The Fallout franchise is experiencing a massive renaissance, with Prime Video's adaptation becoming a flagship series, Bethesda working on Fallout 5, and rumors swirling about Obsidian Entertainment returning to the wasteland. Amid this resurgence, one of the franchise's original architects has stepped forward with some pointed feedback.
Chris Avellone, the lead designer and writer of Fallout: New Vegas, recently shared his thoughts on the Amazon series during an appearance on the Access Granted podcast. While he enjoys the show overall, he believes the writing could be stronger. "I kind of wish the game writing for TV shows like that, where they're mimicking a game, they would kind of elevate it a bit," Avellone said. He pointed to Cyberpunk: Edgerunners as a prime example of an adaptation that found its own voice while staying true to its source material. "I guess I feel embarrassed when I see some of the lines being done. But you know, it's a fun show," he added.
Avellone's critique isn't limited to Fallout alone. He sees a broader trend in Hollywood where writers approach established franchises without fully understanding what made them resonate with players. "I don't mean to put all Hollywood writers in this category," he clarified, explaining that some adaptations seem to assume game writers "didn't know what they were doing." When creative teams don't immerse themselves in the games, they risk missing key character dynamics, world-building, and storytelling opportunities that fans immediately recognize.
Despite his reservations about the script, Avellone praised the performances of Ella Purnell and Walton Goggins, calling them highlights of the series. He also stressed that he still finds the show entertaining, even if some moments don't land for him.
The Fallout series isn't slowing down anytime soon. Season 3 is already in production, with The Acolyte star Manny Jacinto joining the cast. Bethesda's Todd Howard has teased that upcoming episodes will introduce entirely new ideas and locations never seen in the games. For fans hungry for more, the first two seasons are streaming now on Prime Video.
For those interested in other video game adaptations, check out our list of The 15 Scariest Video Games of All Time. And if you're looking for more Prime Video content, don't miss our review of Ride or Die starring Octavia Spencer and Hannah Waddingham.
Whether you agree with Avellone's criticisms or not, the Fallout universe continues to expand, and the conversation around how best to adapt beloved games for the screen is far from over.
