Despite great advances in technology, by the mid-21st century, the world is locked into a series of brutal wars over non-renewable resources, culminating in a nuclear war in 2077 that destroys much of society.įallout takes place in 2161 and players control the 'Vault Dweller', a resident of Vault 13, part of a sophisticated network of underground fallout shelters known as 'Vaults' built by the United States Government before the Great War of 2077. The game is set in an alternate universe that deviates following World War II, where the United States remains culturally stagnant while developing advanced technology, resulting in a retro-futuristic world where the aesthetics and culture of the 1950s exists well into the 21st century. It was developed and published by Interplay Studios and released in October 1997. Fallout: A Post-Nuclear Role-Playing Game, also known as simply Fallout, is a turn-based role-playing video game, the hugely influential first installment in the popular Fallout series.