Summary

TheFalloutuniverse is full of mysteries and strange occurrences, andFallout 4added to this by fully introducing a hidden threat that could potentially be lurking anywhere. While strange new foe was set up inFallout 3,it wasn’t until the next installment that it was expanded on and fully implemented. But what could be a secret so important that it could impactFalloutfor years to come?

Set in Boston and the surrounding area,Fallout 4follows the Sole Survivor, a pre-war resident of the Commonwealth, as they search for their missing child. Having the action take just 10 years afterFallout 3allowed for many returning charactersas well as some themes and plot hooks to be picked up. Andthere was one in particular from a side quest in Rivet City that has the potential to have far-reaching consequencesfor bothFallout 5and Amazon’sFalloutseries.

Grandma lily, Dogmeat, and ED-E from the Fallout games.

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Fallout 4’s Secret Synths Could Be Anywhere

The Idea Of Hidden Synths Shouldn’t Be Ignored

One of the key plot points ofFallout 4is the Institute and its third-generation synths. These artificially created people look and act just like regular humans, causing waves of paranoia throughout the Commonwealth. While some have been created as a labor force for the Institute, there are also a shocking number who were designed to replace real people and act as spies. Even with the Institute destroyed,there are still a lot of human-like synths unaccounted for, something future Fallout games and the series may have to address.

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There Are Many Synth Characters Throughout Fallout 4

Some Are Hidden & Others Are Overt, Thanks To Two Key Factions

During the course of the main questline ofFallout 4,the Sole Survivor will cross paths with many characters and factions. While some characters are clearly synths or are upfront about their nature, such as Nick Valentine, Railroad agent Glory, and the many Coursers encounters, others either hide what they are or honestly don’t know. As the Sole Survivor explores and completes quests, it becomes clearjust how many synths are hiding in the Commonwealth and beyond, thanks to both the Institute and Railroad.

For years, the Institute has been replacing Commonwealth citizens with synthsby kidnapping people, torturing them for details of their lives, and then killing them. The best examples of this seen inFallout 4are Roger Warwick and Mayor McDonough, both of whom are aware they are Institute spies. While one was meant to oversee a farm for the BioScience division, McDonough was placed to control Diamond City and feed information back to his handlers.

Magnolia singing on stage in Fallout 4

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But there are also synths who are unaware of their past or who never bring it up during the course of the game.Both Sturges and Goodneighbor’s nightclub singer Magnolia are synths, but it is never revealed in dialogue or during a quest. In fact, as both are set to essentially, the only way to confirm their status is to use console command which will reveal that they drop a synth component when dead.

Lorenzo Cabot and Duke from the Atom Cats with a group of feral ghouls in the background.

Some of Magnolia’s songs hint at her past, in particular, “I’m the One You’re Looking For,” which has lines about memories being erased and her struggle to find a new identity.

There are evensynths who appear inFallout 4who have no idea that they are synthsand truly believe they are fully human. Paladin Danse and Far Harbor’s Captain Avery are revealed to be Gen 3 synths during the course of the Brotherhood of Steel ending and theFar HarborDLC main questline. Both react with shock at the revelation, causing each of them to question their personal identities and place in the world.

Three models of Power Armor, the T-45, T-51, and X-01, stand side by side.

However, while DiMA was responsible for Avery’s death and replacement, it is much more likely that Danse was a product of the Railroad’s efforts to free synths. Along with Dr. Amari and facial surgeons all across the East Coast,the Railroad is able to take runaway synths and give them new identities. Although their intentions are good, the Railroad’s actions have far-reaching consequences, with some of their relocated synths showing up inFallout 3’s Rivet City in the Capital Wasteland and probably further afield.

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What Do Fallout 4’s Secret Synths Mean For Fallout’s Future

The Implication Of Their Existence Cannot Be Ignored

With the arrival of the Prydwen in theFalloutseries, it is clear that either a Minutemen or Brotherhood ending forFallout 4is considered canon, but what does that mean for the many synths that are still out there? Their existence isn’t something that the franchise can put back in the box, and it needs to be addressed in some capacity. However, far from being a negative,the synths out in the world offer interesting new story possibilitiesseparate from the Institute and the Commonwealth.

There are still an untold number of synths unaccounted for thatcould be used to tell stories and offer usual points of viewin bothFallout 5and theFalloutseries. Perhaps they could be loyal to the Institute still, working for the faction’s holdouts who have fled the Commonwealth and East Coast. This would certainly work well for Elder Maxson’s reasons for bringing the Prydwen and his chapter of the Brotherhood to California if they were chasing Institute remnants.

Desdemona from Fallout 4 with the Old North Church.

This would not be out of character for the Brotherhood, and pastFalloutlore has seen the militaristic faction hunting down super mutants who left California after the fall of the Master. Given Maxson’s reaction to Danse’s true identity, it isn’t a stretch to assumehe would apply the same ferocity to the many Institute informants, Coursers, and holdouts. Maxson was also adamant that the Railroad also needed to be destroyed, which could also influence his actions if he also sought to find any of their agents, synths, or sympathizers.

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Synths Could Impact The Fallout TV Series

Anyone Could Be A Robot

With theFalloutTV series taking place only nine years afterFallout 4,there are plenty of opportunities to use elements from the game’s plot in upcoming seasons. Even if it comes in the form of a reference or small remark,acknowledgment of the synth and the Institute makes a lot of sense, given the importance to Maxsonand his mission in the Commonwealth. After all, his success there is what has placed him in a position to challenge the West Coast Brotherhood leaders, something many long-timeFalloutfans expect to see in season two of the series.

Given the complexity of theFallouttimeline and the problems the TV showcould create for continuity when it comes toFallout 5,a large time jump might be a neat way to sidestep these issues. Little is known aboutFallout 5; withits setting and place on the timeline uncertain, it may be too distant for the synths ofFallout 4to make an impact directly. Although, it feels right that the synths and their role in that universe shouldn’t be forgotten quite so quickly.

Members of the Brotherhood of Steel go to investigate the newly arriving Prydwen airship in Fallout series.

People fighting with the devil version of Vault Boy

Ella Purnell looking down as Lucy in Fallout season 1

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