Amazon’s Fallout TV series has dropped like an atom bomb on viewers, searing a very brash and loud image of the wasteland on fans and newcomers alike.
For many it is a very unique look at a post apocalyptic world that isn’t the typical fare, eschewing studded leather and sand dunes for a more functional, but still very chaotic society.
The joyful realisation for those left hungry for more radiation soaked Fallout goodness is that it is of course based on a long standing game series – that you can play, right now!
#Fallout games from #Fallout76 to #FalloutNewVegas have surged in popularity across all platforms following the release of the Fallout TV show.
— PlayTracker (@PlayTrackerNet) April 13, 2024
On Steam, concurrent player numbers doubled overnight, while console players on PlayTracker increased about 50% on average. pic.twitter.com/9Tn8WfhKcv
Via playtracker.net, stats have revealed that a notable jump in popularity has occurred across the most recent releases in the series, including:
It is worth noting that this is a display of increased play activity – not specifically sales data. I have no doubt in my mind that there has also been a spike in game sales (helped in no part due to a range of hefty savings on Fallout titles on platforms such as Steam), but the surge of players is very likely a glorious mix of old-school fans returning to what they loved and new fans that want to see the brutal reality of post-war America for themselves.
While it is magnificent to see a healthy uptick across the more recent Fallout experiences, I still tip my hat to the die hard explorers that have taken the time to experience the often-imitated by never replicated games of Fallout 1 & 2. They represent a slice of gaming history that serve as a cornerstone of many modern day functionalities taken for granted by many, even if people still don’t really love branching dialogue trees.
And for those newcomers that flocked to Fallout 76 – well, that sure is a Fallout game. While many improvements have been made, long term players still describe it as “almost a full Bethesda game” nowadays, so take that as you will. As a casual Fallout series fan, the analogy here is a little like seeing a ton of new people discover one of your favourite bands – and then immediately rush to buy their worst album.
Only in this case they don’t need to buy the album, because it’s free on Game Pass. Or something.
Look, I never said it was a good analogy – but I am still happy to see new meat stepping out of their first Fallout vault. Or waking up to Doc Mitchell. Or playing Fallout 1 and rolling with the lowest intelligence they can muster.
Have you had a chance to watch the Fallout TV show? Are you rushing to install your favourite Fallout interactive experience? Let us know in the comments or on social media.
Known throughout the interwebs simply as M0D3Rn, Ash is bad at video games. An old guard gamer who suffers from being generally opinionated, it comes as no surprise that he is both brutally loyal and yet, fiercely whimsical about all things electronic. On occasion will make a youtube video that actually gets views. Follow him on YouTube @Bad at Video Games
