An OG timeline (FO1, FO2, Tactics, and FNV) and a Bethesda timeline (all the games/shows they made). I don’t know why Bethesda didn’t do this when they got the rights. It would make things easier for them. Due not having fans talk about how Bethesda broke the lore. Will, if they don’t broke their lore. But you got my point.
EDIT About New Vegas. Bethesda didn’t make it, but they did published it. So what timeline it belongs in? The reason I put it in the OG timeline. Because it being more similar with the OG games then Bethesda ones. But the show throws an monkey wrench into things. I guess New Vegas can be in both timelines.
EDIT 2 Both timelines can have the same factions, creatures so on. But the OG games are still canon in it’s timeline. So everyone can be happy.
I don’t think so.
It sounds like you are talking about rebooting the franchise not splitting the timelines. That would get rid of a lot of the world lore the series has built up and get real confusing.
I don’t think Bethesda has done too many outlandish retcons. A lot of it seems to match up with the game engines advancing like in the case of vehicles and new power armor mechanics.
Bethesda didn’t make it but they did provide a guiding hand in the direction the game would take. Obsidian for example wanted to have San Fransisco destroyed for Fallout NV and Bethesda prevented that.
I don’t think it matters. It was a team effort.