<P> Fallout is a series of post-apocalyptic role - playing video games created by Interplay Entertainment . The series is set during the 22nd and 23rd centuries, and its atompunk retrofuturistic setting and artwork are influenced by the post-war culture of 1950s America, with its combination of hope for the promises of technology and the lurking fear of nuclear annihilation . A forerunner for Fallout is Wasteland, a 1988 game developed by Interplay Productions to which the series is regarded as a spiritual successor . </P> <P> The series' first two titles Fallout (1997) and Fallout 2 (1998) were developed by Black Isle Studios, with the tactical role - playing game Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel (2001) developed by Micro Forté and 14 Degrees East . In 2004, Interplay closed Black Isle Studios, and continued to produce Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel, an action game with role - playing elements for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox, without Black Isle Studios . Fallout 3, the third entry in the main series, was released in 2008 by Bethesda Softworks, and was followed by Fallout: New Vegas in 2010, developed by Obsidian Entertainment . The series' fourth main entry Fallout 4 was released in 2015, and Fallout 76 was announced in May 2018 . </P> <P> Bethesda Softworks owns the rights to produce Fallout games . Soon after acquiring the rights to the intellectual property, Bethesda licensed the rights to make a massively multiplayer online role - playing game (MMORPG) version of Fallout to Interplay . The MMORPG got as far as beta stage under Interplay, but a lengthy legal dispute between Bethesda Softworks and Interplay halted the development of the game and led to its eventual cancellation, as Bethesda claimed in court that Interplay had not met the terms and conditions of the licensing contract . The case was decided in favor of Bethesda . </P> <Table> Timeline of release years <Tr> <Td> 1997 </Td> <Td> Fallout </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1998 </Td> <Td> Fallout 2 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 1999 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2000 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2001 </Td> <Td> Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2002 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2003 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2005 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2006 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2007 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2008 </Td> <Td> Fallout 3 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2009 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Fallout: New Vegas </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2011 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2012 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2013 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2014 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2015 </Td> <Td> Fallout Shelter </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Fallout 4 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2016 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2017 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 2018 </Td> <Td> Fallout 76 </Td> </Tr> </Table>

Where does fallout 1 and 2 take place