Fallout London devs had "moments of uncertainty" whether Bethesda would let the mod live, but they know AAA studios "increasingly rely on user-generated content"

Fallout 4 mod Fallout London screenshot showing a ruinous post-apocalyptic Camden — (Image credit: Team Folon / Bethesda)

Fan developers behind the gargantuan Fallout: London expansion used to fear IP holder Bethesda's wrath, though project manager Dean Carter (Prilladog) also thinks mainstream studios keep using fan-made content to keep their AAA series healthy.

Bethesda might need Fallout: London as much as the mods' volunteer development team needs Fallout, Carter suggests while speaking to Edge magazine for its issue #422, out now. The modder says, "I do feel that the publishers increasingly rely on user-generated content, because it keeps their games alive for longer."

But, even though that may be true, and Fallout: London wouldn't even exist without the Creation Engine modding tool Bethesda itself bestowed upon fans, the project's developers still had fretful "moments of uncertainty" that Bethesda would let Fallout: London go unharmed. But… the publisher did. Bethesda issued no takedowns, expressed no concerns over the majestic hugeness of the mod – which even features Baldur's Gate 3 actor Neil Newbon –and for that, Carter issues, "Props to them."

Fallout: London comes from a place of mountain spring purity, anyway. Carter explains, "We realized we could either spend time simply playing games or try to make something ourselves." And the feeling is spreading. “The scale of modern fan communities means talented creators can find collaborators and audiences much more easily," Carter says, "which also naturally leads to more ambitious fan projects. So, 100%, there does seem to be a noticeable increase in these kinds of games.”