Overview

• Tim Cain revealed that Interplay ordered him to destroy his personal Fallout development archives, including early design notes, prototypes, and source code.
• Interplay later admitted to losing its own internal archive of Fallout materials, leaving many original assets permanently unrecoverable.
• Lost items include the GURPS-based code, original artwork, and clay models used for character animations in the game.
• Cain’s revelations have reignited discussions about the broader neglect of video game preservation and the need for comprehensive archiving practices.
• Organizations like the Video Game History Foundation and companies such as PlayStation are taking steps to address these preservation challenges, though gaps remain industry-wide.