Fallout Source Code Preserved: Rebecca Heineman Reveals Archival of Classic Interplay Games

In a significant revelation for fans of classic role-playing games and industry preservationists alike, Rebecca Heineman, a co-founder of Interplay Productions and veteran game designer, has confirmed that she retained the source code for both Fallout and Fallout 2, despite previous concerns about its possible loss.

This news comes as a relief following claims by Fallout creator Tim Cain that the original code was destroyed after he left Interplay, the game's original publisher. The Fallout series, developed in the late 1990s by Interplay and now owned by Bethesda, is widely regarded as a pioneering franchise in PC gaming, known for its post-apocalyptic setting, branching narratives, and deep RPG mechanics.

Released in 1997 and 1998 respectively, Fallout and Fallout 2 have been influential in shaping modern role-playing games, with the series later expanding to platforms like the Nintendo Switch through later entries and ports. In recent video statements, Tim Cain recounted that upon his departure from Interplay, he was ordered to eliminate all remaining assets associated with Fallout’s development, including early design documents, multiple protoypes, and the GURPS ruleset integration codes.

Cain explained, “When I left Fallout, I was told I had to destroy everything I had, and I did.

My complete archive, including all handwritten notes and different versions of the code—gone.” However, in a detailed interview with VideoGamer, Rebecca Heineman clarified that she had taken meticulous steps to preserve Interplay’s development history.

Heineman explained that her archiving efforts began while preparing Interplay’s 10 Year Anthology: Classic Collection, an iconic compilation spanning the company's games from 1983 to 1993.

She revealed, "I have the source for all my projects, often making it a personal mission to capture a snapshot and archive it onto CD-ROMs.

When I left Interplay in 1995, I ensured I had copies of every game we’d produced, without exception—including Fallout 1 and 2." Heineman attributed Cain’s beliefs about the code’s destruction to company practices at the time.

She explained that Interplay adopted a stringent stance toward employees leaving the company.

While non-founders were often pressured to erase or relinquish all intellectual property as a precaution against potential legal disputes or competitor poaching, Heineman, as a founder, wasn’t bound by the same restrictions and retained her personal archives.

She added, “Interplay could be aggressive with departing staff over asset retention, but their legal position was not strong enough to actually enforce it.

Had they had grounds for a lawsuit, it would have happened." Rebecca Heineman further indicated her intention to eventually seek avenues to make the Fallout 1 and 2 source code publicly available, preserving the franchise’s legacy and allowing future generations to learn from its development history. This revelation reinforces the critical role archival practices play in game preservation, ensuring that landmark titles like Fallout are not lost to time.

With modern re-releases of classic games on platforms such as the Nintendo Switch, the preservation of original source code continues to be an essential aspect of both historical research and contemporary development.