Summary
Fallouthas always contained elements within its setting that greatly compliment its broader 1950s Americana retro-futuristic stylings. From the robotic Mister Handy domestic helpers to the foodstuffs like Salisbury Steak and BlamCo Mac and Cheese,Fallout’s world building has produced some of the most recognizable fictional items of this kind in all of gaming. Bethesda Game Studio’s later work on the IP has resulted in it continuing this tradition, explaining some more of the history and interesting details behind these and other such inclusions.
Among one of the most notable of the above are the bottle caps that underpinFallout’s in-game economy and barter systems. An activity that players will usually be engaging in each entry is scrounging for, looting, and otherwiseobtaining a healthy supply of bottle caps inFalloutto support their character’s endeavors and stock of necessities. While the next title is not likely to emerge from the Vault for quite a while,Fallout 5could take the basic template that has been applied to bottle caps so far and introduce a more complete and flexible system for them.
Fallout 5 Could Greatly Expand on Its Iconic Bottle Cap-Driven Economy
Bottle Caps Are a Cornerstone of Fallout’s Lore and Gameplay
Present since the original 1997 title, the use ofbottle caps as currency inFalloutis simultaneously silly and serious, fitting into the often absurd practicalities of its post-apocalyptic society. Within franchise lore, the Nuka-Cola company was the most successful and prominent producer of popular soft drinks, overtaking and muscling out its competition to become a household name and product before the bombs dropped. By the time the games take place, the balance of the prevalence of caps pre-War, offset by the general inability to reproduce them accurately en masse, and backed by the major trading powers, saw them become the standard for the Wasteland’s economic system.
Though Nuka-Cola caps are generally the most widespread and accepted in the Wasteland, Sunset Sarsaparilla caps have also been seen to be utilized.
How Fallout 5 Could Iterate on Bottle Caps
Obsidian Entertainment’sFallout: New Vegasput a spin on the existing framework by featuring faction-specific money in the paper bills backed by theNew California Republicand the denarius and aureus coins employed by Caesar’s Legion. Counterfeit caps were also shown to be a concern, as though the technology to produce the originals is largely lost to history, enterprising and intrepid Wastelanders have attempted to salvage some surviving printing presses to create more, threatening to flood the market and de-value the authentic caps.
Given thatNuka-Cola bottle capsform the kernel of the in-game economy,Fallout 5has a variety of ways it could expand on their use and range. Previously, all caps had an equal value regardless of the flavor of Nuka-Cola they originated from. This kept it fairly easy to keep track of, and the system has worked perfectly well so far. However, with the assortment of different Nuka-Cola flavors and their respective rarities, for example Nuka Quantum, one next step might be to have them all assigned a hierarchy of values, like real-world coins, depending on the exact bottle they are found on, incentivizing seeking these out and making them more tangibly valuable in gameplay.
Regardless ofFallout 5’s possible setting, it’s a sure bet that bottle caps will return as the main source of income and trade. As there are already over a dozen kinds and special versions of Nuka-Cola, having each assigned their own worth feels like it might be a natural evolution and way to spice up how caps currently function. Offering greater rewards for specific types would also assist in further world building, and could help make the nextFallouteven more immersive in this regard.
Fallout 4
WHERE TO PLAY
Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of Fallout 76 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, invite you to the ambitious open world of Fallout 4. Do whatever you want in a massive Commonwealth with hundreds of locations, characters and quests.As the sole survivor of Vault 111, only you can rebuild and determine the fate of the Wasteland. Join multiple factions vying for power or go it alone - the choices are yours.From a Power Armor-toting soldier to the charismatic smooth-talker, be whoever you want with the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. character system and develop your own playstyle from hundreds of Perks.Experience exciting first- or third-person combat with the dynamic Vault-Tec Assisted Targeting System, or V.A.T.S., targeting enemies for maximum tactical advantage (and cinematic carnage!) Collect, upgrade and build thousands of items with Fallout 4’s crafting system. Weapons, armor, food and with the right materials, even entire settlements are possible. Welcome home.
