Fallout 1 and 2 Are Still Canon Games – Here‘s Why That Matters

As a huge fan of the Fallout series, one question I see debated a lot is whether the classic original Fallout games are still considered a canonical part of the series‘ storyline and world. With some other early Fallout titles having had their status revoked over time by Bethesda, where do the OG classics stand in 2023?

The answer is clear: yes, Fallout and Fallout 2 are still utterly canon entries in the series.

However, the canon status of some other early games isn‘t so simple, occupying more of a grey area among fans. Let‘s break down the key details every Fallout fan should know about what counts as canon and why it matters.

Revisiting How Canon Gets Established

First, as background, let‘s talk about what makes something officially canon or not. Canon refers to the confirmed facts that make up a series‘ core storyline and world details. These key events and information essentially "count" as having really occurred within that fictional universe.

For the Fallout games, new canon gets added with each major release, including spin-off titles like Fallout Shelter. Developers decide what counts based on the content and backstory included. If a new game contradicts an old one, the new info takes precedence.

"Fallout Bible is no longer canon… only elements that made it into Fallout 3+ matter." – Chris Avellone, series creator

Occasionally, developers issue statements to clarify canon status explicitly. As series creator Chris Avellone noted on Twitter, the Fallout Bible he wrote is no longer considered a canonical lore source, unless info from it made it into future games.

The Original Classics: Still The Core of Fallout Canon

Given the fluid nature of canon rules, where do Fallout and Fallout 2 stand today? These seminal 1997 and 1998 classics are still very much canon based on developers’ statements and the central role they play in the series’ DNA.

As the first two canonical games in the franchise that essentially spawned Fallout’s signature settings and themes of post-apocalyptic retro-futurism, their storylines and details about factions like the Brotherhood of Steel remain crucially important foundation stones.

Let’s look at some key evidence that these influential original Fallout adventures are still canon:

• Explicitly referenced in later games: Fallout 3 directly refers to story events and player actions described in the Vault Dweller‘s memoirs that first appeared in Fallout 1. And Fallout: New Vegas uses details about the NCR’s founding from Fallout 2‘s ending.
• Maintained in online wikis: Reference sites like the official Fallout Wiki include summaries of Fallout 1 and 2‘s plots as canonical history.
• Never been decanonized: Developers have made no statements countering their canonicity, unlike the Fallout Bible‘s status change. We can safely assume they remain canon unless stated otherwise.

Based on these sources, the position of these first Fallout games being 100% canon seems rock solid. But other classic entries occupy more grey zones, as we‘ll now see…

A Spectrum of "Canonicity" Among the Classics

Looking beyond just the original two games, the status of other early series entries isn‘t so clear cut. Based on analysis from passionate wiki editors and forum-goers, I‘ve summarized where they seem to stand:

Fallout Tactics (2001)

Canonicity Status: Semi-Canon

As the first Fallout spin-off title made after the Interplay studio sold the rights, Tactics has always occupied a controversial grey zone among fans. Its storyline about the Midwestern Brotherhood of Steel contradicts some aspects of the Brotherhood‘s established origins.

Many describe Tactics as "broad strokes" semi-canonical – some central events happened but details are disputed. It hasn‘t been outright exiled from canon, but doesn‘t quite fully count either.

Van Buren (Canceled 2003 Project)

Canonicity Status: Non-Canon

This canceled Fallout 3 from Black Isle Studios‘ concepts and design documents aren‘t considered official canon due to never being completed. But some story ideas were potentially reused in Bethesda‘s later Fallout 3. Unless those specific parts surface in future canon games, Van Buren itself remains non-canon.

Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel games (Canceled)

Canonicity Status: Non-Canon

As fully canceled games that never saw the light of day, these hypothetical sequels hold no weight in series canon unless their ideas get recycled elsewhere later. For now, they‘re just an interesting historical footnote in the franchise lore bible!

Do Non-Canon Games Still Matter?

Given the roots that the original couple games represent and the number of gamers that grew up loving these titles, I believe there is certainly still room for supposedly "non-canon" or semi-canon entries to leave an impression.

While their status may be disputed, designs and concepts from canceled Fallout projects have influenced what we‘ve gotten to play. Tactics brought interesting Midwestern Brotherhood ideas, even if fans debate specifics. And Van Buren‘s post-apocalyptic tribal setting lived on through New Vegas years later.

My hope is that rather than arguing whether these games fully "count" or not, the Fallout community can appreciate them all as part of the property‘s journey – every ambitious release has contributed threads to this post-nuclear tapestry in some way over the past 25 years!

Even if not considered formal history, through modding many of these games‘ settings and ideas live on. I believe the spirit of exploration in all these Fallout games is what binds the property‘s legacy together across canons both hard and soft. That passion for rediscovering lost futures never gets old!

So while the classics reign supreme in the formal timeline, we remember the trailblazers too.

What do you think? How important do you view early Fallout game canonicity? Let‘s chat in the comments!