Fallout 1 & 2 Source Code Was Never Lost — Interplay Co-Founder Confirms
The long-lost source code for Fallout 1 and 2 has been found safe in the personal archives of Interplay co-founder Rebecca Heineman. Here’s what that could mean for remasters.
Quick Summary
- Tim Cain believed Fallout 1 & 2 source code was lost forever.
- Rebecca Heineman preserved it on CD-ROMs when she left Interplay in 1995.
- She still has the full code from the Mac ports.
- Any official remaster or release would require Bethesda’s green light.
- Nothing’s confirmed—but “never say never.”
Fallout 1 & 2 Source Code Was Secretly Preserved All Along
For decades, fans believed the original Fallout source code was lost to time. Even Fallout creator Tim Cain thought it had been destroyed. But in a surprising turn of events, Interplay co-founder Rebecca Heineman revealed that she still has complete copies of Fallout 1 and 2, including the source code, safely archived since the mid-90s.
This revelation flips years of speculation on its head—and could open the door for official remasters or fan-driven preservation efforts.
Tim Cain Thought It Was Gone for Good
In a video posted on April 24 to his YouTube channel, Cain recalled being ordered to destroy all his archives when he left Interplay. This included early design notes, multiple versions of the code, and development prototypes.
“They were going to keep it. They lost it,” Cain said.
“The amount of stuff that’s been lost about Fallout and its early development saddens me.”
Interplay even reached out to him years later, hoping he might still have a copy. He didn’t.
Rebecca Heineman Never Let It Go
On May 2, Heineman confirmed in an interview with VideoGamer that she backed up everything she worked on before leaving Interplay in 1995. That includes the Mac ports of Fallout 1 and 2, which she worked on through her company MacPlay after her time at Interplay.
“When I left Interplay in 1995, I had copies of every game we did. No exceptions… I have everything, including the source code to Fallout 1 and 2.”
Unlike Cain, Heineman wasn’t ordered to destroy anything—likely because she was a company founder, not an employee quitting mid-project. Her proactive approach to game preservation is what ultimately saved these iconic games.
What Happens Now?
Could we see a remaster of Fallout 1 and 2, or even a public release of the source code? That’s entirely up to Bethesda, who bought the Fallout IP from Interplay in 2007.
Heineman, for her part, said she’s been too busy with other projects to reach out for official permission—but she’s open to the idea.
“I haven’t gotten around to asking them yet,” she admitted.
Given the recent success of Amazon Prime’s Fallout series and renewed interest in the franchise, the timing couldn’t be better for a return to the classics—ideally with modern polish.
Would you play a Fallout 1 & 2 Remastered if Bethesda gave it the green light?
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