Summary
When looking at the far-future world of Bethesda Game Studios’ planet-hopping RPG,Starfield, it’s hard to imagine that it could share any sort of connection to the developer’s famousFalloutfranchise. While the two have some surface-level similarities, such as theoutposts inStarfieldthat serve as a sometimes-imperfect evolution ofFallout 4’s settlement system, the sci-fi setting of the former franchise seems worlds apart from the latter both stylistically and narratively. But, despite the obvious differences between the two, players familiar with the lore of the fan-favoriteFallout: New Vegasmay be able to spot a surprising 2330s connection toStarfield.
The connection between 2010’sFallout: New Vegasand the recently releasedStarfieldonly becomes apparent when exploring the history of the in-universe company credited with co-inventingFallout’s iconic Pip-Boy. A frequent collaborator withFallout’s ever-present, malevolent megacorporation, Vault-Tec, RobCo Industries had a hand in everything from the Pip-Boy’s creation to producing many of the consumer and military robots players encounter throughout the franchise. While this work with robotics is what helped RobCo founder Robert House make his pre-war billions, it’s Mr. House’s interest in space travel that provides the surprisingStarfieldconnection.
RELATED:Starfield Player Builds the Mandalorian’s Starfighter in the Game
Almost two centuries before players encounter Mr. House in his role as the owner ofThe Lucky 38 casinoand undisputed ruler of New Vegas, the eccentric billionaire had made a name for himself in pre-War America as a titan of industry. Although his company, RobCo Industries, was most well-known for their robots, Mr. House also had a keen interest in rocketry that would stay with him throughout his life. To this end, Mr. House purchasedFallout: New Vegas’ REPCONN Aerospace in 2076 with plans to use its unmanned rockets to explore the solar system.
The outbreak ofFallout’s Great Warthe following year would put a stop to these plans but, even after his revival as a cyborg over half a century later, Mr. House never abandoned his interest in expanding humanity’s reach to the stars. This is made clear when, at one point inFallout: New Vegas, Mr. House speaks with the player about the potential of going to war with the forces of the New California Republic and his plans for a victorious New Vegas in the aftermath. The timeline laid out for his post-victory vision of New Vegas is where the unexpected connection toStarfield’s 2330s setting comes into play.
The Timelines of Fallout: New Vegas and Starfield Have an Intriguing Overlap
When outlining his vision for a victorious New Vegas in the years following the game’s 2281 setting, Mr. House tells players that he could use the money from the NCR’s consumer class to fund space exploration. Starting small, he states that he could have high technology development up and running within 20 years to lay the foundation for further exploration. Ever optimistic, Mr. House boasts that he could have humans in orbit by 2331, just one year after the start ofStarfield.
Even with access to some of the most advanced technology available in New Vegas, it’s questionable whether Mr. House could actually meet this ambitious goal given the still-sorry state of the rest ofFallout’s post-apocalyptic Earth. Regardless of his chances of following through at sending humanity out into the stars, though, the nearly-to-the-year overlap between the two timelines makes for an unexpected discovery. Even if Mr. House’s plans of getting humans into low-Earth orbit may not match the technical spectacle ofStarfield’s grav drives, the 2330s look to be a high-flying decade for both franchises.
Whether this overlap between the spacefaring plans ofFallout: New Vegas’ eccentric cyborg billionaire and the sci-fi setting ofStarfieldwas an intentional callback or just coincidence is unclear, but it makes for an interesting connection nonetheless. And even if players probably won’t be seeing Bethesda’s latest RPG doing a crossover withFallout: New Vegasany time soon, at least they can still cosplay as one of that game’sNCR Rangers inStarfield.
Starfieldis available now for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE:Why Many Fans Still Want Fallout: New Vegas 2, 13 Years Later
