Fallout 1's Ending Could've Been a Party With Balloons & Cake

"You're a hero... and you have to leave." Just running those words through my head sends shivers down my spine, and I'd bet good caps that other fans of the original Fallout game feel the same. Surprisingly, it was recently revealed that the bittersweet expulsion of the Vault Dweller wasn't initially on the table, and the legendary game could've ended more like a 1990s or early 2000s comedy movie – with a massive celebration.

As revealed by Tim Cain, the OG Fallout's Director, Producer, and Lead Programmer, in his latest video, he originally envisioned the game ending with the Vault Dweller returning home for a grand party celebrating the hero – with balloons and cake that probably wouldn't have been destroyed by a clumsy Mr. Handy.

Before that was put into action, Art Director Leonard Boyarsky proposed the ending we all know and adore, and Cain admits he actually had to be convinced to go that route. Luckily, in the end, he was persuaded, and nearly three decades after the game's release, the director says he's glad they chose that option, noting that Boyarsky's idea was more powerful and perfectly fit Fallout 1's setting, where "no one wins" and there are only losers and those who lose less.

Previously, Cain also talked about the importance of game preservation, explained why he hasn't made sequels to his games, revealed that criticism of capitalism was never the point of Fallout – despite what Amazon's TV adaptation may lead you to believe – disclosed who actually started the nuclear war (spoiler: it wasn't Vault-Tec), explained why he left Fallout 2, and shared the true reason Vault-Tec built its series of underground bunkers. We highly encourage you to pay the developer's YouTube channel a visit for more fascinating insights into Fallout 1 and the game development industry.

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