Fallout 76 Sets the Stage for a Scary Evolution of FEV

Fallout 76 may have gotten off to a rough start at launch, but it has become one of the most interesting entries in the franchise over the years. Thanks to a variety of updates, Fallout 76 has come a long way. From expanding the map to adding features like fishing and the ability to become a Ghoul, Fallout 76 has had a lot of fun with the series’ lore.

One of the many ways that Bethesda’s Fallout 76 devs have had fun exploring and evolving the lore is through the introduction of new creatures that haven’t been seen in other Fallout games, while also showcasing some that have already appeared. There are a lot of different monsters in Fallout 76 that are unique to the game’s Appalachian region, and they can be downright terrifying. The Mothman and the Grafton Monster are some of the most notable. Even Bigfoot was recently added in The Backwoods update. One particularly disturbing brand of creature, though, happens to be Floaters. These aren’t exclusive to Fallout 76, but the game has its own unique variant of the monster. Floaters may not be as notable as Appalachia’s famous cryptids, but they are a terrifying example of what the Forced Evolutionary Virus (FEV) is capable of.

Fallout 76’s Floaters Are One of the Most Bizarre Outcomes of FEV Experiments

In Fallout lore, FEV is one of the most notorious pre-war experiments that ended up having long-running consequences. The artificially made virus was originally created by West-Tek, but it was later experimented with at the Mariposa Military Base. FEV is what created Super Mutants, but they are far from the only creatures that have come from the virus and its ability to mutate DNA. Iconic Fallout monsters like Deathclaws and Centaurs are also byproducts of FEV, and Floaters are a small part of that list. Fallout‘s FEV is one of the most important puzzle pieces in the franchise’s lore. Although many details regarding Floaters remain sparse, they are both a fascinating and terrifying showcase of FEV’s unpredictable nature.

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Where Do Floaters Come From?

Fallout 76‘s Appalachia wasteland holds plenty of unsolved mysteries, and the origin of Floaters has never really been addressed. The creature also appears in the first Fallout and Fallout 2, but the two games never reveal any clear answers about their genesis, either. It has at least been confirmed that they are the product of FEV experiments, so Floaters are more than likely also part of West-Tek’s pre-war antics.

An essential piece of Fallout 76 lore is that West-Tek purposefully contaminated Huntersville’s water supply with FEV. If the FEV spread to other water sources, the wildlife would have inevitably been exposed. With the Floaters’ bulbous bladder-crowned heads and amphibious appearance, it wouldn’t be surprising if the creatures originated from frogs or some kind of fish. Of course, this is only speculation, as it’s not confirmed in the game. Out of all of Fallout‘s biggest mysteries, the origin of Floaters isn’t exactly at the top of the list. It’s a really compelling thread to follow, though.

There Are Three Main Types of Appalachian Floaters

• Flamers – These types are red or orange and use fire attacks.
• Freezers – Freezers are blue and have cryogenic abilities.
• Gnashers – These utilize acid or melee attacks and are green.

Fallout 76’s Floaters Would Be a Wild Addition to the Fallout TV Series

Fallout Season 2 brought The Ghoul, Lucy, and Maximus on a thrilling new journey, but one of the most fascinating revelations in the eight-episode season was with Norm’s arc. Norm finds evidence of FEV, making it the first time that the live-action series has acknowledged the virus. This reveal, combined with a cameo from Ron Perlman as a Super Mutant, seems to be planting the seeds of FEV playing a much larger role in Season 3’s story.

Of course, Fallout Season 3 will probably focus more on the FEV being responsible for Deathclaws and Super Mutants, but getting a glimpse of a Floater would be really wild. There are a lot of questions that the second season left hanging in the air, but it was made abundantly clear that The Ghoul is headed to Colorado to hopefully find his family. This is obviously incredibly far away from Appalachia, but the Floater variant from Fallout and Fallout 2 could still potentially make an appearance. Since they are also found on the West Coast, the creatures potentially floating their way over to the Rocky Mountains isn’t too outlandish. There is even the possibility that Colorado has its own horrifying brand of Floaters. The Fallout series takes place almost 200 years after Fallout 76, so there’s no telling how much further they have evolved in that time.

Fallout has only teased bits and pieces of Colorado in the lore, and that’s what makes Season 3’s journey to the area so compelling. The Fallout show now has the opportunity to play around with an even greater sense of freedom. This could really impact the game lore going forward, so it’s going to be fascinating to see how the show’s writers handle an area that’s practically a blank slate.

As of Now, Floaters Are Merely Terrifying Hovering Mysteries

There’s no telling if Fallout 76 will reveal more about Floaters down the road. On the one hand, it’s pretty fun getting to speculate and theorize about what they could have been before FEV took hold. However, their mysterious nature can also be a little frustrating. Regardless, they’re highly compelling, even if they are disgusting and creepy. With its early place in the timeline, Fallout 76 has the power to influence the entire franchise. With hopes that Fallout 5‘s release date isn’t as long as many are expecting, it’s going to be intriguing to see if any of Fallout 76‘s monsters make their way into the next game.

Released

November 14, 2018

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol