Fallout Season 2: How Did New Vegas Survive the Bombs?

Fallout Season 2 takes us to Las Vegas, more commonly known as ‘New Vegas’, following the Great Nuclear War. Unlike virtually every other location in the wasteland, Vegas has survived with many of its structures and monuments still standing tall. This includes the Strip, a place that was for decades one of the only commercial hubs in the apocalypse. Naturally, some viewers might be wondering exactly how the City of Sin was spared nuclear decimation while the rest of the world burned.

The answer is fascinating, and one that the show glosses over in episode one. If you’re looking for more specific details, we’ve got you covered. Here’s everything to know about how Las Vegas survived the bombs in Fallout Season 2.

How Did New Vegas Survive the Bombs in Fallout Season 2?

Las Vegas (or New Vegas, as it came to be known later) survived nuclear annihilation due to the efforts of one man: Robert House. Portrayed by Justin Theroux in the show, House was a powerful technocrat before the war and founded arguably the most influential company in the Fallout canon, RobCo Industries.

He used his considerable influence, intellect, and wealth to predict the end of the world, even determining the very date on which the nukes would be launched. House had ambitions of charting a bright future for the remnants of humanity, and he chose Las Vegas as the staging ground for his plans. He recognised the concentration of wealth and infrastructure that the location had, and commissioned the development of the Lucky 38 – the tallest and most glamorous casino on the Vegas Strip.

To facilitate his post-apocalyptic ambitions, the billionaire outfitted the casino with advanced defensive and life-support systems. This included missile batteries that could shoot down incoming bombs, and a stasis chamber that could allow him to live forever. On the day of the Great War, House’s defense systems shot down a majority of the nukes that were bound for Vegas. This meant that the city was unscathed, even if some of the bombs made it past the defense systems.

Two centuries later, the Strip, now known as New Vegas, kicked back into action. Its major casinos and restaurants all restored, its streets marshalled by House’s army of Securitons, and its economy blooming due to the influx of tourists. The last time we saw New Vegas in the games, the location was depicted as the shining jewel of the Mojave Wasteland. A hub of commerce and capitalism, ruled over by Robert House from his penthouse in the Lucky 38.

What Happened to New Vegas in The Fallout Show?

Nothing lives forever, especially in the wasteland. As the animated outro of the Season 1 finale confirmed, New Vegas fell at some point during the 15-year time jump (between FNV and Fallout Season 1). We see the Strip looking worse for wear, with debris covering its streets. As the camera pans, we can also spot a crashed NCR vertibird, surrounded by corpses and even the skeleton of a Deathclaw. The days of the Strip being a tourist hotspot are clearly over, but it’s unclear exactly how it reached this fate.

In all likelihood, Fallout Season 2 will give us some much-needed answers. But until then, this covers everything you need to know about New Vegas in the Fallout TV show.

What are your theories for Vegas’ current state? Let us know in the comments.