" series of games has always been a massive hit, as they boast a unique retro aesthetic while navigating a post-apocalyptic United States ravaged by the nuclear war. Director and executive producer Jonathan Nolan truly brought this game to life on the small screen, giving us a fun and intense tale of survival. 

Now, with the renewal of “Fallout” season 2, it’s good to know where to stream the first season if you ever need a refresher (or just want to appreciate how good it is). Not much is currently known about the second season, but there’s a good chance it will include the deathclaws, a creepy, hostile reptile species that lovers of the game will already know about from navigating the digital wasteland. We can only hope that we don’t have to wait long to see the characters in action again. 

With video game movies and shows on the rise, it’s good to get ahead and be caught up with some of the most successful shows. Our guide can help you be a part of the “Fallout” craze no matter where you are in the world.  

How to watch 'Fallout' from the US, UK, Canada and Australia

You can watch “Fallout” on Amazon Prime Video with a subscription since the show is exclusive to the platform. This is the only platform that you can watch "Fallout" on. 

If you don’t have Prime,  you can sign up for a 30-day free trial. This will let you watch “Fallout” and other shows or movies for free, but you must cancel the subscription before you’re charged. 

Interested in more Prime benefits? Get an all-inclusive subscription to gain access to quick shipping, special deals on your favorite products, and of course, Prime Video. The current cost for membership is $14.99 a month ($139 a year), while students can get it for $7.49 a month ($69 a year).  

There's no confirmation on a physical release considering it's only on a streaming platform, but we'll come back and update this page if there is an announcement. 

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How to watch 'Fallout' from elsewhere

If you're away from home and want to watch this series, but Prime Video or "Fallout" isn't available where you are, then there's a way you can do it. With the right VPN (virtual private network), you can stream "Fallout" from wherever you go on your usual Prime Video account. 

Not sure which is right for you? Tom's Guide has tested many different services and our best VPN option is NordVPN. The streaming speed is excellent, and the customer service is also fast and reliable. 

'Fallout' TV show trailer and plot

Now that you know how to watch "Fallout", you might be curious to learn more about the characters and narrative before diving in. When the official trailer dropped one month before the show’s release, fans loved it since it captured the vibe of Bethesda's beloved video game series. 

“Fallout” is based on the video game series of the same name. The series explores the aftermath of a nuclear war 200 years later. Lucy (Ella Purnell) must leave an underground vault and venture into the wasteland to find her father. What waits above the surface is more dangerous than the radiation itself. If you’ve played the games, you’ll be familiar with the iconic threats, so I won’t spoil it for anyone new to the franchise. 

I also believe Nolan made the right choice by not adapting the game directly. Instead, the series keeps the lore and dark themes while introducing a completely new story. Watch the trailer below. 

'Fallout' TV series cast

Before going into a new show I always look at the cast out of curiosity. Seeing some names I recognize usually encourages me to watch it even more. So if that’s the same for you, then it’s worth checking out who stars in the hit series “Fallout”. 

Here is the cast for season 1:

• Ella Purnell: Lucy is an optimistic vault dweller with a peaceful, idealistic nature. Her father Hank is the Overseer of Vault 33. She is one of the protagonists. 
• Aaron Moten: Maximus, a young, zealous member of the Brotherhood of Steel. He is the second protagonist.  
• Walton Goggins: The Ghoul, a ruthless bounty hunter with a mysterious past as a human named Cooper Howard. He is the third protagonist, although he is also an antagonist.  
• Kyle MacLachlan: Hank, the Overseer of Vault 33 and the father of Lucy and Norm.  
• Moises Arias: Norm, another vault dweller in Vault 33 and Lucy’s brother.
• Sarita Choudhury: Lee Moldaver, a mysterious woman in Vault 32 who has connections with Hank’s wife, Rose. 
• Michael Emerson: Wilzig, an enigmatic researcher with a dog companion.  
• Leslie Uggams: Betty Pearson, a resident in Vault 33. 
• Frances Turner: Barb Howard, the wife of Cooper Howard. 
• Dave Register: Chet, a resident in Vault 33.  
• Zach Cherry: Woody Thomas, a resident in Vault 33. 
• Johnny Pemberton: Thaddeus, an aspirant of the Brotherhood of Steel.  
• Annabel O'Hagan: Steph, one of Lucy’s pregnant friends in Vault 33.  
• Xelia Mendes-Jones: Dane, one of Maximus’s friends.  
• Matt Berry: A murderous, organ harvesting robot (voice role).  

'Fallout' season 1 episode guide

“Fallout” season 1 has eight episodes, each around one hour long. There are also some short bonus features you can watch on Prime Video that give you more insight into the series. 

