Bethesda Reflects on Fallout 4’s Voiced Protagonists: “We Aimed to Keep Up with Industry Trends”

When it comes to Bethesda’s protagonists, Nate and Nora from Fallout 4 stand out as more than just blank slates. They come equipped with their own backstory and voice acting, giving players a clearer sense of their identities before you steer their journey. This design choice has sparked debate among fans, but the lead designer of the RPG suggests it was simply a reflection of the gaming landscape at the time.

In a conversation, Emil Pagliarulo noted that the decision “didn’t seem as controversial as it ended up becoming,” hinting at lessons learned for future titles like Starfield.

“When Fallout 4 launched in the fall of 2015, having a voiced protagonist was the norm,” he recalled. “Honestly, I can’t think of a major AAA game from that period that didn’t feature one. We felt we were aligning with industry trends, and it allowed us to convey a range of emotions through the character’s voice acting.”

He added, “It’s one of those things you adapt to, but at the time, it didn’t seem as contentious as it later became. There’s still a lot of choice available to players. Interestingly, for Starfield, we opted for an unvoiced protagonist because we recognized that’s what players wanted. So we thought, ‘Let’s give the fans what they want.'”

Putting the debate aside, Fallout 4 has thrived for Bethesda, selling 12 million units at launch, and it’s likely that number has grown over the years, especially with the buzz surrounding the popular Amazon show currently airing its second season.