What Happened To Other Countries In Fallout
Hey there, fellow wanderers of the wasteland! Ever found yourself staring at your Pip-Boy, wondering what the heck happened to places outside of Uncle Sam’s big, broken backyard in the Fallout universe? You know, like when you’re scrolling through Netflix and see a documentary about ancient Rome, and you think, “Okay, but what about that other civilization that was doing their own thing over there?” That’s kind of how I feel about the rest of the world in Fallout. We spend so much time rebuilding power armor in Boston or trying to get a decent Nuka-Cola in the Mojave, but what about everyone else?
It’s a totally valid question, right? Think about it like this: you’re at a huge family reunion. You know your immediate cousins really well, their dramas, their triumphs. But what about Aunt Mildred’s third cousin who lives way out in Idaho? You might have heard whispers, maybe a vague story about them owning a really successful potato farm, but the details are fuzzy. That’s the vibe we get for most of the rest of the world in Fallout.
The short, slightly unsatisfying answer is: we don’t really know, and that’s kind of the point. The games are primarily set in the United States, so the developers understandably focus on what’s happening right here. It’s like a really intense local news broadcast. You get all the juicy details about what’s going on down the street, but the international report is usually just a quick blurb at the end.
However, there are enough little breadcrumbs scattered throughout the games to make us wonder. And honestly, that wondering is part of the fun. It lets our imaginations run wild, and for a series that’s all about post-apocalyptic survival, a little bit of imaginative escapism is good for the soul, wouldn't you agree?
Whispers from Across the Pond (and Elsewhere)
So, let’s dig into those breadcrumbs. One of the most prominent mentions of what happened elsewhere comes up in relation to Great Britain. In Fallout 4, specifically, you can stumble upon holotapes and terminal entries that paint a rather grim picture. Apparently, after the Great War, the UK wasn’t exactly having a tea party.
We hear about something called the "Great War", which is obviously the big one, but there’s also a hint of earlier conflicts. Think of it like a particularly bad flu season that weakens everyone, and then a really nasty plague comes along. The UK seems to have been dealing with its own set of problems before the bombs even fell. Some lore suggests they were involved in their own “limited” conflicts, and that their society was already… well, a bit tense. Maybe like trying to get everyone to agree on the best way to load a dishwasher before a major disaster strikes. It’s already a recipe for some friction.
And when the bombs dropped? Devastation, naturally. There’s a mention of London being hit, and the general implication is that the entire country was left in ruins, much like everywhere else. But there’s a specific mention of "mutant sheep". Yes, you read that right. Mutant sheep. Now, I don’t know about you, but the image of a flock of mutated, woolly abominations roaming the desolate moors of England is both terrifying and… a little bit hilarious. It’s like finding out your quiet neighbor who always kept to himself suddenly started breeding genetically modified garden gnomes. You’re not sure whether to be scared or just… confused.
What About the Rest of Europe?
Europe, in general, is a bit of a mystery. We know that the world economy was pretty intertwined before the war. So, it’s highly unlikely that the bombs only fell on America. If you think about it like a global stock market crash, when one major player goes down, everyone feels the ripple effect. It’s safe to assume that most of Europe was also heavily impacted.
There are vague references to other countries being involved in the resource wars and the escalating tensions that led to the Great War. So, imagine a massive international argument, like when everyone at Thanksgiving is trying to claim the last slice of pumpkin pie, but on a global scale. Countries were vying for resources, and that kind of competition rarely ends with everyone holding hands and singing Kumbaya. It usually ends with someone getting a bit too heated, and then… well, bombs.
The common thread seems to be widespread destruction. While we don't get specific details about Paris or Berlin, it's a safe bet that they are also just piles of rubble, perhaps with their own unique brand of irradiated horrors. Maybe French poodles mutated into super-sized, rabid versions? Or German shepherds that can now breathe fire? The possibilities are endless, and frankly, a little bit unsettling.
Asia and Beyond: Even Bigger Questions
When we venture further east, things get even more speculative. China, for instance, is often depicted as a major antagonist in the pre-war world. The Enclave, with their American superiority complex, definitely saw China as a rival. So, it’s logical to assume that China was a primary target, and also a perpetrator, of the nuclear attacks.
Think about the global supply chain for your favorite electronics. Now imagine that entire chain snapping. That’s the kind of impact we’re talking about. If China was heavily involved in resource wars and technological development, the fallout there would have been catastrophic. We might be looking at entirely new breeds of super-mutants, or perhaps even advanced AI that has gone completely rogue after the bombs fell. It’s like forgetting to turn off your smart home devices during a hurricane – things can get weird, fast.
And what about places like India? Australia? Africa? South America? The games offer almost no direct information. This isn't necessarily an oversight; it's more of a storytelling choice. By keeping the focus tight on the US, the developers can delve deeper into the nuances of that specific society and its collapse. It’s like a director deciding to focus on the personal drama of a few characters in a large ensemble cast. You might miss out on some of the other subplots, but you get a more intimate understanding of the main players.
Why Should We Care, Though?*
This is where it gets interesting. Even though we don't have a definitive travelogue of the post-apocalyptic world, the *implication of what happened elsewhere is crucial. It reminds us that the Great War wasn’t just an American problem. It was a global catastrophe. The nuclear winter, the resource scarcity, the rise of mutated creatures – these are all things that would have affected the entire planet.
It also highlights the dangers of unchecked nationalism and resource conflict. The world of Fallout serves as a cautionary tale. It shows us what can happen when nations prioritize their own interests above all else, leading to a path of destruction. It’s like a group of friends arguing over who gets to control the remote – if it gets too heated, the whole night can be ruined. In Fallout’s case, the "remote" was the planet.
Furthermore, thinking about the "other countries" in Fallout sparks our own creativity. What kind of societies might have sprung up in the ruins of Tokyo? What unique cultures might have formed in the shadow of the Himalayas? These are questions that fan fiction writers and game developers alike can explore. It’s an invitation to imagine, to speculate, and to fill in the blanks.
So, while we might not be getting a DLC titled "Fallout: London" anytime soon (though, a girl can dream!), the absence of concrete details about other countries is, in a way, a strength. It leaves us with the chilling realization that the devastation was widespread, and it invites us to ponder the wider implications of the nuclear apocalypse. It’s a reminder that in the grand scheme of things, we’re all in this (wasted) world together. And maybe, just maybe, somewhere out there, there are still a few brave souls trying to cultivate mutant sheep into a stable, if slightly odd, economy. And for that, I’ll raise a Radscorpion wine glass.