Check out our episode guide below:

•  S1 E1 "The End" — 1 hr 14 min  
•  S1 E2 "The Target"  — 1 hr 5 min  
•  S1 E3 "The Head"  — 57 min  
•  S1 E4 "The Ghouls"  — 49 min  
•  S1 E5 "The Past"  — 45 min  
•  S1 E6 "The Trap"  — 1 hr 
•  S1 E7 "The Radio"  — 1 hr 1 min 
•  S1 E8 "The Beginning"  — 1 hr 2 min 

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Amazon announced a Fallout TV series for Prime Video all the way back in July 2020. However, since then it has been radio silent — until now. 

A photo provided by Twitter user BeardyShaman, suggests that the new Prime Original could be set in or around Fallout 3. The Super Duper Mart was introduced in that installment of the RPG video game series, so it would be logical to guess the new series could take place in that setting. 

Additionally, two days ago, actor Walton Goggins took to his Instagram to post a rare behind-the-scenes photo from the new Fallout TV series (we do not have an official name yet). While the photo does not show more than Goggins’s trailer, it does confirm that filming has finally begun on the highly anticipated project from Westworld creators Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy. 

Fallout TV series: Who is in it? 

Very little is known about the cast for the Fallout TV series, but we do know a couple of names. As previously mentioned, Walton Goggins, most recently of The Righteous Gemstones, is playing a radiation-infused ghoul. Most likely he will serve as an antagonist in the series, possibly the main villain for the first season or series.

Other confirmed cast members include Ella Purnell from Yellowjackets, who is tapped to be the series lead. She will be joined by Kyle MacLachlan of Twin Peaks fame, Xelia Mendes-Jones from Netflix’s Havoc and Aaron Moten who had previously been on Prime Video’s original series Mozart in the Jungle. It is unknown at this time which roles these actors will play. 

Fallout TV series: What games is it based on? 

While we suspect that the Fallout TV series will take place in the world of Fallout 3, unfortunately, we have no confirmation that this is the case. Luckily, there is a whole series of games that Amazon can pull inspiration from, so whatever they land on should be pretty epic.

If you are looking to catch up on the Fallout video games before watching the upcoming Fallout TV series, the good news is that you have some time. Filming just started, so we have no release date yet. However, you may need all that time to play every game in the series, which is not known for its brevity. Luckily, we at Tom’s Guide ranked every single Fallout game for you, just in case you want to pick and choose.

But if you want to stick to just the most recent game in the series, Fallout 76, both it and Fallout 4 received a frame rate boost on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, which allows you to play at 60 FPS. Fallout 76 also received an expansion, Fallout 76: Steel Reign, back in 2021, so there is plenty of content if that is the route you choose. 

Update: Prime Video's Fallout TV series has begun filming — here's what it looks like.

Fallout 4 and Fallout 76 players will miss out on one of the key benefits of Xbox's new FPS Boost feature, despite other Bethesda titles getting the full upgrade.

FPS Boost arrived last month, giving some older Xbox games a frame-rate boost to 60 fps on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. A selection of Bethesda titles was added to the list just over a week ago — but according to testing over at Digital Foundry, the two Fallout games won't be able to handle 60 fps and 4K at the same time.

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Though FPS Boost instantly unlocks 4K 60 fps on the likes of Skyrim, Digital Foundry's testing found that on Fallout 4 and Fallout 76, the frame-rate boost is only available at 1080p.

That's a disappointment for Fallout fans, who'll now have to choose between having FPS Boost on and making do with 1080p graphics, or turning it off and enjoying 4K.

The real surprise is that the limitation applies to the Xbox Series X as well as the Series S. The latter console is the smaller and less powerful of the two next-gen Xboxes, and is only designed to reach 2160 resolution at the best of times — so 1080p @ 60 fps is a reasonable offering. But the Xbox Series X is a lot more powerful and shouldn’t have any trouble handling those specs. 

However, as Digital Foundry notes in its testing video, Fallout 4 was a very taxing game on last-gen systems; running it at 1080p may be the best way to ensure a consistent 60 fps frame rate.

Fortunately, there are a couple of workarounds. Firstly, there's a Fallout 4 mod called '720p 60fps' which (rather confusingly) unlocks 4K 60 fps. The downside is that while Digital Foundry found that 90-95 percent of the game ran at 60 fps, frame rates dropped quite significantly at certain taxing points.

There’s also a way to trick the Xbox Series X into running the game at 4K 60 fps without the mod. You need to load up Fallout 4 without FPS Boost enabled, quit to the dashboard and activate it, then use quick resume to jump back into the game. 

For Fallout 76, which doesn’t have access to the 720p 60fps mod on account of it being an online game, you need to use the hack. Start the game without FPS Boost, quit and turn it on, quick-resume a different game, then jump back into Fallout 76. Unfortunately, Digital Foundry found that Fallout 76 struggles to ever run at 4K 60 fps, typically peaking at around 50 fps. But it's still worth trying until the trick presumably gets patched away.

Sadly, neither the PS5 nor the Xbox One X gets these features — so if you want to try FPS Boost for yourself, you'll need to buy an Xbox Series X or Series S. For help on that front, check out our guide on where to buy Xbox Series X, so you can get all the latest news on upcoming stock updates.

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