Fallout fever: Why we can expect more video game, TV tie-ins
The data is in, and TV tie-ins lead to more interest in a given franchise. The only question: Is it leading to more revenue for publishers?
I’m fighting an unwinnable battle at my family dinners.
Everyone else at the table is an avid reader. They indulge in discussing the latest crime dramas they're reading, sharing book recommendations as they go. As I’m not much of a book worm — I attribute this to reading daily for my writing-based job — I had previously resigned myself to sitting in silence with nothing to contribute.
But this year, something clicked. I decided, rather than being frustrated about how my hobbies don't line up with theirs, to steer the conversation towards the interesting video games I've been playing, particularly their notable plot beats.
These attempts are usually met with a swift redirect back to the books of the day. However, thanks to TV shows like Amazon Prime's Fallout, the scales may be slightly tipping in my favour.
Video games have long built worlds and told stories that can transcend the medium and, in some ways, are richer than those told on other platforms. A surprising amount of my knowledge about philosophy, literature, history, and mythology comes from playing games for over two decades — these plot beats have to come from somewhere!
In the past couple of years, we've seen these tales gain mainstream attention with their adaptations into TV series. Fallout is the latest example, following the success of The Last of Us, which debuted its first season last year. At this rate, I wouldn’t be surprised if a BioShock TV series is in the works.
It’s safe to say this strategy is here to stay. A graph from NewZoo indicates that each TV series release leads to a tangible increase in both new and returning players for the respective franchises.
However, the missing link is monetising this unpredictable burst of interest. In the case of Fallout, Bethesda (owned by Microsoft) may have seen an uptick in downloads and game adoption — it topped the charts in Australia last month — but it's unclear whether the franchise has generated any additional revenue as a result.
Most of the Fallout games are available for free via subscription services, and even Bethesda's live-service game, Fallout 76, is free to play with an optional subscription. The only new release tied to the game was a free PS5/Xbox Series X upgrade.
This begs the question: Can the release of a TV series generate enough hype to translate into further commercial success for a game, as opposed to just reinvigorated interest?
For me, at least in the short term, I've got just that much more to discuss regarding the complex themes and plots in games as a foil to our usual book club discussions. I don’t expect to make gamers out of any of them, but I may buy a minute or two more before we loop back to the latest whodunit novella.
What I’m Playing: Fallout 4
I’m far from immune to hype. After finishing the TV series, I dove back into the Wasteland to revisit the source material. Released nearly a decade ago, Fallout 4 has aged well, thanks in part to a free graphical update. However, the game’s building mechanics have not stood the test of time.
While it’s a cool idea to construct outposts in the Wasteland, the mechanics don’t feel as user-friendly or engaging by today’s standards. Fortunately, these aspects are easy enough to overlook.
I still maintain that Fallout: New Vegas is one of the best entries in the franchise. It features a neatly organised assortment of quests and story-driven outcomes that genuinely make you feel like your decisions are shaping the course of the game. In contrast, Fallout 4 follows a more predetermined path until you encounter the game’s major revelation and are forced to choose a faction and pursue their storyline to the end.
Despite this, Fallout 4's vastness continues to impress me. Even now, I’m uncovering parts of the game I never encountered in my initial play through.
Worth trying (if you haven’t already) if you like: Elder Scrolls Skyrim, Prey, The Outer Worlds, or enjoyed the Fallout TV series.
Available on: PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S.