Fallout: New York offline after reported cease-and-desist from Bethesda/ZeniMax
The AI-generated Fallout fan project Fallout: New York went viral on X with 3.5 million views, but its creator says Bethesda/ZeniMax sent a cease-and-desist.
- The first video reportedly drew 3.5 million views and sparked debate over AI content, with some users dismissing the project as “AI slop.”
- CHRIS FIRST later said he received a cease-and-desist from Bethesda/ZeniMax, after which the project was taken offline.
What happened
CHRIS FIRST posted a video of Fallout: New York on X/Twitter earlier this week. In his description, he called it a full Fallout game playable in the browser and built with Claude Opus 5.5. He claimed it included quests, dialogue trees, V.A.T.S., and a working Pip-Boy, while buildings, weapons, faces, and sounds were generated through code rather than traditional texture or audio files.
The video quickly spread and was reportedly viewed 3.5 million times on X/Twitter. Reactions were mixed: some users called the project AI slop, while others were impressed by what the video showed. CHRIS FIRST also said the project was free and that he was not making money from it.
Later, CHRIS FIRST said Bethesda/ZeniMax had sent a cease-and-desist. IGN reports that he then shared an image that appears to be an official document from ZeniMax Media Inc., Bethesda’s parent company. According to the report, Fallout: New York was then taken offline.
Timeline
2026-09-28: CHRIS FIRST posts a video of Fallout: New York on X/Twitter and describes it as a browser game built with Claude Opus 5.5.
2026-09-28: In the same post, he claims the game includes quests, dialogue trees, V.A.T.S., and a working Pip-Boy, with code-generated assets and audio.
2026-09-28 to 2026-10-02: The video goes viral and is reportedly viewed 3.5 million times on X/Twitter.
2026-10-02: IGN reports that CHRIS FIRST took the project offline after a reported cease-and-desist from Bethesda/ZeniMax.
Background
The core of the story is a fan project presented as an AI-generated Fallout game in the browser. The available sources mainly confirm the creator’s claims and the video’s viral spread, but leave open how much of the game was actually functional beyond a demo or showcase.
It also remains unclear whether the cease-and-desist was formally served or only shown via an image posted by the creator. No public statement from Bethesda or ZeniMax confirming the step is included in the provided sources.
Related GAME-scanner articles
- The Elder Scrolls Online update 51 live: Rumors system, Nowhere Vault and High Seas of Tamriel
- Mojso stops unofficial GTA 5 Switch port after Take-Two cease-and-desist
Sources
- IGN: Person Behind Viral AI-Generated Fallout: New York Game Hauls It Offline, Says Bethesda Issued Cease and Desist
- X/Twitter post by @chrisfirst about Fallout: New York
- X/Twitter post by @chrisfirst about the viral video and reactions