Original Fallout Developers Initially Hesitant About Game’s Title: “I wasn’t sure at first…”

Weekly digests, stories from the gaming communities you cherish, and more.

You’re now subscribed.

Your newsletter sign-up was successful.

Looking to add more newsletters?

Get your weekly dose of everything you need to know about the games you love, upcoming titles we think you’ll enjoy, and stories from the vibrant communities that support them.

Our dedicated GTA 6 newsletter delivers breaking news, insider insights, and rumor breakdowns from the experts in the field.

From the minds behind Edge comes a weekly newsletter focused on the gaming industry, featuring analysis from seasoned writers, advice from industry professionals, and a glimpse into what’s on the horizon.

Tech enthusiasts, join our free tech newsletter for a weekly roundup of the latest innovations, cutting-edge gadgets, and much more.

Subscribe to our new Switch 2 newsletter for weekly updates on Nintendo’s upcoming console, including news and game recommendations.

Receive a weekly summary of the most important movie and TV news, delivered straight to your inbox. From exclusive trailers to interviews and reviews, we’ve got you covered.

Get sneak peeks, exclusive contests, and details about special events each month!

The developers behind the original Fallout have shared that many team members weren’t initially fans of the now-legendary title.

Regardless of your feelings about the Fallout series, it’s hard to deny that the name perfectly captures the essence of the games. Summarizing the post-apocalyptic theme in a single word is no small feat, and the subtitle “A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game” certainly adds to its impact. Interestingly, some of the original developers had a different perspective on the name.

In a conversation about the naming process, Interplay founder Brian Fargo recalled, “There were a whole bunch of names considered. Vault 13 was one of them.”

Fallout co-creator Leonard Boyarsky added, “Jason [Anderson, game designer and lead artist] and I were really pushing for ‘It’s gotta be Vault 13!’ But that would have limited storytelling to just that location.” He acknowledged, “It would have been a terrible name for a series, but at the time, we thought it was really cool.”

Tim Cain, another co-creator, shared, “I found a list from a brainstorming session where Fallout was mentioned. We all thought it was too obvious. Someone even pointed out, ‘It’s 80 years later. There’s no fallout.'”

However, after playing the game over weekends, Fargo had a revelation: “I said, ‘Hey, you know, I think I’ve got a good name for us,’ which was Fallout.”

Cain remembered, “My first reaction was ‘Ehh…’ But when I shared it with the team, we all started to like it. It made sense for a lot of reasons.”

Fargo noted that “naming titles is always tricky because there will always be some who dislike it. You have to sit with it for a while to see if it resonates.” Cain reflected, “Years later, I’ve come to appreciate how skilled Brian was at naming games.”

The lead of Fallout: New Vegas mentioned that it took about five years for fans to “come around” to the RPG.